Influence of Home Environment on Students’ Learning Outcomes in Junior Secondary Schools in Enugu State

This study investigates the influence of home environment factors on the learning outcomes of junior secondary school students in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. The home environment, encompassing parental education, family socioeconomic status, availability of learning materials, and domestic stability, has been widely recognized as a foundational determinant of student achievement. In Enugu State, widening inequality between urban and rural family circumstances has raised concerns about its effects on educational equity. This study uses a descriptive survey design and administers questionnaires to 300 Junior Secondary School Two students and 60 class teachers across 15 public junior secondary schools in Enugu and Nsukka. Home environment variables assessed include parental educational attainment, household income, availability of textbooks and study space, and parental involvement in homework. Learning outcomes are measured using students' scores in English Language and Mathematics from the most recent continuous assessment. Multiple regression analysis is applied. Results indicate that parental educational attainment and availability of study materials are the strongest predictors of academic achievement among sampled students. Family income showed a moderate positive association, while domestic instability was negatively correlated with outcomes. The study concludes that disparities in home environment substantially influence educational outcomes in Enugu State secondary schools. It recommends that state education authorities introduce targeted school feeding and textbook distribution programmes to reduce the impact of home disadvantage on student learning.

Keywords: home environment, learning outcomes, junior secondary school, Enugu State, parental influence.