Publication: The influence of poverty on academic achievement of Secondary school students case of Ithanga zone in Thika East Sub-County of Kiambu County.
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2014-10
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
Access to education was one of the important basic human rights in all societies .In Kenya, the
provision of education had been one of the most critical issues of government social policy
especially since after independence in 1963.Poverty had however remained a stumbling block
for most people to attain the basic right .This study seek to investigate the influence of poverty
on academic achievement of secondary school students in Ithanga zone in Thika East sub
county of Kiambu county. The objectives of the research study were to identify the causes of
poverty among secondary students in Ithanga zone of
Thika East sub county ,explore the
types poverty encountered by secondary school students in Ithanga Zone of Thika East sub
county ,determine the effects of poverty on academic achievement of students in secondary
schools in Ithanga zone of Thika East sub county to find out the intervention measures
undertaken to improve the academic performance of poverty stricken students in Ithanga zone
in Thika East Sub county of Kiambu county .The methodology guiding This study was a case
study. Descriptive survey design was used to chose the sample population. The target
population in the study were 840 secondary students, 7 secondary school principals, 42
secondary school teachers and 7 PTA parents representative. The researcher sampled 40% of
the target population .Random sampling procedure was used to get members of the sample.
Questionnaires and interviews were the instruments were used in the data collection from the
respondents. The raw data collected was analyzed and presented using frequency and
percentage tables, graphs and pie charts. From the data finding obtained the researcher drew
the following conclusions .From the data findings obtained ,the researcher drew the following
conclusions Most of the respondents sampled were male by gender .Male gender was presented
by 57% .On the marital status of the respondents , most of the respondents were married .From
the data findings obtained on the causes of poverty among secondary school students in
Ithanga zone ,Large family size was the main cause of poverty among secondary school
students as it was mostly reported by the respondents . From the data finding on the types of
poverty encountered by secondary school students in Ithanga zone , absolute poverty was the
main type of poverty encountered by secondary school students in Ithanga . From the data
finding obtained on the effects of poverty among secondary students in Ithanga zone, the
researcher concluded that poverty made secondary school to perform poorly in their academic
tasks From findings on the intervention measures undertaken in secondary school to assist
students to improve academically, the researcher concluded that the schools were applying
bursaries for poverty stricken students and initiating school feeding programs in their schools
2. The researcher had recommended the following .The Teacher Service Commission (TSC)
should ensure gender balance in their secondary school teachers’ recruitment to ensure gender
The parents should ensure small family size which they can manage .This was so because
large
family size was found to be the major cause of poverty among secondary school
students in Ithanga zone .Both parents should involve themselves in an income themselves in
an income generating activities to ensure that the family get basic human needs such as food,
clothes and shelter .All secondary schools should initiate school feeding programs in order to
retain poverty stricken students in schools and This would motivate these students and as a
result these students from poverty affected family perform better .All secondary school parents
in the entire Ithanga zone should partner with the secondary school administration in the
provision of school feeding programs in schools as an intervention measure for assisting
poverty stricken students in improving their academic performance. Secondary school
principals should minimize sending off students home for school fees as chronic absenteeism
of students from schools affect their performance negatively .This was so because students
from poverty stricken homes were found to be out of school frequently due to lack of school
fees. The area member of parliament (MP) should fund the needy students through the
constituency development fund (CDF) to make them realize their dreams
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Keywords
Performance, Negative