Family Factors and Pupils’ Academic Progress in Selected Primary Schools, Wajir East District, Kenya

ABSTRACT The current study about family factors and how they affect the academic progress of primary school pupils was carried out in Wajir East District, Kenya. It was carried out based on four objectives namely; to establish the extent of family factors in Wajir East district, to find out the level of academic progress of pupils and to determine if there is a difference between male and female pupils with regard to academic progress, as well as to determine whether there is a significant relationship between the extent of family factors and pupils’ academic progress. A sample size of 214 pupils selected from class eight in five primary schools was used. The data were analysed using means, t-test, as well as the linear correlation coefficient. Results from the analysed data revealed that the extent of family factors was satisfactory; the level of academic progress was very satisfactory; there was a significant difference between male and female pupils~ academic progress; and there was a significant relationship between the extent of family factors and pupils’ academic progress. It was recommended that parents should work harder to ensure that home factors are improved more and that the academic progress of their children be monitored by not only the teachers but also by the parents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

1.0 Background of the Study 1

1.1.1 Historical Perspective 1

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective 2

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective 2

1.1.4 Contextual perspective 3

1.2 Statement of the Problem 4

1.3 Purpose of the Study 4

1.4 Specific Objectives 4

1.5 Research Questions 5

1.6 Hypotheses 5

1.7 Scope of the Study 6

1.7.1 Geographical Scope 6

1.7.2 Content Scope 6

1.7.3 Time Scope 6

1.8 Significance of the Study 6

CHAPTER TWO 8

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 8

2.0 Introduction 8

2.1 Theoretical Perspective 8

2.2 Conceptual Framework 9

2.3 Related Literature 10

V

2.3.1 Family Factors 10

2.3.2 Academic Progress 11

CHAPTER THREE 21

METHODOLOGY 21

3.0 Introduction 21

3.1 Research Design 21

3.2 Target Population 21

3.3 Sample size 21

3.4 Research Instruments 22

3.5 Validity and Reliability of Research Instruments 23

3.6 Data Analysis 23

3.7 Ethical Consideration 24

3.8 Limitations of the study 25

CHAPTER FOUR 26

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 26

4.0 Introduction 26

4.1 Demographic characteristics of Respondents 26

4.1 Extent of family factors 28

4.3 Level of Pupils’ Academic Progress 34

4.4 Difference in the level of Academic Progress between male and female

pupils 37

4.5 Relationship between the extent of Family Factors and level of

Academic Progress 39

4.6 Regression analysis 41

CHAPTER FIVE 43

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 43

5.0 Introduction 43

5.1 Discussion of Findings 43

5.2 Conclusions 46

5.3 Recommendations 47

5.4 Areas for further research 47

REFERENCES 48

APPENDIX I 51

TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR THE RESPONDENTS 51

APPENDIX II 52

CLEARANCE FROM ETHICS COMMITTEE 52

APPENDIX III 53

INFORMED CONSENT 53

APPENDIX IV 54

PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS 54

APPENDIX V 55

QUESTIONNAIRE TO DETERMINE FAMILY FACTORS 55

APPENDIX VI 60

QUESTIONAIRE TO DETERMINE ACADEMIC PROGRESS 60