Influence of home background on pre-school children's academic performance in Mathematics, Mukuru Kwa Njenga pre-school, Embakasi Nairobi County

Abstract

Pre-school is the preparatory stage for the young children. They need proper attention at horne and outside the horne for good academic performance and , for the development of the nation. This research entitled influence of horne background on academic performance in mathematics in Mukuru kwa Njenga pre-school in Embakasi, Nairobi County investigates how horne background influences academic performance. The world conference on Education for all (EF A) which took place in J omtiem Thailand in March 1990 articulated the significance of the early years as foundation for the life of an individual. These deliberations have been corroborated by recent study by Shore Rima (1997) on brain development. This emphasizes that the first years of life are extremely important. The objectives of the study was to find out if horne background influences pre- school children's academic performance in number work. The respondents of the study were twenty pre-school children, two pre-school teachers, one head teacher, twenty parents of the pre-school children who were also respondents. Ali these were drawn from Mukuru kwa Njenga pre-school in Embakasi, Nairobi County. The instruments used were questionnaires for the head teacher and the pre-school teachers, interview guide for the pre-school parents and documentary analysis forms for the pre-school children. The findings were organized in relation to the factors in the horne which influence pre- school children's academic performance in mathematics and interpretation of data was done in form of pie charts, bar graphs and tables. The study came up with various recommendations among them; The parents/guardians in Mukuru kwa Njenga pre-school should ensure that their children do not cover too long distances to and from school by residing near the school. Parents/guardians in Mukuru kwa Njenga pre-school should always have. a positive attitude towards their children's work in mathematics. Parents/guardians should be willing to provide resources necessary for their children's academic work to equip the pre-school children with necessary skills and knowledge relevant to their level.