An investigation into the effect of single parenthood on academic performance of pupils in Bukedea Town Council Primary Schools, Bukedea District.
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Date
2024
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Busitema University
Abstract
Single-parent-families may be caused by separation, divorce, death, or never-married parents.
This study investigated the effects of single-parent-hood on academic performance of primary
school pupils in Bukedea Town Council, Bukedea. In this study, the descriptive survey
research design was adopted. The descriptive survey design was deemed appropriate because
the study sought to collect quantitative and qualitative data on learners’ difficulties, effects on
pupils’ performance and proposed solutions to challenges and learning difficulties from
pupils, teachers and parents on how single parenting affects children’s education in Bukedea
Town Council through the use of questionnaires.
The findings revealed that learners from Bukedea Town council have significant learning
difficulties that include poor hand writing had the highest percentage score of 27%, followed
by reading and writing difficulty at 24% and poor organisational skills at 19%. Other learning
difficulties were comprehension and mathematical skills at 16% and challenges with spelling
words correctly and consistently at 14%. The study further revealed the effects single
parenthood on academics of pupils to include Lacking part of the scholastic materials and
reporting late after lessons 92%, absenteeism by the affected children 67% and below average
performance 46%. All the three categories of respondents proposed provision of children with
scholastic materials, provision of meals at school and the need to provide counselling and
guidance services to children at school as solutions to the effects of single parenthood on
children’s academics.
In conclusion, children from single parent families do not get sufficient study opportunities,
both at school and at home and as such the phenomenon of single parenting delivers a
negative effect on the academic performance and development of pupils leading them to lag.
It is thus recommended that children should be provided with the necessary scholastic
materials, meals at school, counselling and guidance services and where possible children
should be placed to the boarding section of school.
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Acam, L. F. (2024). An investigation into the effect of single parenthood on academic performance of pupils in Bukedea Town Council Primary Schools, Bukedea District [Research report]. Busitema University.