The Impact of Social Relationships on Students’ Academic Performance in Secondary Schools, Meru District Council, Arusha, Tanzania

The study assessed the impact of social relationships on students’ academic performance in secondary schools, Meru District Council, Arusha Tanzania. The following specific objectives: to assess the forms of relationships among students in secondary schools and their impact on students’ academic performance; and to investigate on the effects peers, family, school, and neighbours on students’ academic performance were studied. The study surveyed 504 secondary school students, and the data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test for independence and one-way Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA. Findings revealed six forms of relationships among students including: Friendship, Peers, Acquaintances, Classmates, Support groups, and Romantic. The forms of relationships found to have a significant impact on students’ academic performance. It was also found out that there are a significant effect of family, peers, schools and neighbours’ interactions on students’ academic performance. The study recommends that teachers pay attention on the kind of relationships among students because they may have both positive and negative outcomes, design guidance and counselling systems to guide students’ social interactions; Schools should establish a mutual relationship between the school members and family members for the sake of understanding and follow ups of students both academic and behavioural progresses.