DETERMINING EFFECT OF BROKEN HOME ON CHILD EDUCATION IN BAUCHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA BAUCHI STATE NIGERIA

This study investigates the effect of broken homes on the educational performance of children in Bauchi Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria. The research was guided by specific objectives aimed at examining the relationship between family structure and academic achievement, assessing the impact of parental separation on children’s learning outcomes, and identifying coping strategies adopted by affected pupils. Functionalist perspective theory was used to guide the research assumption. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, and a stratified random sampling technique was used to select respondents comprising students, teachers, and parents from selected primary and secondary schools. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and interviews, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and percentage distribution, A sample of 135 was distributed to the respondents. Findings revealed that children from broken homes generally exhibit lower academic performance compared to their peers from stable families, often due to emotional distress, lack of adequate parental guidance, and financial constraints. The study also found that broken homes contribute to irregular school attendance and reduced concentration in class. The research recommends the implementation of community-based counseling programs to support affected children, the strengthening of parental responsibility awareness campaigns, and the provision of scholarship schemes or material support to minimize the adverse effects of family breakdown on education. Keywords: Broken Home, Child Education, Academic Performance, Parental separation, Bauchi State