CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background of the study

The education system in Cameroon places a strong emphasis on science education. This is in response to the rapid advancement in science and technology so that the country will be able to surge forward in keeping pace with the process of modernization like the rest of the world. Studying science is therefore becoming more essential for the wellbeing of the individual and also to the society as a whole (Oduwaiye R. et al., 2012).

The increasing awareness of the stressful home environment and it adverse effect on the Buea school children, especially those of the examination classes has called on the interest of educationalist around the municipality. Stress is one of the problems faced by learners during their academic carrier when they are struggling to get their plan for their future. The stressful home environment is a state of tension that occurs when there are demands and pressure that task an individual ability to adapt and adjust in the environment (Oduwaiye R. et al., 2012).

Academic performance is an educational aim that is achieved by students, teachers, institutions over a specific time. The academic performance of learners heavily depends on parental involvement in their academic activities to attain their high level of academic success .there are also some factors that influence learners studies such as examination tension, school climate, teachers attitude, home stress (Hussain et al., 2012)

The alarming rate on the existence of stressful home environment and its immense impact on the adolescent learners of the Buea municipality has called on the attention of educationalists, who have decided to introduce a discipline in the academic sector call Guardians and Counselling to help students with coping strategies on how to manage their stress without it having an impact on their academic performance.

But despite the presence of the educational counselor, there are broken home and their effects on learners attention in the classroom, child abuse and its influence on the punctuality of the learner,  unavailability of finance and its impacts on the learner’s assiduity, And poor parent relationship and it influence on learners motivation.

Problem Statement

A home is a place where one lives permanently especially as a member of the family or the household. It is important because it provides professional care or supervision for those who live in it. Despite the positive benefits of peaceful relationships, the home ought to provide positive wellbeing; children in many schools in Buea originate and live in homes that have a plaque with a variety of stressful situations that can impact negatively on the way they learn.

Most often children came from broken homes which are characterized by a variety of emotional disintegration because of the absence of a joint collaboration between both parents. Most often some stresses encountered by students are a result of child abuse as most students are maltreated compelled to carry out chores above their capacity at the expense of their educational activity. While others are from stressful homes backgrounds where there is little or no finance to provide their basic school needs. Finally, some are experiencing negative academic performance because most of their parents are uninvolved in their educational activities thus demotivating them for study.

Consequently, stressful home environments such as broken homes, child abuse, low family income, and poor parental relationship can affect the child psychologically, holistically, emotionally, and cognitively being of the child.

Objectives of the Study

General Research Objectives

To investigate the effects of stressful home environment on the academic performance of secondary school adolescence in Buea municipality.

Specific Research Objectives

The specific research objectives of the study are;

1. To examine the extent to which broken homes affect students’ academic performance.
2. To assess the impact of child abuse on the punctuality of the learner.
3. To verify how low family income affects the assiduity of the learners.
4. To investigate the influence of poor parent relationships on learners motivation

Research Questions

General Research   Question

What are the effects of stressful home environment on the academic performance of secondary school children in Buea municipality?

Specific Research Questions;

1. To what extend does broken home influence secondary school student’s academic performance?
2. To what extend does child abuse influence secondary school student’s academic performance?
3. How does low family income affect secondary school students ‘academic performance?
4. To what extend does poor parental relationships influence secondary school student’s academic performance?

Research Hypothesis

General Research Hypothesis

(Ha) A stressful home environment affects the academic performance of secondary school children in the Buea municipality

(Ho) The stressful home environment does not affect the academic performance of secondary school children in Buea municipality?

Specific hypothesis

(Ha1) There is a significant relationship between broken homes and students’ academic performance.

 (Ho1) There is no significant relationship between broken homes and students’ academic performance.

(Ha2) There exists a relationship between child abuse and students’ academic performance.

(Ho2) There is no relationship between child abuse and students’ academic performance.

(Ha3) There is a relationship between low family income and students’ academic performance

(Ho3) There is no relationship between low family income and students’ academic performance.

(Ha4) There is a significant relationship between poor parental relationships and students’ academic performance.

(Ho4) There is no significant relationship between poor parental relationships and students’ academic performance.