Factors that affect students’ and pupils’ academic performance in Kericho west district: a case study of Seretut location

Abstract

This research was conducted in Kericho West District public primary and secondary schools between February and March, 2015 in which Seretut Location was taken as a case study. It has been noted that a number of schools in Kenya have not been performing well academically as witnessed from a series of examination results released by Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) for the last 7 years. This then necessitated a research which was conducted in Kericho West District. Seretut Location was then selected conveniently for this purpose. The research therefore sought to investigate factors that contribute to students/pupils academic performance. These factors included socio-economic, students’ gender, parents’ education, parents’ occupation, physical facilities and teaching staff in these schools. Stratified random sampling was used to identify the schools to study. Interview techniques and questionnaire schedules were used as tools for collecting data. The results from the study showed that the level of parents’ education, socio-economic status, improved physical facilities as well as adequate members of the teaching staff have a positive impact on the child’s academic performance.