Family Structures and Academic Achievement: A Study of Family-Related Influences on KCSE Performance in Samburu County's Public Secondary Schools

Abstract

This study aimed to establish the family-related factors that affect students' performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in public secondary schools in Samburu County, with a focus on understanding the unique challenges faced by students from nomadic pastoralist backgrounds. Despite improvements in Kenya's secondary education system, including increased enrollment and infrastructure, academic performance in Samburu County remains low. The study used a mixed-methods approach, collecting data through structured questionnaires from Form IV school leavers and high school principals. The focus was on family-related factors such as the educational level of guardians, parental occupation, and socio-economic status and their impact on students' KCSE performance. The data were analysed using mean, frequencies, and p-values to identify significant factors. The study found that the level of education of guardians was the most significant family-related factor influencing academic performance. Additionally, socio-economic status and parental occupation were also found to have a notable impact on students' ability to perform well in KCSE. The study concluded that family-related factors, especially the educational background and socio-economic status of parents, significantly affect KCSE performance in Samburu County. The study recommends strategies to improve parental involvement in education, such as increasing awareness about the importance of education and initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of families to support students' educational outcomes.