Influence of parents’ participation in school management on academic performance: a case of public secondary schools in Siakago division, Embu county

Abstract

The main aim of the study is to investigate the influence of parent’s participation in management of public secondary schools on academic performance in Siakago Division in Embu County. The objectives of this study were: to investigate the influence of parents’ participation in decision making, school financing, motivating learners and maintenance of physical facilities of schools on students’ academic performance in Siakago division in Embu County. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data from the students and teachers, while an interview schedule were used to collect data from the head teachers and the parents. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to analyze the data. Research questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages of the response. From the study finding, the benefits of parental participation in school management have not been realized in many of the schools, which has been affecting academic performance. It was evidence in the study findings that parents’ participation in decision making, school financing, motivating learners and maintenance of physical facilities of schools affects students’ academic performance in Siakago division in Embu County. The recommendation of the study was to parents to take up specific roles in school management and indicating the values of their participation in school management let alone making it possible for them to participate in school managerial activities through conducting the managerial functions in which they are involved in ways and in modes of communication that the parents comfortably understand.