Influence Of Parental Involvement On Boy-Child’s Academic Performance In Public Primary Schools In Tinderet Sub-County, Nandi County Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of parental involvement on boy-child‟s academic performance in public primary schools in Tinderet Sub-County, Nandi County. This was necessitated by the concern for many years there has been poor performance of the boy- child in academics and more had dropped out of schools to fend for their families especially from estate schools; this was reflected by the report from the ministry of education indicating that the mean mark for the boy child was dismally below the average mark. This study was guided by the following objectives; to determine the influence of parents‟ checking boy child‟s home work on boy child‟s academic performance in public primary schools, to establish the influence of parents‟ attending school meetings on boy child‟s academic performance; to assess the influence of parents discussing school activities on boy child‟s academic performance and to establish the influence of parents motivating teachers on boy-child‟s academic performance in Tinderet Sub-county Nandi County Kenya. The study was conducted in Nandi County. This study used descriptive survey design which allowed large amount of data to be collected over a short period of time. The study targeted 106 teachers, 106 parents and 1191 standard 7 boy-Childs. 32 teachers, 32 parents and 357 standard 7 boy -childs were sampled which was 30% of the target population. The study used cluster sampling, simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods to sample the respondents. The research study employed quantitative technique in collecting and analyzing data. The study used purposively sampling method to select standard seven boy-child. The study used questionnaire for boy-child, parents and teachers. Validity of the instruments was ensured by the expert (supervisors) judgment who were conversant with the area of study, reliability of instruments was determined through a pilot study. The following procedure of data collection was followed; first a letter of authorization was sought from the university, the introductory letter was sent to NACOSTI for a research permit, this permit was presented at the county Directors office and the sub county Directors office for permission to collect data from schools. Quantitative data was summarized, coded and tabulated. Data was coded and analyzed using SPSS then presented in tables and figures. From the results of the study the following were the findings; 64% of the respondents agreed that parents are involved in their boy-child‟s homework, 51% of respondents agreed that attending school meetings by parents leads to good boy-child performance, 71% of the respondents strongly agreed that discipline and collaborations aids in academic activities, 61% of the respondents strongly agreed that motivated teachers go a long way in improving the boy-child performance. This resulted in the following conclusions; parents had enough time to interact with the boy-child, that discipline aids in academic performance and that motivated teachers will go a long way in improving the boy-child performance. Ethical consideration especially Integrity and honesty on respondent‟s rights were observed. The study recommended that parents should come home early to assist boy child in doing homework, they should be involved in school matters of their boy-child. Furthermore, the school should establish effective partnerships with parents to ensure that the learner‟s discipline is promoted both at school and at home. The study also recommends that motivation in schools should be improved in order to enhance the teachers‟ productivity in terms of academic performance of boy-childs‟.