CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF BROKEN HOMES ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT (A CASE STUDY OF OKE-ERI IJEBU NORTH EAST OGUN STATE)

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the influence of broken homes on children in Oke-Eri ijebu, Ogun State. The study was guided by five research questions. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The sample size for the study comprised of 450 secondary school students from broken homes in the study area. Two different instruments were used for this study. The first instrument was in broken Home Questionnaire (BHQ) designed to collect data on students’ family structure (broken or intact) and their academic challenges while the second was students academic performance checklist. The major findings of the study revealed that secondary school students from broken homes within Oke-Eri ijebu  Local government area face education challenges like lack of sufficient text books,inability to meet education related financial obligations, poor academic performance and lack of concentration while in school. Also, result showed that secondary school students from broken homes within Oke-Eri ijebu  Local government area face emotional challenges like emotional stress, despair, inferiority complex, feeling insecure and unhappiness. It was also found that secondary school students from broken homes within Oke-Eri ijebu  Local government area face social challenges like neglect, prone to sickness due to malnutrition,among others. Result also showed no significant statistical difference in the mean academic achievement scores of secondary school students from broken homes based on gender and  no significant statistical difference in the mean academic achievement scores of secondary school students from broken homes based on location. The  researcher recommends, among others, that State ministry of education should make arrangement for the provision of special packages for secondary  school students from broken homes with a view to improving their attendance in  school.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

In Nigeria society the child is highly cherished not only by the parents but also by the family. Community and the state in general. It constitutes the most valuable resources to all. It is with the child that community of the family stock is assured. To every home the child is a symbol of hope and regeneration.

One's personality is not fully developed until he becomes a parent’s status which seems to bring along with it some satisfaction and serenity a child is instrument to establish a lasting family. The death of an individual is mourned with grief if he is not survived by any issue. Otherwise the grief is tempered with merriment more so if many of the children have out grown adolescence and are emotionally independent with their own means of live-hood and already finding a place for themselves in the society. At such funerals community expressed prayer that they too will be survived by well to do and reliable issues or children.

However, the National Child Welfare Policy of 1989 defined a child as anybody who is twelve years or below the new draft degree on children put the age of the child in Nigeria as from 18 years or below. It is pertinent to note that this age definition of UN convention is already in practice under municipal laws. Therefore, parents and the society at large are Under Obligation to provide their children with proper education and to protect them from exploitation and abuse arising from broken homes and negative influence that infringe on their right. Thus considerable premium is placed on children and their proper upbringing. It is equally the cultural norm that the care and upbringing of the child is shared by all family and the community alike. The rise and fall, the joy and sorrow of a child are the concern of all of no one ever hears the cry of a child without going to his aid. All communities in Nigeria do have and show concern for child care.

The concern and aspiration of the Nigeria society for the child is recognized by the government of the federation when it declared as major goal of its policy. The creation and maintenance of an environment conducive to the healthy growth and development of the child, it will be noted that in the tic past, especially in the Nigeria society, parents and relations did not need to go far from home their day to day work. Members of the family would like to engage in common enterprises such as farming, fishing, carpentry etc so that the child will have excellent opportunities for early socialization with their parents, early learning to relate satisfactorily with others.

Child neglect was rarity as parents siblings, kinsman and neighbors were at hand to help and care, opportunities to adjust to working life were abundant, but the family has in the last few decades undergone changes in its formation and structure and consequently in function to such an extent that the traditional security usually provided by the family is by and large disappearing thereby given room for a broken home.

The issue of broken home has given a great concern in the world at large especially in Nigeria thereby causing a social problem in the society. The family is the basic social unit to any nation; since the nation is built by member of the family the social and economic development of the nation depend on the stability and well being of the family. There is need, therefore to ensure that the family is properly planned and developed to be able to function effectively for the overall development of the nation

Lack of adequate focus by policy matters on this problem of broken home has resulted a big problem to the society. For instance, most of the hoodlums and political thugs we have in the society today are from broken homes.

This study therefore seek to investigate the prevalence, perceptions, implications, produces and prevention pattern of broken homes in some part of the country (Oke-Eri ijebu, Ogun State) as it proposes the need for a conceptual rethink in Nigeria.

Statement of Problem

The home that was designed to be a shelter umbrella for the children has teared apart as a result of misunderstanding and mismanagement of the parents thereby given room to hoodlums and miscreants.

Therefore, there is need to ensure that conducive atmosphere in which the home can operate effectively and harmony towards the realization of its goals is been put in place lack of focus on this problem has resulted an increased of single parent and un-parental care of the children. These social changes and resultant transformation in the family (homes) structures in many circumstances gave room for child neglect and abuse.

The home is the basic social unit of any- nation since the nation is built by the members of the family. Hence, the social and economic; development of the nation depend on the stability and wellbeing of the family (home). There is need, therefore to ensure that the home is properly planned and developed to be able to function effectively for the overall development of the nation.