Influence of homebased factors on students’ Participation rates in education in public day Secondary schools in Masinga District

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of home based factors on students’ participation rates in public day secondary schools in Masinga District guided by four objectives: To investigate the influence of family income, to investigate the influence of parents level of education, to determine the influence of parenting styles and to establish the influence of family type has on students participation rates in public day secondary schools in Masinga District. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. Quantitative and qualitative approaches of data collection were employed. A total of 368 respondents constituted the sample of the study;-34 head teachers, 50 parents, 75 teachers and 209 students. The researcher used two types of research instruments: namely questionnaires and interviews. The results revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between the levels of family income at 93.5% parents’ level of education 31.8%, parenting style 77.4% and family type 97% on students’ participation rates in Masinga District. The conclusions were that level of income led to low participation of students, the level of education of the parents is neutral on whether a student a student participates or not whereas the parenting style and family type relatively affects participation of day secondary school students in Masinga District in that it may promote or demote participation. xv The recommendation was that the government should increase bursaries and efforts made to empower families in Masinga District to ensure a steady income to these families. Non Governmental organizations should also come in give grants and loans to groups and individual that would like to invest so as to ensure they are capable in the provision of basic needs to their families and thus enhance participation as most children will enroll and actively participate in education. Increased awareness on the importance of education should be instilled on the parents and this will ensure every parent regardless of their education level will enroll their children in school. Proper seminars on how to raise and instill morals on children should be availed to parents to ensure a morally upright society is upheld. The researcher went ahead to suggest that further study should be done on the criteria used in disbursement of bursaries and other donor resources towards education attainment to ensure assistance is given to genuinely deserving students and curb any inefficiency in funds allocation. A study should also be done on the lifestyles of the Masinga District community so as to establish the reason for poverty and come up with a solution to the problem of low income, family breakups, separations divorce and other home based factors that may affect families and in turn affect students’ participation