Assessment of the Influence of Socio-Economic Background of Parent on Students' Academic Performance in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

This study investigates into the assessment of the influence of socioeconomic background of parent on students' academic performance in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The design of this study was cross-sectional survey research design. The students' population of the study comprised 2,818 while that of teachers comprised 276 with 24 senior secondary schools. The sample for the investigations comprises 100 SS2 students made up of 75 males and 25 females while teachers that of 30. The instrument that was used for data collection in the study is a questionnaire of the likert. scale typ. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was used to answered research questions while inferential statistics of Chi-square (x2) was used to test formulated hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that Students from high-income status parents achieve better academically and Parents on high income status can afford to provide the basic necessities required for students' education. From the findings of the study, it was concluded that socio-economic background influence academic performance of students in schools. Prominent among the socio-economic background include parental educational level, parental income and parental motivation. Educational statuses of the parents and students' academic performance have a close relationship between them. This is because parents themselves having being to school realized the importance of being educated. They stand better chance to support their children for better academic performance. The study recommend that parent should make sure that they educate children and Government should welcome and encourage participation of local communities, Voluntary individuals and organizations towards provision of textbooks, instructional materials library materials and so on, where the school is situated.