Effect Of Gender And Families Socio-economic Status On Academic Performance Of Secondary School Students
[IN IDEMILI - SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE]

CONCLUSION
The researcher concludes that gender differences affect academic performance. The researcher also concludes that socio-economic status influences academic performance.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This study was an attempt to find out the effect of gender and socio- economic status on the student’s academic performance in a local survey in Idemili-South Local Government of Anambra State. The results of the study revealed the following: that gender affects the academic performance of students and that low income of parent is a major impediment to academic success and development on the part of the students. Student academic performance is predicted by a chain of socio-economic factors resident in parents and family network.
Based on the above, the following recommendations are hereby proffered. Firstly, families of low socio-economic status cannot afford to train their children properly in the school; on account of this, the government should increase allocation of funds to provide for more amenities to facilitate learning in the schools so that these indigent students will not lack basic amenities in the school.
Secondly, parents should be sensitized on the need to make education of their children and wards a priority in the face of the present economic predicament by adequately providing for their school materials with the meager resources they have.
Thirdly, Counselors should provide the necessary assistance and psychological support for these indigent students whose emotional and psychological stability have been shattered by poverty.
Finally, local and international Non-Government organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in education should be sensitized to weld support for the funding of secondary school projects in Nigeria most especially in Idemili-South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY
The study implies that gender affects the academic performance of secondary school students. It also implies that the socio-economic status parents is one the major determinants of the academic performance of the students.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This research study has some limitations. The researcher would have loved to cover many schools in Idemili-South Local Government Area but for the fact that there are no access roads to most of these schools, it was impossible for him to succeed.
Secondly, some students did not take the answering of the questionnaires very seriously. This invariably affected the result of the study.
Thirdly, the major set-back the researcher met in the course of this work was insufficient text-books, journals and articles that dwelt on the effect of gender and socio-economic status on academic performance. This somewhat affected the volume of the work.
Finally, the researcher also suffered some financial constraints especially in his running from one school to another to distribute the questionnaires.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Education is a vital tool for human development. It is a treasure. It polishes the mind and creates a new personality. This is why its importance to man cannot be overemphasized. Students must therefore be very serious with regard to their education; students should cherish education because it is the best way to achieve greatness in the society.
The researcher therefore recommends that further research be conducted on the topic so as to fashion out other ideas that will help ameliorate the influence of gender and socio-economic status on academic performance.