Effects of Parental Socio-Economic Status on Secondary Students’ Performance: Case Study of Green Field Secondary School, Masindi District

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of parental socioeconomic status on students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Masindi District. The study sought to determine the influence of parents’ income, educational leveland occupation on students’ academic performance. A descriptive survey design using a sample of 169 students Questionnaires was used to collect information from students. Quantitative data from the questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS). Target population was students in Green Field Secondary School, Masindi District. The findings of the study were that parents income influences students’ academic performance, parents’ level of education influences students’ academic performance and parents’ occupation influences students’ academic performance. In order to improve students’ academic performance the study recommends that; schools should put in place systems to enhance parental involvement in education, the government should increase bursary allocation to students from poor families to retain them in school and parents should be highly sensitized about the benefits of parental involvement in education.