Publication: Impact of Family Background on Student’s Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Mathira West District, Nyeri County.
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2015-11
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of family background on
student’s academic performance in public secondary schools.
The research carried out in this work has indicated that for higher academic
performance, the student foundation that is the family background is a key
determinant.
Various factors such as family type, size, social economic status and educational
background of the parents adversely affects the student’s academic performance.
The research has shown that children from poor backgrounds may have access to
education or not. Their parents are reluctant to take them to school due to various
challenges.
Those who take theirs face many challenges. Many drop outs are students from
poor backgrounds. Also students from poor background do not perform well as
most of the time they are out of school due to lack of school fees and other basic
needs. From the research, it is quite evident that educational provision is closely
linked with children’s background which is determined by the recipient’s class,
power and status. The research shows that children from poor families do not
access complementary learning experiences that would expose them. This is due to
family background which has created social class and thus social stratification.
Students from well up backgrounds attend private schools that has a wide varieties
of facilities. Such schools produce excellent results due to the good facilities
available. The criterion for attending such schools depends on parent’s ability to
pay school fees. Hence, the student will be kept in school throughout absenteeism.
Family background creates social class of an individual society. People of high
social economic status send their children to school earlier and have resources to
spend on their children. The availability of resources may affect the academic
performance of the student either positively or negatively.
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Bachelor of Education