Influence of Parental Socio-economic Factors on Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Performance in Public Secondary Schools: a Case of Lamu West Sub-county, Lamu County, Kenya
Authors: Susan Murage & Joseph Kisaka Kenya
Abstract: Academic performance in national examinations like the Kenya Certificate Secondary Education is a very important measure of the educational achievement of students. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of selected parental socio-economic factors on the academic performance in Lamu West Sub-County in Lamu County, which has persistently registered low academic performance. The parental socio-economic factors leading to this dismal performance in Lamu West Sub-County had not been adequately addressed. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish the types of parental factors that influence academic performance in Lamu West Sub-County, and how these parental factors influence performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Lamu West Sub-county. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population comprised of teachers and Board of Management parents. The sample size was 144 teachers and 48 Board of Management parents. The data were elicited by the use of questionnaires and interview schedules. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. The findings were presented by the use of frequency distribution tables. The results showed that parental factors influenced the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education national examination in Lamu West Sub-County. Interviews from the Board of Management parents also provided data to show how these economic factors influenced Kenya’s Certificate of Secondary Education academic performance. Based on the findings, the study established that gender stereotypes, as well as parental socio-economic status, influenced the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education academic performance in Lamu West Sub-County. Among the recommendations was that parents should take an active role in availing the necessary materials required at school as well as advising their children about the importance of education.