Influence of Parental Occupation and Level of Education on Academic Performance of Accounting Students in Nigeria

THE study examined the influence of parental occupation and level of education on academic performance of accounting students in Nigeria. It was informed by the fact that the proper functioning of every country’s financial system and extent of viability of her economy is a function of the quality of accountants produced by her tertiary institutions. The specific objectives were to determine the relationship between parental occupation and level of education on academic performance of accounting students in Nigeria. The scope embraced accounting students in the Department of Accountancy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The main instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire. The population of the study comprised 150 final year students of accounting in the University. Purposive sampling technique was employed in selecting 60 as sample size and in the administration. Data analysis were done with the statistical tools of Chi-square (X2) and t-test statistics. Results obtained indicate that parental occupational level significantly influenced students’ academic performance in accounting studies in Nigeria, and that parental educational levels have strong positive relationship with students’ academic performance in accounting studies in Nigeria. It was recommended among other things that the three tiers of government should help to improve academic achievement of students in Nigeria, by extending educational support in form of adult literacy programmes to uneducated parents in the country. Keywords: Parents, Occupation, Educational Levels, Accounting Students, Academic Performance