A Survey into the Relationship Between Socio-economic Background and Academic Achievement of Gifted Girls in Government Girls’ Special School

This study investigated the relationship between socio-economic background and academic achievement of gifted girls in Government Girls’ Special School, Kafin Madaki, Bauchi state. The objectives and research hypothesis were formulated to determine the significant difference between academic achievement of gifted girls from low and high socio-economic background. An Ex-Post facto research design was adopted in the study and the population was 850 students. Purpose sampling technique was used to select 36 students as the sample for the study. Data collected using data collection instrument of teacher nomination scale and students end of the year result. Frequency counts and percentage, mean score were used to analyzed the data collected. The score and means scores between students from high is significant, the difference was not much but yet the hypothesis was rejected. It was also concluded that gifted students from low SES when distracted by socio- economic needs and behaviour problems would affect their mean score though it will not change the grade. Thus, socio-economic background have a significant influence on academic achievement of gifted girls. It is recommended among others that, school authorities must pay attention to gifted students and should be aware of informal peer groups from high SES that has negative stands, bad opinion, bad ideology, negative attitudes and behaviours towards students from low SES and parents with high SES should assist schools in the areas of academic development by providing learning materials and other social needs to the less privilege children. This will save them from engaging into social vices to satisfy their educational and social needs.