LEVEL OF PARENTAL CARE AND PUPILS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN NURSERY SCHOOLS IN OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the level of parental care and pupils’ academic performance in nursery schools in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State. The study also sought to find out if there is any relationship between the level of parental care and the level of pupils’ academic performance. The difference in relationship between the level of parental care and the level of pupils’ academic performance based on location was also examined in this work. To achieve the purpose of the study, four research questions were raised. Two were answered directly while two were formulated into hypotheses and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study was descriptive survey research that adopted the correlational research design. The sample size for the study was made up of 56 respondents selected through convenience sampling technique. The questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. An analysis of data was done using mean, standard deviation, Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and the Fisher’ Z statistics. The findings from the study include that there is high level of parental care among pupils in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. It was concluded that there is a significant relationship between the level of parental care and the level of pupils’ academic performance in nursery schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The study recommended that parents should create a home environment that promotes learning, reinforces what is being taught at school and develops life skills in their children. It was also recommended that parents should continually ensure that there is adequate care for their children.