Factors Influencing Academic Performance In Day Secondary Schools In Esise Division, Borabu District, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The research problem addressed was that, in the last four years Borabu District has experienced an observable decline in academic performance especially in the day secondary schools. The general low academic performance could be associated with home, school, teacher and student factors. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors which influence the academic performance of day secondary schools in Borabu District. The objectives of the study were to find out the influence of: home, school, student and teacher factors on the academic performance of day secondary schools. The study used the descriptive survey design, which was appropriate for explaining or exploring the existing status of two or more variables at a given situation. The target population of the study constituted six (6) day secondary schools, seven hundred and thirty eight (738) students, forty seven (47) classroom teachers and six(6) head teachers. From these a sample of six (6) schools, thirty two (32) classroom teachers, two hundred and forty six (246) students and six (6) head teachers were used to collect data. A student Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ), Head teacher Questionnaire (HTQ and Class teacher Questionnaire (CTQ) were used to collect data. Observation checklist supplemented these instruments. To ensure validity and reliability of the instruments piloting was carried out in two schools, which were not included in the actual study. At the same time, supervisors from the department of Educational Planning, Administration and Curriculum development of Kenyatta University were relied upon ton establish content validity of the instruments. Data analysis was done through means, frequencies and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that factors such as type and amount of work at home, schools‟ poor infrastructure, teacher‟s level of training, student‟s entry mark, etc influence the academic performance of students in day secondary schools. The research‟s recommendations were that the parents should be sensitized on the need to have a positive attitude towards the day scholars and to provide them with the relevant study materials. It is believed that this study may help parents, students, teachers and the Ministry of Education Science and Technology in addressing factors responsible for day scholars‟ dismal academic performance in day secondary schools in Borabu District.