Socio- Economic Factors And Mathematics Academic Performance Of Students At Kenya Certificate Of Secondary Education Of St. Paul’s Igonga Secondary School In Kisii Central District, Kenya.

ABSTRACT

For many years academicians and researchers have debated about factors that

influence a student academic performance in mathematics. From this debate,

they have come to agree that soclo- economic factors are among other factors

that influence a student’s academic performance in mathematics. This study

aimed at establishing socio- economic factors that affect mathematics

performance of students at Kenya certificate of secondary education of St. Paul’s

Igonga secondary school in Kisii central district, Kenya. Objectives of the study

were to: determine the profile of the respondents, the performance in

mathematics at KCSE level at St Paul’s Igonga Secondary School for the last

three years, Students performance in mathematics at KCSE level. Socio economic

factors affecting students’ performance in Mathematics at KCSE level and

determine if there is a significant relationship or difference between socio

economic factors and students’ performance in mathematics at KCSE level.

Questionnaires were used to source information on the social economic factors

influencing mathematics performance. Data was analyzed using Software

Package for Social Sciences (SPSS R version 11.5). Most of the student

respondents were males indicating gender bias in enrolments whereas many

students were between the ages of 15 to 17 years. Entry behavior in

mathematics from primary school was high (B). The study indicates that parental

economic activities, fees payment responsibility having both parents give

frequency of being sent home for fees and availability of instructional materials

are highly significant (P< 0.05) to students’ math emetics performance in

mathematics at K.C.P,E level and thus could imply the same at K.C.S.E.

Therefore it is recommended that the government of Kenya should allocate more

bursaries to enable students learn because majority are often sent home for fees

and are from single parent family hence strain financially leading to frequent

absenteeism of students due to lack of school fees. Few students pass very well

in Maths from primary level; therefore teachers should put more effort in the

subject.