TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION.jj
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LISTS OF FIGURES x
LIST OF TABLES xi
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS xiv
ABSTRACT
ChAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION 1
1 .1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 The Purpose of the Study 6
1.4 Research Objectives 6
1.5 Research Questions 6
1.6 Scope of the study 7
1,7 Significance of the Study 7
1.8 Basic Assumptions 8
1.9 Definition of Terms 8
1 .10 Organisation of the Study 9
V
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW 10
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Theoretical Review: Socialization theory 10
2.3 Academic Performance 11
2.4 Family Background and Students’ academic performance 11
2.5 Family Financial Situation 12
2.6 Parental Marital Status 14
2.7 Parental Education Level 17
2,8 Family Size 18
2.9 Conceptual Framework 19
2.9.1 Explanation of the conceptual framework 21
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 22
3.1 Introduction 22
3.2 ResearchDesign 22
3.3 Target Population 22
3.4 Sampling Procedures and Sample Size 23
3.5 Data Collection Instruments and Procedure 23
3.6 Reliability of the Instruments 24
3,7 Validity of the Instruments 24
3.8 Data Analysis Techniques 25
VI
3.9. Operationalization of variables 25
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION 28
4,1 Introduction 28
4.2 Respondents return rate 28
4.3.1 Demographic information 28
4.3.2 Gender 28
4.3.3 Category of school attended 29
4.4.1 Academic performance 30
4.4.2 Improvement of school in USE 30
4.4.3 Academic performance of students in the past term 31
4.4.4 Cross-tabulation of improvement of school and category of respondent 31
4.4.5 Trend of performance of child in the past 2 years 32
4.4.6 Cross tabulation of trend of student’s performance and category of respondents 32
4.5.1 Parents marital status and academic performance 33
4.5.2 Parents marital status 33
4.5.3 Type of family 34
4.5.4 Effect of family structure on academic performance 35
4.5.5 Relationship between marital status and academic performance of student 35
4.6.1 Family financial situation and academic performance 37
4.6.2 Family’s main source of income 37
4.6.3 Trend of monthly income 37
VII
4.6.4 Children’s school fees financing .38
4.6.5 Relationship between family financial status and academic performance 38
4.7.1 Parents’ education level and academic performance of students 39
4.7.2 Mother’s level of education 39
4.7.3 Fathers education level 40
4.7.4 Effect of parents education level on academic performance 40
4.7.5 Relationship between parents’ education level and academic performance of
Students 41
4.8.1 Family size and students’ academic performance 42
4.8.2 Number of children in the family 42
4.8.3 Effect of number of children on academic performance 43
4.8.4 Effect of birth position on students’ academic performance 43
4.8.5 Relationship between family size and acadethic performance of students 43
CMAPTER FIVE
SUM1~’IARY OF THE FINDINGS, DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 45
5.1 Introduction of the summary 45
5.2 Summary of the findings 45
5.2.1 The effect of Parental marital status on academic performance of students 45
5.2.2 The effect of family financial status on academic performance of
Students 45
viii
5.2.3 Effect of parents’ education level ~ ~d academic performance of students 46
5.2.4 Effect of family size and academic performance of students 47
5.3 Discussion findings 48
5.3.1 Parental Marital Status 48
5.3.2 Parental Education Level 48
5.3.3 Parental Marital Status 48
5.3.4 Parental Marital Status 48
5.4 Conclusion 49
5.5. Recommendations
5.6 Recommendations for further 50
REFERENCES 51
APPENDICES 53
Appendix 1: Authority Letter 53
Appendix 2: Questionnaire for Parents 53
Appendix 3: Interview Schedule forStudents 62
ABSTRACT One of the major aspects of the social pillar of the Uganda Vision 2030 is education. Uganda Vision 2040 points out education and training is an instrument to develop Uganda to be a middle-income economy. Family backgrounds have been highlighted as of great importance in molding the performance of children in schools worldwide. This study therefore investigated the effect of family background on the academic performance of students in Kagadi town council, Kagadi District. This study focused on the influences of~ parental marital status, family financial status, parents’ education level and family size on the academic performance of students in Kagadi town council, Kagadi District. The study employed a descriptive research design. The target population under study was 2,031 students in Kagadi town council and 2,031 parents. The study used a sample 338 students and parents which were selected by use of a proportionate stratified random sampling method. Data was collected by use of questionnaire for parents and interview schedule for students. The data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively and presented using frequencies, regression coefficient and Pearson’s coefficient correlation. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 was used to aid in generating a summary of results which were represented in tabular form. The findings of the study showed that parental marital status, family size, parent’s education level and family financial status had a positive relationship with academic performance of students. However, the findings showed that while the marital status of the parents was not significant in explaining the academic performance of students, but the type of family, either cohesive or conflictive had an effect in academic performance. The findings also showed that only 7% of students’ academic performance would be explained by the parents’ education level.
