EFFECTS OF SELECTED PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN KENYA CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN PUBLIC DAY SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MARANI SUB COUNTY, KISII COUNTY, KENY

Abstract

Psychosocial factors have effects in the students’ Academic Performance in Marani Sub- County. The purpose of this study was to examine the selected Psychosocial factors and their effects on students’ Academic Performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in public day secondary schools in Marani sub-county, Kisii county, Kenya. The specific objectives for this study were; to determine the effects of Peer Pressure on students’ Academic Performance in public day secondary schools of Marani Sub-County; to determine the effects of Parents’ Socio-economic Status on the students’ Academic Performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in public day secondary schools in Marani Sub- County; and to determine the effects of Students’ Attitude towards learning on students’ Academic Performance in public day secondary schools in Marani Sub- County. The study used descriptive research design. The target population from which the sample was drawn consisted of 29 public day secondary schools. The unit of analysis consisted of 1501 form four students, 29 principals and 301 teachers. A total of 30 teachers and 150 students was sampled using Random Sampling technique. Purposive Sampling was applied in selecting 9 Principals to participate in the study. Purposive Sampling enabled the researcher to reach the targeted sample quickly. The sample distribution was 150 Students, 30 Teachers and 9 Principals, giving a Sample size of 189 Respondents. The study used Questionnaires and Interview Guide as Data collection tools. The Questionnaires were given to Students and Teachers, while Interview Schedule was used when collecting data from Principals. This study employed Content validity and the Reliability coefficient of 0.8390 which was obtained using Cronbach’s Alpha and was taken as being a reliable measure of the instruments of data collection. Quantitative data analysis involved the calculation of Descriptive and Inferential statistics for all scales in the present study. Qualitative data analysis was done using content analysis .Data presentation was done using likert’s scale;- frequencies, pie charts, tables and percentages. The findings of this study indicated that there was a significant difference between the Students’ Peer Pressure and Academic Performance of the Students. It was established that the lower the Socio-economic status of the Parents, the lower the Academic Performance while the higher the Parents’ Socio-economic Status the higher the Academic Performance of the students. The students with negative attitude towards learning performed poorly in their Academics 45% Peer Pressure affected students’ Academic Performance in KSCE in Public day secondary schools in Marani Sub-County. 54% Parents’ Socio-economic Status affects Students’ Academic Performance in Public day secondary schools. 64 % Students’ Attitude towards learning affects their Academic Performance in KSCE in Public day secondary schools in Marani Sub- County. It was recommended that Parents need to monitor the kind of Peer Groups and what they watch from Media their Students have and find ways of enabling the Students’ to escape the bad effects which might fail them in their Academic Performance. Kisii county government in collaboration with Ministry of education should sensitize Parents with low level of education, to attend adult classes organised by the communities for them, to be explained about the reading culture, writing; nurture and monitoring Students’ Academic Performance in KCSE in Public day secondary schools, activities both at home and at school. The Principals and Teachers need to encourage Students to have peer teaching, peer guidance and counselling, consultative learning in order to have a positive Attitude towards learning in public Day schools in Marani sub-county