Abstract

The lives of children are intricately tied to the ability of the household head to provide for them. The quality of life in a household may also be tied to whether or not the household head is a man or woman. This study seeks to ascertain the veracity of the assumption that children in female-headed households tend to have poorer educational performance than children in male-headed households. To achieve this objective, tests were administered on children selected from public schools in Mainland and Badagry local government areas of Lagos State who were also followed up to their households. The study found no significant statistical difference in the mean scores of children in both households. It however found that certain support factors influenced children’s educational performance. These were parents’ education, children’s access to books and regularity at school. Others were adults’ supervision of children’s school work, parents’ ability to pay fees and time available for children to do homework. The study underscores the importance of mothers’ education and suggests state support for children in households where support factors are lacking.