INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF PARENT ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF CHEMISTRY STUDENT IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL A CASE STUDY OF BAUCHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAUCHI STATE

ABSTRACT This study investigates the influence of parents’ socio-economic status on the academic achievement of senior secondary school students in chemistry in Bauchi Local Government Area, Bauchi State. A total of 100 students, 30 parents, and 10 teachers participated in the research. The study employed a descriptive survey design and used questionnaires for data collection. Statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, and t-tests were used to analyze the data. The findings reveal a significant relationship between socio-economic status and students' academic performance in chemistry. Students from higher-income families and with access to educational resources such as computers, the internet, and tutoring services were found to perform better in chemistry than their peers from lowerincome families. Additionally, parental involvement in education, including assisting with homework and attending school meetings, was positively associated with students' academic success. The educational background of parents also played a role, with children of parents holding tertiary education performing better than those whose parents had lower levels of education. The study concludes that socio-economic factors such as family income, access to resources, and parental education significantly affect students' achievement in chemistry. Recommendations were made to address these disparities by improving access to educational resources and fostering greater parental involvement, particularly in lowerincome households, to enhance academic outcomes for students in the study area.