Influence of Child Abuse on Children Academic Development in Primary Schools
Influence of Child Abuse on Children Academic Development in Primary Schools
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The traditional African
society has always placed high premium on children. Other extended family
members and even the whole community are noted to record several rituals and
sacrifices to their ancestors if children are not forth coming; after consummation
of their ancestors if children are highly valued.
Yet,
in spite of the high value placed upon children, it is not uncommon to state
that several children are placed on conditions that obviously limit their
growth and development. Some are maltreated so much that the development of
their talents are not only delayed but destroyed completely. Even in a family
circle when a rusty relationship is allowed to degenerate into an abuse, then
there is much to worry about. Bukoye (2004) observed that maltreatment of
children is hardly a new phenomenon. It dated back to the colonial times and
even back to biblical times. During the recent years, child maltreatment has
had an increase in the public eyes and has its turn in various dimension or
categories. According to Isamahand Okunola (2002), maltreatment of children now
popularly recognized as child abuse include physical abuse, sexual abuse, a-
neglect, emotional abuse as well as• gender
discrimination. Each category in turn covers a range of behaviour. The
maltreatment of children not only affects the children themselves, but also
affects the family in terms making it dysfunctional. Child abuse is social
problem that affects million o children each year. Not only does child abuse
has multiple societal repercussions, but can also be deduced that child abuse
is the intentional omission of care or even killed.
A child is abused if a recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or care giver leads to physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation or any act or failure to act which involves imminent risk of serious harm (Khatric,. 2004) child abuse also cover failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. This is so because the child is highly dependent on adult, so a failure to provide for his/her needs results in serious harm.
A child is abused if a recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or care giver leads to physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation or any act or failure to act which involves imminent risk of serious harm (Khatric,. 2004) child abuse also cover failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. This is so because the child is highly dependent on adult, so a failure to provide for his/her needs results in serious harm.
Any
form of child abuse is detrimental to the overall development of the child. The
effect may varied in degree or the seriousness of the problem and the
difficulties it causes depending upon such factors as:
i) Age
of the abuse child even killed. ii) The duration of the abuse
iii) The abusive person.
iv) The
ability of the abused child to share his/her experiences
v) The abused child’s social environment
v) The abused child’s social environment
vi)
Whether the abuse involves physical, humiliation or violence.
(vii) The
cultural context of the abuse
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Factors that influence the outcome of any abuse
are complex and varied. These factors have attendant consequences upon children physically, societal and psychologically. Some are more devastating than others. Some children, at the end may suffer trauma which build up negative impact upon their educational pursuit. Against this backdrop, it therefore becomes crucial to look into the influence of child abuse on the academic development of children in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In Nigeria in
particular, child abuse is commonly expressed in form of either child labour or
excessive corporal punishment in the name of discipline. In another dimension,
many children are compelled to wake up as early as 3 0’clock in the morning to do all sorts of domestic chores
such as fetching water, processing wares for market, street hawking even during
school hours. These are crimes against children and humanity in general.
Children are misused
daily, inspite of the free and compulsory education embarked upon by Akwa Ibom
State Government. It is ugly to
observe that many children still resort to stay with their “uncles”
in town where they persistently engaged in street trading, manual labour in a
bid to generate income to such families. Many of them do experience child abuse
a develop pet aversion towards education and learning in particular. These
children are noted for high
degree of truancy and poor study habits. It indeed pertinent to infer that children who are victims of abuse may in turn effect such maltreatment if chance arises In the near future thereby continuing the circle of child abuse.
degree of truancy and poor study habits. It indeed pertinent to infer that children who are victims of abuse may in turn effect such maltreatment if chance arises In the near future thereby continuing the circle of child abuse.
Growth and development
of an individual starts from the foetus through infancy to childhood and finally
to adulthood. If the foundation for growth and development is not properly
laid, there is retardation and the child may be frustrated and loose direction.
The problem of this study is therefore to suit of broken home. Many are deprived of food, thing and care. They generally have a bleak future abuse investigate the influence of child abuse on educational development of children in Oruk Anam Government Area.
The problem of this study is therefore to suit of broken home. Many are deprived of food, thing and care. They generally have a bleak future abuse investigate the influence of child abuse on educational development of children in Oruk Anam Government Area.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
Specifically,
the objectives of the study are to:
1. Access
the effect of child labour on children’s academic attainments,
2. Examine the relationship between physical abuse and attitude of students towards academic programmes and,
2. Examine the relationship between physical abuse and attitude of students towards academic programmes and,
3. Identify the effect of sexual abuse of
children on their attitude to academic
programmes.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The future of the
society depends whole heartedly on the children. This connotes that a society
where children are neglected let alone abused is facing the threat of eventual
extinct.
This will identify some
social adjustment problems in our school settings with regards to child abuse.
The study will help school counselors, special educators, teachers, and
psychotherapist to identify the likelihood to social maladjustment of students arising
from several aspects of child abuse occasions in our various homes across the
country.
Findings from this work will sensitive government
to the living conditions of her citizens. Effort will be made to alleviate poverty provide employment opportunities and encouragement of sound educations to help ward off this evil against our dear children. Workshop could be organized on the effects of
child abuse based on the findings of this study thereby
promoting the education of the masses on the dangers of child abuse.
Findings from this work will sensitive government
to the living conditions of her citizens. Effort will be made to alleviate poverty provide employment opportunities and encouragement of sound educations to help ward off this evil against our dear children. Workshop could be organized on the effects of
child abuse based on the findings of this study thereby
promoting the education of the masses on the dangers of child abuse.
Finally, this research
will stimulate further relevant researchers in this area.
1.5 Research
Questions
1. Does
child labour significantly relates with attitude of children towards academic attainment?
2. Is there any relationship
between physical abuse of children and
attitude towards academic programmes?
3. How does sexual abuse affect children educational development?
3. How does sexual abuse affect children educational development?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
1. There
is no significant relationship between child labour and children’s attitude
academic attainment.
2. There
is significant relationship between physical abuse and children’s attitude
towards academic programmes.
3. There is not significant
effect of sexual abuse on children’s
interest and towards academic programmes.
1.7 Delimitation
of the Study
This study is
restricted to children of 6-16 years of age since they are mostly affected with
the incidence of child labour and are quite below the age of 18. The study also
limits itself to the categories of child abuse which include child labour
physical abuse, emotional and sexual abuse.
1.8 Limitation of the Study
Operational definitions of
terms used in the study are provided below:
1.Child
Abuse: This is used to refer to the influencing of physical injuries
on the child. It is as
well used to refer to sexual exploitation of child
well used to refer to sexual exploitation of child
2.Child
labour: Any physical engagement of the child either paid or unpaid, directed to alleviate adult burden to make a living for himself a help the
adult make a living. These include
street vending scavenging and loading.
3. Sexual Abuse: Parent
or caregiver involvement in an inappropriate
sexual behaviour with the child, whether or not
the behaviour involves intercourse
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