| Abstract
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Child abuse and neglect are major societal problems in most parts of the world, but there are cross-cultural differences in what constitute child abuse and neglect. Many advanced countries have regarded these phenomena, over the past two or three decades, with considerable official and public concern and attention. Interests in these problems are relatively recent in Nigeria. Mainly professionals in the fields of health, education, and the social sciences have researched these issues. The purposes of this study are to identify behaviors which constitute child abuse and neglect, as they exist in the Nigerian settings; to identify primary school children who are victims of physical child abuse and neglect; and to investigate the nature of the relationship between child abuse and neglect and academic achievement. Specifically, the aim of this investigation is to provide research information about the prevalence of child abuse and neglect in Nigeria, especially their educational implications. The research design used for this study was ex-post-facto. The results of this study clearly show that 11.46% of the total number of children in elementary grades four through six were abused and neglected. With the prevailing level of economic hardship and depression in Nigeria, the end of which appears not to be in sight, a present figure of 11.46% of abused and neglected children will become much higher in the next ten years. Child abuse and neglect occurred most among the ages of 10 and 14 years old. The largest number of children suffered neglect (95.76%), while 80.15% suffered abuse, and 74.96% suffered both abuse and neglect. The analyzed data revealed that the non-abused and non-neglected children performed much better in all four academic subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The difference between the academic achievement of the abused and neglected and the non-abused and non-neglected children is so large that there is a need to do something special and extra to help the 11.46%, who face intellectual handicap through deprivation. Abusive and neglectful families, because of poverty, tend to ignore their children's educational needs and requirements. In conclusion, child abuse does not discriminate against a child because of age, sex, race, religion, or socio-economic background. Children of all ages and from a myriad of incomes, racial, religious, and ethnic groups suffer from the many different forms of abuse, all harmful to their physical, emotional, psychological, and educational development.
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