Impact of Family Background on Hausa/fulani Secondary Education in Nigeria

Education is seen as the backbone of development in any nation. It improves the quality of life of a society through refinement of its potentials. Family background refers to all the conditions and circumstances in the family which influenced the child physically, intellectually and emotionally. The Hausa- Fulani society as a whole suffers from the marginalization of its population, functioning only on half stream, as it were the problem confronting girl-child in Nigeria. These problems are multifarious, ranging from cultural practices and socio-political and economic constraints. Culturally, compulsory/early marriage and its attendant problem is the prevailing situation in Hausa/Fulani trade in the Northern part of Nigeria. Economically, right from a tender age the girl-child is exposed to a variety of hazardous jobs like street hawking, begging-escort, baby-sitting, house help etc. Socially she is marginalized even within the family system - she is welcomed to the world with mixed feelings and her naming ceremony attracts less celebration and when it comes to education more priority is accorded to her brothers. The boy child will be send to the farm for farming at early age. To ascertain the impact of Family value for Education and Education Background of Hausa/Fulani on secondary education in Nigeria; to determine the level to which family occupation and standard of living affect Hausa/Fulani secondary education in Nigeria and to ascertain the impact of Economic Status and Finance of Hausa/Fulani on secondary education in Nigeria are the authors' specific objectives. Descriptive survey research was used for collection of information. Every family that has high value for education will want their children especially children entering secondary education to have the best education. The force of economic power has a great impact on families' educational need. A family with high economic power can afford education.Most of the families in'Hausa/ Fulani communities are from poor financial background which ther^nakes it challenging and almost impossible for their children to have access to secondary education especially from the junior secondary education. The following recommendations were made as a way forward; parents as a matter of importance should diversify their sources of income so that they can be able to provide fund for schooling their children; the government, mass media and all pressure groups should do all they can to sensitize the Hausa/Fulani community on the need of going to school and remaining in school so as to contribute significantly to .the society development and benefit themselves and the State and Federal Governments should help diversify the economy so that standard of living can be high to the extent that families from Hausa/Fulani community can have access to education especially junior secondary education in Nigeria.