SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS AND STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS, MIJW ALA SUB COUNTY, SSEMBABULE DISTRICT UGANDA

ABSTRACT

The research was carried out in Mijwala Sub-county Ssembabule District to find out the effect of

socio-economic status on students academic performance. The research was guided by the

following objectives; To examine the effects of Education levels of parent on students' academic

performance, to determine the effects of parental status on students' academic performance, to

examine effects of parental marital status on students' academic performance, to examine the

effects of parental employment status on students' academic performance. The research used self

administered questionnaires as the research instrument to collect data from 90 students in three

schools 30 from each and they were selected randomly. Descriptive survey design was used. The

findings indicated that parents who are more educated have children who attained good class

position that is (50%) were in positions I" - 5th

, it was also discovered that students whose parents

are married, 26 (55%) do history and English better compared to those students whose parents are

separated, the findings also revealed that students whose parents separated did well in terms of

subject grade i.e. 11 (61%) got distinctions, The findings revealed further that students whose

parents were doing business attained good class positions i.e. 16 (57%) were in position I st - 10"'.It

can be concluded that parental education, Parental job type and parental status significantly affect

,tudents academic performance. The general recommendations have been made that, the

government should encourage adult education such that parents get to know the value of Education

md teach their young ones, also the government should ensure equitable distribution of income,

\fodernization of agriculture, poverty eradication programs among others aiming at raising peoples

ncome so as to be able to facilitate their children with required care and material to perform better.