Parental Economic Activities and Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Students' performance has been left in the hands of teachers, and who are solely blamed for learners' poor performance. This study investigated the perceived influence of parents' economic activity on secondary school students' performance. The study used a cross-sectional survey research design. The study employed questionnaires to collect data. The target population was 109,151, consisting of 52,650 students, 3,851 teachers and 52,650 parents. The study used simple random sampling to sample 212 form four students, 212 parents and 121 teachers. Purposive sampling was used to sample 53 principals from 53 randomly selected public secondary schools. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic data analysis. The study concluded that there is no significant relationship between principals', teachers', parents' and students' perception of the influence of parental economic activity on students' academic performance and actual students' academic performance in Meru County, Kenya.