Socio-Economic Status and Gender as Predictors of Students’ Academic Achievement in Economics

Abstract

This study investigated Socio- Economic Status and Gender as predictors of Students’ academic achievement in Economics. To carry out this study, four null hypotheses were formulated to give direction. The sample of the study consists three hundred and fifty (350) randomly selected students from selected secondary schools in Isheri Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The instrument used for data collection was a self developed questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed and the formulated hypotheses were tested using independent t-test of unrelated sample and Chi-square statistical methods.

All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significant. The results of the data analysis showed:

There is significant relationship between parental educational attainment and students’ academic achievement in Economics;

There is prominent association between occupational background of parents and student’s academic achievement;

There is significant difference in the mean scores between Socio- Economic Status and Students’ academic achievement due to gender and there is significant association between parental socio-economic status (SES) and academic achievement.

Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations were made: -

Parents should always try to encourage their children in all that they do and try to give moral support so that the children can be emotionally stable and have confidence in all that they do, whether at school or at home; Parents should do more to improve the conditions of their   environment to suite the purpose of their children to perform better in school works; Teachers should make sure that their method of instructions in school address the two personality i.e. introvert and extrovert need of the students; Government should bring back the governing system as this will help to bridge the gap between the performances of children from high and low socio-economic class.

Keywords:- Keywords Socio- Economic Status, Gender, Academic Achievement, Economics