Relationship between family background and academic performance of secondary schools students: a case of Siakago Division, Mbeere North District, Kenya

Abstract

One of the major aspects of the social pillar of the Kenya Vision 2030 is education. Kenya Vision 2030 points out education and training is an instrument to develop Kenya to be a middle-income economy. Family backgrounds have been highlighted as of great important in molding the performance of children in schools worldwide. This study therefore investigated the relationship between family background on the academic performance of students in Siakago Division, Mbeere North District. This study focused on the influences of; parental marital status, family financial status, parents’ education level and family size on the academic performance of students in Siakago Division, Mbeere North District. The study employed a descriptive research design. The target population under study was 1,081 students in Siakago Division and 1,081 parents. The study used a sample 338 students and parents which were selected by use of a proportionate stratified random sampling method. Data was collected by use of questionnaire for parents and interview schedule for students. The data was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively and presented using frequencies, regression coefficient and Pearson’s coefficient correlation. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 was used to aid in generating a summary of results which were represented in tabular form. The findings of the study, showed that parental marital status, family size, parents education level and family financial status had a positive relationship with academic performance of students. However, the findings showed that while the marital status of the parents was not significant in explaining the academic performance of students, but the type of family, either cohesive or conflictive had an effect in academic performance. The findings also showed that only 7% of students’ academic performance would be explained by the parents’ education level.