Divorce Rates and Child Educational Development in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State

Abstract

In view of the social cost of divorce, the study is tailored towards exploring the interaction between high rate of divorce and it implication on child educational development in Bayelsa state, with reference to Ekeremor Local Government Area. The modernisation theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. The cross-sectional and co-relational study design served as the study design for the study, while probability (simple random, cluster) and non-probability (purposive) sampling techniques was used for the sampling procedures. Using   Taro Yamane formula, the study sampled a total of 300 respondents. Data for the study were collected through structured questionnaire. The analysis of the data collected for the study was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using statistics like; percentages, bar-charts, frequency distribution, mean standard deviation, Binary logistics, Pearson correlation and Chi-square test of relationship with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS) version 23.0. Based on the analysis, the study concluded that divorce correlates with child’s poor academic performance, socio-economic status of parents play a role in child’s academic performance, home play significant role in child intellectual development. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made; provision of employment for graduates, marriage seminars should be organized for budding couples, couples should live an exemplary life for their children to follow, maturity before marriage should be encouraged by family institution among others.