Academic Performance Of Children Living With Single Parents In Mwingi Central, Mwingi District Kenya

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the academic performance of

children living with single parents in Mwingi Central, Mwingi District Kenya.

Specific Objectives of the study were: (1) To investigate the relationship

between children living with single parents and poor performance, (2)

Investigate the relationship between children living with single parents and

emotional stress, (3) Investigate the relationship between children living with

single parents and dropping out of school and (4) Investigate the relationship

between children living with single parents and delinquent behavior.

The methods used for data collection were questionnaires to the teachers and

focus group discussions with the parents.

The findings revealed that children from single parent families were likely to

drop out of school, perform poorly in school, have emotional stress and involve

in delinquent behaviors.

The study recommended: that:

The government and policy makers should take into consideration the

problems of children living with single parents.

The single parents should also be counseled on social needs of their children so

that their academic work will not suffer at school. Children and their parents should be counseled together to help both the child and the parent.

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION Ii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT iv

DEFINITION OF TERMS v

TABLE OF CONTENT vi

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS X

LIST OF TABLES xi

ABSTRACT Xii

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 4

1.3 Purpose of the Study 5

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 5

1.4.1 General 5

1.4.2 Specific Objectives were~ 5

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 6

1.6. SCOPE 6

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 8

CHAPTER TWO 9

LITERATUREREVIEW 9

2.0. Introduction 9

2.1 The status of Girls Education in Africa 9

2.2 Reasons for Low Enrolment of Girls in form one or secondary schoolsl0

2.2.1. Safety and security of girls .10

2.2.2. The curriculum 11

2.2.3. Harmful traditional practices 11

2.2.4. Attitudes towards girl’s education 13

2.2. 5. Poverty 14

2.2.6. Sanitary conditions 14

2.3 Theoretical framework 15

CHAPTER THREE 17

METHODOLOGY 17

3.0 Introduction 17

3.1 Research Design 17

3.2 Environment / Area and population of study 17

3.3 Sample selection 17

3.4 Data Collection 17

3.4.1 Research instruments 17

3.5. Data Collection Procedures 18

3.6. Methods of data analysis 18

3.7 Statistical Treatment of Data 18

CHAPTER FOUR 19

FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATIONS 19

4.1 Introduction 19

4.2 Profile of the respondents 19

4.3 Reasons for low enrollment of girls in form one 20

4.3.1. Safety and security of girls and enrolment in secondary schools. 20

4.3.2. The curriculum and enrollment of girls in form one 22