PARENTAL NEGLECT ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE SAGNERIGU MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

The study investigated parental neglect on the academic performance of Junior High School students in the Sagnerigu Municipality in the Northern Region of Ghana. The research employed mixed method and a convergent parallel design. The study population consisted of 1,354 students (925 males and 429 females). A total of 153 respondents participated in the study: 100 respondents (students and teachers) were selected for the quantitative strand, while 53 participants (headteachers, parents, community leaders, and a municipal social welfare officer) were purposively. A multistage sampling technique was used. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to reach less accessible participants. The study employed questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs), and structured interviews for data collection. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics while qualitative data from interviews and FGDs were thematically analyzed. The findings revealed that parental neglect, particularly educational, emotional, and physical neglect, is prevalent in the Sagnerigu municipality. Poverty, unemployment, large family sizes, and substance abuse were identified as the primary causes of child neglect in the study area. The study further discovered that parental neglect significantly hinders junior high school students' academic performance, leading to absenteeism and low academic achievement. Recommendations include improving parental education on child care, enhancing economic support for families, and strengthening remedial and counseling services for affected students. The study suggests further research into the long-term impact of neglect on students’ academic and emotional development, as well as the effectiveness of social intervention programmes.