Socio-Demographic Predictors of Academic Performance among Adolescents in Selected Private Secondary Schools in Athi-River Sub-County, Kenya.

Rose Ngondi, Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology; Lincoln Khasakhala, M.D, Ph.D., University of Nairobi; & Philemon Yugi, Ph.D., Daystar University.

Abstract

One of the key social pillars of the Kenya Vision 2030 is education and training, which envisages education and training as a pathway of developing Kenya towards a middle-income economy. Sociodemographic variables have been highlighted as important factors in determining the academic performance of students worldwide. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine sociodemographic predictors of academic performance among adolescents (13-18 years) in secondary schools in Athi-River sub-County. Purposive, simple and systematic random sampling techniques were used to select four private secondary schools and 120 participants. Students’ previous academic performance was availed by the class teachers. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed. The sociodemographic predictors of academic performance were belonging to younger age category (13-15 years) (p = 0.05), being in form 2 (p < 0.01), having no siblings (p < 0.01), and maternal employment (p<0.01). These results showed that these predictors influenced the academic performance of the adolescents under study. Based on findings of the study, it was suggested that all education stakeholders should take into account socio-demographic factors in developing programs to enhance students’ academic performance.

Keywords: demographic, predictors, academic performance, adolescents