Family size and parental education on students’ academic performance in selected secondary schools in Mombasa District
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Date
2010-08
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Kampala International University, College of Education, Open and Distance Learning
Abstract
This study set out to establish the relationship between family size and parental education factors on students’ academic performance in selected public day schools in Mombasa District. The study tested two research hypotheses that; I) family size and ii) parental education factors significantly influence students’ performance in Mombasa district. The study employed both cross sectional and correlational survey designs, with a sample of 72 students selected following Mugenda & Mugenda (1999)’s suggestions, using simple random, stratified random and purposive sampling. One set of questionnaire directed to form four students was used to collect data, Data analysis was done using SPSS’s simple frequency tables, mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s Linear Correlation Coefficient and Linear Regression Analysis. The findings indicated that on average students
rated their family sizes as moderate (mean index ~ 3), parents’ attention, parents’ presence and occupation, family nutrition and economic status AS medium while parents’ attention as low (mean index ~ 2). Parents offer inadequate coaching and mentorship (mean index ~ 2) and parents’ encouragement and follow-up was low (mean index ~ 2). Fathers’ education level was medium while mothers’ level was low. The findings indicated that students’ performance was average in terms of participation, attendance, scores and improvement (mean index~3), and poor in terms of doing corrections and revision (mean index~2). Pearson’s Linear Correlation Coefficient and Regression results found that; i) family size factors significantly influence students’ performance in Mombasa District ii) parental vi education factors significantly enhance students’ performance, with parents’ coaching and mentorship being the most important factors. The researcher concluded that; i) while Parents’ attention significantly improves students’ performance, family size, parents’ presence and occupation, Nutrition and family economic status positively correlate with students’ performance, although the correlations are not
significant; ii) Parental education factors significantly influence students’ performance altogether, however while coaching significantly improves students’ performance, Parents’ encouragement and followup do not. Mother’s education contributes more than for father’s. The researcher recommended that; I) Parents’ attention to students’ education, at home, should be increased to improve’ performance, all parents need to plan for their children irrespective of the number, increase on number of hours they stay with them at home, ensure they
are fed well and adequately (e.g. breakfast, lunch and supper), parents should send their children to educated relatives and friends (e.g. in holidays) to make them admire the goodness of education and strive to achieve the same; ii) Parents, schools, NGOs and the government should assist in educating the girl child as mothers contribute more to students performance, parents should always get time to coach their children at home and give them encouragement to study well.
Description
A thesis presented to the school of postgraduate studies and research Kampala International University Kampala, Uganda in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Education Administration and Management
Keywords
Family size, parental education, Academic performance, Mombasa District