ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of parental socio-economic status on students’ academic performance in selected secondary schools in Kagadi Town Council, Kagadi district. The study sought to determine the influence of parents’ income, educational level and occupation on students’ academic performance. A descriptive survey design using a sample of 80 students, 8 teachers and 20 parents’ representatives were used to execute the study. Questionnaires were used to collect the information from students and teachers while interview schedule were employed to collected information from parents. Quantitative data from the questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) and then presented in tables. The qualitative data from the questionnaire were managed through thematic technique. The target population was parents’ representatives, teachers and students of selected secondary schools in Kagadi Town Council. The findings of the study were that parents’ income, parents’ level of education and parents’ occupation positively influences students’ academic performance to a greater extent. In order to improve students’ academic performance the study recommends that, the government increase bursary allocation to students from poor families to retain them in school.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION .i

APPROVAL .11

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

LIST OF TABLES viii

ABSTRACT ix

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS x

CIIAPTERON]! 1

INTRODUCTiON 1

1.0. introduction 1

1.1. Backvound to the study 1

1.2. Statement ofthe Research problem 2

1.3. Purpose ofthe study 2

1.4. Objectives ofthe study 2

1.5. Research Questions 3

1.6. Significance of the study 3

1.7. hypothesis ofthe study 3

1.8. Scope of the study 4

1.9. Operational Definitions of key terms 4

1.10. Conceptual framework 5

CHAPTER TWO 6

LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.0. Introduction 6

2.1. Conceptual review 6

2.2. Contextual Review 6

2.2.1. Parents’ income and students’ academic peribnnance 6

2.22. Parents’ level of’ education and students’ academic performance 7

2.2.3. Parents’ occupation and students’ academic perfonnance 8

V

2.3. Theoretical I~evie~~ .9

2.4 Review of Related literature 1 0

CHAPTER TI TREE 14

METHODOLOGY 14

3.0. Introduction 14

3.1. Description of the area of the study 14

3.2. Research Design 14

3.3. target population 14

3.4. Sample size and sampling procedure 15

3.5. Research instruments 16

3.5.1. Validity 16

3.5.2. Reliability of Instruments 16

3.6. Data collection Procedure 1 6

3.7. Data Analysis Techniques 17

3.8. Ethical Considerations 17

CHAPTER FOUR 1 9

DATA ANALYSIS. iNTERPRETA~lION AND PRESENTATiON 1 9

4.0 IHtroduction 1 9

4. 1 Questionnaires Return Rate 1 9

4.3 Background Characteristics of the Respondents 1 9

4.3.1 Respondents Distribution by Gender 19

4.3.2 l)istribution of Students by Age 20

4.3.3 Distribution of Teachers by age 20

4.3.4 Tcachers~ Professional Qualification 21

4.3 .5I,eachers’ Working Experience 21

4.4 School Type 22

4.5. Students’ Academic Performance in Kagadi Town Council, Kagacli District 22

4.6 Discussion of Research Objectives 23

4.6. 1 Parents’ Income and Students’ Academic Performance 23

4.6.2 Parents Level of Education and Students’ Academic Performance 26

4.6.3 Parents’ Occupation and Students’ Academic Performance 30

4.6 Discussion of Open Ended Questions from Parents’ Interview Schedule 32

CHAPTER FIVE 34

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 34

5.1 Introduction 34

5.2 Summary of the findings 34

5.3. Recommendations of the study 35

5.4. Recoinmenclati on for further Research 35

REFERENCES 36

APPENDICES 37

APPENDIX A: QUESTiONNAIRE 37

APPENDIX B: QUESTiONNAIRE FOR CLASS TEACHERS 42

APPENI)[X C: INTERVIEW GUIDE 46

APPENDIX D~ 48

A SKETCh MAP OF UGANDA SI 10 WING THE LOCATION OF KAGADI DISTRICT 48

APPENDIX F. I3UDG FT ESTIMATE FOR TI-IE RESEARCII STUDY 49

APPENDIX F. RESEARCII TIME FRAME 50