Contribution of Student Economic Adjustment on Academic Achievement among Secondary School Students in Western Kenya

Abstract

Students in secondary schools post very poor grades at the end of the four years in secondary school. This is attributed to home and school factors. This study sought to establish the contribution of economic adjustment to academic performance in Secondary Schools in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive survey design which focused on determining the status of the defined population. The study population comprised of 2500 form three students, 90 guiding and counseling teachers, 90 directors of studies from the respective schools and one sub county education officer. A total of 250 form three students, 9 guiding and counseling teachers, 9 directors of studies, 9 deputy principals and 1 sub county director of Education constituted the study sample. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 250 forms three students. Simple random sampling was used to select 9 guiding and counseling teachers, 9 directors of studies and 9 deputy principals while saturated sampling was used to select 1 Education officer. Three schools were used during the pilot study to ascertain the validity and reliability of the instruments.  Questionnaire, interview schedule and a document analysis guide were used in data collection and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was prescribed, recorded   and reported in themes and sub-themes. The quantitative data was recorded using frequency tables and pie charts. Findings revealed that student's economic adjustment has a significant contribution on academic achievement in secondary schools in Sabatia sub county Vihiga County. It was concluded that economic adjustment has a significant effect on academic achievement among students in secondary schools in Kenya. It is recommended that teachers and parents need to create a conducive economic environment in learning institutions and at home to enhance high level of student adjustment and academic achievement.