INFLUENCE OF SELECTED SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS ON KCSE PERFORMANCE IN DADAAB REFUGEE CAMP GARISSA

Abstract

Education, an essential human right and a catalyst for socioeconomic advancement, encounters numerous challenges, particularly evident in marginalized communities such as the Dadaab refugee camp in Garissa County, Kenya. Despite its significance, achieving quality education faces hurdles influenced by socioeconomic factors. In educational research, understanding the intricate interplay between socioeconomic factors and KCSE performance has been a focal point for decades. Socioeconomic status (SES) encompasses various dimensions including income, parental education level, parental occupation, and access to resources. This study aimed at investigating the influence of socioeconomic factors on KCSE performance among secondary school students in the challenging context of Dadaab Refugee Camp, located in Garissa, Kenya. The study recognized the significance of socioeconomic status (SES) as a crucial determinant of educational outcomes, particularly in marginalized and refugee communities where access to resources and opportunities may be limited. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather comprehensive data. By employing a mixed research approach, this study can triangulate findings from quantitative and qualitative data, enriching the analysis and providing a more comprehensive understanding of the interplay between socioeconomic factors and KCSE performance in the context of a refugee camp. Quantitative surveys assessed demographic information, SES indicators, KCSE performance, and educational aspirations among secondary school students. Qualitative interviews with students, parents, teachers, and community leaders provided deeper insights into the lived experiences, perceptions, and challenges related to socioeconomic factors affecting academic achievement. Through statistical analysis and thematic coding, the study aims to identify correlations between SES variables and academic outcomes, as well as explore the underlying mechanisms and narratives shaping these relationships. Based on the findings therefore, the study concluded that the study indicates that was a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between parents’ level of education and KCSE performance among secondary school students in Dadaab refugee camp, Garissa County, (r = 00.531; p < 00.05). This means that parents’ level of education impacted positively on KCSE performance among secondary school students in Dadaab refugee camp, Garissa County. The study showed that there was a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between house hold income level and KCSE performance among secondary students in Dadaab refugee camp, Garissa County. (r = 00.591; p < 00.05). This means that household income level impacts positively on KCSE performance among secondary students in Dadaab refugee camp, Garissa County. The study showed that there was a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between school strategies put in place and KCSE performance of secondary school learners in Dadaab refugee camp, Garissa County Kenya. (r =- 00.589; p < 00.05). This showed that school strategies put in place improve KCSE performance of secondary school learners in Dadaab refugee camp, Garissa County.