ABSTRACT

The researcher aimed to investigate the effects of single parenting on academic performance of secondary schools students in Buea municipality. The purpose was fulfilled through three specific objectives: To find out the causes of single parenting, to find out the difficulties facing single parents when raising their children and lastly to find out possible solutions to prevail the identified difficulties facing single parents when raising their children. Single parents are caused by divorce, death or separation. Single parents pass through many difficulties such as; inability to buy school requirements, lack of enough time to check student’s exercise books and poor communication. The learners who are raised with single parents goes through some challenges such as; lack of school resources, lack of support from parents, economic hardships, life stress and depression. The researcher employed the use of questionnaire to the students, parents and teachers. Purposive sampling was used because of the the nature whereby the teachers and the students were to give their views regarding effects of single parenting on academic performance. After collection of the questionnaires, the researcher read through them to ascertain their numbers to see whether all the items were responded. Quantitative data was analysed by use of descriptive statistics which employed the measures of central tendencies. The data obtained through questionnaires was organised and computer excel programme was used to convert the data into tables. The findings included three objectives which are causes of single parenting, difficulties facing single parents and possible solutions to prevent them. The sample size of the study was twenty students, twelve teachers and forty parents. All respondents returned questionnaires. The students’ response rate was 28%, teachers’ was 16% and parents 56%.
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction

This chapter aims to discuss the background of the study, statement of the research problem,bthe purpose of the study, conceptual framework, objectives, significance of the study,
delimitations of the study and limitations of study.
1.2 Background of the Study

Nyarko (2011) considered that in order to curb the difficulties in education system, then there must be the appropriate parenting which children should be given so as to assist in lifting the
quality of education. Tan-Kuick &Ng, (2011), believed that one of the parent is created as the child lack the supports from the parents. Addo Adeku, Opare and Banini (2003) confirmed
that single parenting is caused by divorce or death of one partner which later on leaves everything in the hands of a single parent. Zill, (1996), also believed that both parents must be available so that they won’t be affected with anything that may hinder them from performing well in their academics, but when a parent misses to provide the child’s necessities then the child may be affected. Salami and Alowade (2000), also believed that single parenting is brought about by death, divorce, separation which leaves the responsibilities and the roles in the hands of a single parent. Zill, (1996) asserted that a student who comes from a family where he or she has both parents perform well in their academics while students who comes from a family where he or she hasa single parent tend not to perform well in academics. Nyarko , (2011), he believed that a child who lacks parents to watch over their academics and also supervising their work tend
not to perform well in academics.
1.3 Statement of the Research Problem

It has been noted that single parental has been affecting students in their academic performance. It has been a great challenge facing many countries in the world wide. Students
who lives with a single parent tend to perform poorly in terms of education, since they do not get fully support from both parents. Single parenting and its effect on students’ academic performance has been tackled by different researchers but no study was conducted in secondary schools in Buea, This study was therefore brought about to determine the effects of single
parenting on academic performance of public secondary schools in buea