Influence of Family Background on Junior Secondary School Student’s Academic Achievement in Nasarawa State- Nigeria

This study investigated the influence of Family Background on Students’ Academic Achievement of Junior Secondary Schools in Nasarawa State- Nigeria. The design of the study used was survey research. The population of this study consists of 253 principals and 5,352 teachers in public Senior Secondary School in Nasarawa State. The sample size of the study was 373, using simple random sampling procedure to select the sample. A questionnaire: Influence of Family Background on Students ’ Academic Achievement (IFBSAA) was used for data collection. Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses tested with chi-square at 0.05 level of significant. Data were analyzed using simple percentage. It was revealed that socio economic status of parents and home background and their living environment contribute in junior secondary school students’ achievement in school. Based on the findings the following recommendations were made: parents diversification of their income, teachers ’ motivation strategies in teaching, to carry all children along in the teaching process and government should increase sponsorship of education in Nigeria which will serve as a punch factor in aiding students ’ access and continuation in education, especially in Nasarawa State.