Parents’ Attributes and Students Academic Performance in Selected Secondary Schools in Nyamira North District. Kenya

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the parent’s socio-economic status and students’ Academic performance in selected secondary schools in Nyamira North District of Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were: to investigate the relationship between income level of parents and students’ academic performance, to investigate relationship of parental attitudes towards education and academic performance of students and to investigate the relationship between parent’s education and the academic performance of students in Nyamira North District of Kenya. The researcher used descriptive survey designs where both qualitative and quantitative designs were used. The researcher used random sampling technique to selected 10 schools to acquire a sample of 100 respondents out of the 500 population. The findings indicated that the income level of parents affects the academic performance of students. The children from well off families showed a better academic performance than students from relatively poor homes and this was associated to low income or high income factor. The researcher also found out that the family structure positively or negatively affects the academic achievement in the sense that children from single parent families had a lower academic achievement compared to children who had both parents alive. Parental attitudes are another factor which affects the academic achievement. The findings revealed that most parents have negative attitudes towards education which hinders them from taking students to school and paying their school fees on time. The researcher recommended the schools to help students with low income by paying for their school fees and provision of basic need. The researcher also recommended that parents to help their children in achieving their educational dream.