Single Parenthood: its Impact to the Academic Performance of Grade one Pupils in Kaylaway Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A single parent is a parent not living with a spouse or a partner. A single parent has most of the day-to-day responsibilities in raising his or her children. In this study, the researcher determined the impact of single parenthood to the academic performance of Grade One pupils in Kaylaway Elementary School.

METHODS

The researcher in this study used descriptive survey. A descriptive research involved describing, analyzing, and interpreting certain conditions which were existing at the time that the study was conducted. The respondents of this study were twenty (20) selected Grade 1 pupils of Kaylaway Elementary School with single parents. The respondents were chosen purposively since single parenthood is a critical issue and divulging information about family relationships and consequences may put the respondent in an unsettling situation.

RESULTS

Pupils under the study obtained low grades in Mathematics, English, and Science subjects but this cannot be due to being a child of a single parent but merely due to absenteeism, misbehavior, and attitude. Pupils who have single parents admitted that they needed support but this not mean that they are disadvantaged and poor leaders, bullies or bullied, or not being loved at all. The researcher proposed to have an action plan that will help boost the academic achievement of grade one pupils with single parents.

DISCUSSIONS

This research gives explanation of the poor performance of Grade One pupils in English and Mathematics which could be due to absenteeism among these pupils. Those who got failing grades were either bullies or bullied children. Misbehavior was common among these pupils. However, there were pupils who were obedient and behaved. From these findings, it can be deducted that being children of single parents mean that these children cannot do better in school.