Parental attitude towards education is consistently found to be positively associated with a student's academic performance. However, there has been little investigation about mechanisms that explain this association. The objective of the study was to establish the relationship between parental attitude towards education and academic performance of day secondary students. The specific research objectives were: to establish the relationship between parents’ attitude towards educational involvement and academic performance of day secondary school students; to examine the relationship between parents’ attitude towards absenteeism and academic performance of day secondary school students; to establish the relationship between parents’ attitude towards provision of basic educational needs and academic performance of day secondary students in Uasin Gishu. The theoretical framework of this study was derived from functionalist and learning theories. The Data for this study was collected from primary and secondary sources. The research instruments were questionnaires for students and parents, interview schedules for parents and teachers and parent-child relationship scale for students. The study population comprised of 1804 students, 80 parents representatives and 51 teachers. A correlation research design was adopted based on a sample drawn from five secondary schools in the study area. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample 18 teachers and 36 parents while stratified random sampling was used in the selection of 180 students. Spearman Brown Prophesy coefficient formula was used to test the internal consistency of questionnaires and interview schedules after piloting had been done. Parent-child relationship scale reliability was established by use of Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. The reliability coefficients of 0.70 at 0.05 level of significance were obtained. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, means and percentages were used in analyzing data. The findings of the study show that parental attitude towards education affects academic performance of day secondary school students in Uasin Gishu. The study concluded and recommended that school administrators and policy makers find ways of enhancing parental involvement towards education.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Statement of Problem
- Purpose of the Study
- Research Methodology
- Results and Discussion of Research Findings
- Conclusions
- References
Objectives and Key Themes
The main objective of this study was to establish the relationship between parental attitude towards education and the academic performance of day secondary school students. The research aimed to understand how parental attitudes towards educational involvement, absenteeism, and the provision of basic educational needs correlate with student academic achievement.
- The relationship between parental attitudes and student academic performance.
- The impact of parental involvement in education on student outcomes.
- The influence of parental attitudes towards student absenteeism on academic success.
- The correlation between parental provision of basic educational needs and student performance.
- The application of functionalist and learning theories to understand the parent-child dynamic in education.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the study's context by highlighting the limited research on parental attitudes towards education in developing countries, contrasting it with extensive research in developed nations. It defines parental attitude, emphasizing its influence on educational involvement and the importance of a complementary home-school environment for student success. The chapter establishes the study's objective: to investigate the relationship between parental attitudes towards education and the academic performance of day secondary students, specifically focusing on the impact of attitudes towards educational involvement, absenteeism, and the provision of basic needs. The dismal academic performance of day secondary students in Uasin Gishu County, indicated by low pass rates in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, is presented as the central problem. The introduction sets the stage for exploring potential answers to key research questions concerning the effects of parental attitudes on student academic performance.
Statement of Problem: This section delves into the poor academic performance of day secondary school students in Uasin Gishu County despite relatively high primary school performance (KCPE). It emphasizes the apparent lack of parental concern regarding education and the resulting negative impact on student achievement. The perennial poor KCSE results and low numbers of students meeting university admission requirements highlight the severity of the problem, underscoring the community's disadvantage due to the underperformance of its students. The chapter points to a significant gap between potential (high KCPE scores) and actual achievement (low KCSE scores), suggesting a critical need for investigation into the underlying factors.
Keywords
Parental attitude, academic performance, educational involvement, absenteeism, basic educational needs, day secondary school students, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), functionalist theory, learning theory.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study on Parental Attitudes and Academic Performance
What is the main topic of this study?
This study investigates the relationship between parental attitudes towards education and the academic performance of day secondary school students in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. It specifically examines how parental attitudes concerning educational involvement, absenteeism, and the provision of basic educational needs correlate with student academic achievement.
What are the key objectives of the research?
The primary objective is to establish the link between parental attitudes and student academic performance. The research also aims to understand the impact of parental involvement, the influence of parental attitudes towards absenteeism, and the correlation between providing basic educational needs and student performance. The study further applies functionalist and learning theories to analyze the parent-child dynamic in education.
What is the problem addressed in the study?
The study addresses the poor academic performance of day secondary school students in Uasin Gishu County despite relatively high primary school performance. The significant gap between potential (high KCPE scores) and actual achievement (low KCSE scores) highlights a critical issue requiring investigation into underlying factors, specifically focusing on parental attitudes and their influence.
What methodology is used in this research?
The provided text preview does not detail the specific research methodology employed. Further information on this would need to be accessed from the complete study.
What are the key findings (as previewed)?
The preview doesn't present specific research findings, but it sets the stage for exploring the effects of parental attitudes on student academic performance in the context of Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The findings would be detailed in the full study's "Results and Discussion of Research Findings" chapter.
What are the key themes explored in the study?
Key themes include the relationship between parental attitudes and student academic performance, the impact of parental involvement in education, the influence of parental attitudes toward student absenteeism, the correlation between providing basic educational needs and student performance, and the application of functionalist and learning theories to understand the parent-child dynamic in education.
What is the significance of this study?
The study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the factors affecting academic performance in developing countries, specifically addressing a significant gap in research on parental attitudes in such contexts. The results could inform interventions aimed at improving educational outcomes by focusing on parent-child dynamics and home-school collaboration.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Parental attitude, academic performance, educational involvement, absenteeism, basic educational needs, day secondary school students, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), functionalist theory, learning theory.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Mallion Kwamboka (Autor:in), 2014, Influence of parental attitude towards education on academic performance of day secondary school students in Uasin Gishu county, Kenya, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/490374
