| dc.description.abstract | The study sought to evaluate the influence of child abuse on academic performance of learners in day secondary schools, carried out in Embu West District of Embu County. The objectives of this study were to find out whether physical child abuse, sexual child abuse, psychological child abuse and child neglect influence the academic performance of learners in day secondary schools. In Embu West District performance in Day secondary schools has been declining for the past four years in KCSE examination and even with the slight improvement in 20] ] the results were not satisfactory. The poor trend was worrying. According to the analysis from the division education office the KCSE mean scores were as shown in Appendix 3. The study employed descriptive research design.
In Central Division of Embu West District there are 9 Day Secondary Schools which have classes from form one to form four and two day secondary schools which go up to form three (D.E.O, Embu West). The study targeted both teachers and students. The sample targeted 9 guidance and counseling teachers. The student population was ] 820 (D.E.O, Embu West).The student sample size was determined using Krejcie and Morgan table for sample size determination. A sample of 336 students was used, the KUPPET official, KNUT official and the D.E.O Embu West District. Data was collected from students, teachers, KUPPET and KNUT officials and D.E.O Embu West District.
Two methods of selecting the sample were used. Simple random sampling was used for students and purposive sampling was used to select guidance and counseling teachers. The researcher used questionnaires to collect primary data. A pilot study was done with two teachers and forty two students from two schools that did not participate in the study to establish the validity and reliability of the research instrument. The data was analyzed in terms of frequency and percentages and presented in table form. The findings of the study indicated that child abuse is present in day secondary schools in Central Division, Embu West District and it influences academic performance.
The study found that sexual child abuse had the greatest influence on academic performance and learners take a long time to recover from the abuse. It was also found that in Central Division, Embu West District, the most prevalent type of abuse was child neglect owing to the fact that most learners come from low income families. A lot needs to be done to curb the vice. The study recommends that all teachers be trained in guidance and counseling, enforcement of the 2001 children) Act by the government and the school system to work closely with children's organizations to help rehabilitate abused children. | en_US |
