Parental Illiteracy And Learners' Academic Perfomance In Ntugi Zone, Abothuguchi Central Division, Merv Central District, Kenya

ABSTRACT Generally, various researcher report have revealed that more highly educated mothers have greater success in providing their children with the cognitive and language skills that contribute to early success in school (Sticht & McDonald, 1990). Also, children of mothers with high levels of education stay in school longer than children of mothers ·with low levels of education. Parental iY(f/uence on the intellectual, social, economic, psychological and moral .formation of children in schools is arguably one of the most enduring marks in the history of children's growth. Part of the reason for this is that parent's ability lo discipline and encourage children is enormous, and this aspect put them in a unique and strategic position not only to produce and sustain good principles of good academic pe1formance, but also to help instill socio-religious values and morals. ft also serves as a way of establishing good and appropriate relationships between members. This when enhanced sets the ground of good pe1for111ance in their later intellectual maturity in schools. This study, therefore, focused on a narrow population instead of the populations most likely experiencing the difficulties in child parenr relationship in so far as literacy is concerned. This is in order to show the correlation between parental literacy and academic pe1formance of children in schools. In order to arrive at desired results, the study was guided by the following objectives, _first, to evaluate how parental illiteracy influences the perfimnance of learners' in schools. Secondly, the study sought to determine parental literacy in Ntugi Zone, Ntugi, Division, Meru Central district. Lastly, to give policy recommendations on enhancing Parental literacy. In this line, the study found out that parental involvement at school and home portrays a link with their children's literacy skills at the later stage in schools. This viii affects children academically either positively or negatively. The study found justification in the fact that improving literacy skills of children is an essential goal of every school literacy program. Such programs not only intend to publicize its name but to assert the importance of academic grmwh. However, this noble goal cannot be realized so if all stake holders in the children academic pe1formance and upbringing are not involved. The outcomes of this study are useji1l in that !hey may help policy makers of education with reference point. Besides, !he entire study is a contribution of new knowledge to the pool ofknml'!edge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION: ............................................................................................................ i 

APPROVAL .................................................................................................................... ii 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................................. iv 

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ v 

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ viii 

DEFINITION OF TERMS ............................................................................................ vii 

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. I 

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... I 

1.1 Background to the study ............................................................................................ 1 

1.2 Statement of the problem .......................................................................................... 3 

1.3 Objectives of the study .............................................................................................. 3 

1.3.1 General objective .................................................................................................... 3 

1.3.2 Specific objectives .................................................................................................. 4 

1.4 Justification of the study ............................................................................................ 4 

1.6 Scope of the study ..................................................................................................... 5 

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................. 6 

LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................ 6 

2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 6 

2.5 PURPOSE OF EDUCATION ................................................................................. 10 

V 

CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................... 12 

METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 12 

3 .0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 12 

3.1 Research design ....................................................................................................... 12 

3.2 Population ofstudy .................................................................................................. 12 

3.3 Study sample ........................................................................................................... 12 

3.4 Research instruments ............................................................................................... 13 

3 .5 Data analysis and interpretation .............................................................................. 13 

3.6 Research procedure ................................................................................................. 14 

3.7 Limitations of the study ........................................................................................... 14 

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................. 15 

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ............................... 15 

4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 15 

4.2 Demographic Information of the Respondents ....................................................... 15 

CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....... 21 

5.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 21 

5.2 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 21 

5.3 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 22 

5.4 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................ 23 

REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 24 

APPENDICES APPENDIX l: ...................................................................................... 25 

QUESTIONNAIRE ....................................................................................................... 25 

APPENDIX II: .............................................................................................................. 27 

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TEACHERS ........................................................................ 27 

APPENDIX Ill: ............................................................................................................ 29 

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR LITERATE PARENTS ....................................................... 29