Nexus between Participation of Single Parents in School Activities and the Academic Performance of Learners in Public Primary Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya

Single parenting is on increase in Kenya. Participation of parents in school activities is one of the key factors which contributes to the academic performance of learners. The responsibility of bringing up children is shouldered by one parent in single parent families unlike in families with both parents where responsibilities are likely to be shared. Consequently, single parenthood may influence how learners participate in school activities in ways that need to be investigated in a study of this nature. Single parenting is on increase in Kiambu County with an average of every four learners out of ten being from single parent families. The academic performance of learners in public schools has been on decline for the last five years in Kiambu County. This paper is based on research that investigated effects of participation of single parents in school activities on the academic performance of learners in public primary schools in Kiambu County. The study utilized descriptive survey research design. It employed stratified random sampling to select two hundred and sixty-four participants. Data was collected using Questionnaires, interview schedule and FGD schedule. Qualitative data was analysed thematically while quantitative data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Inferential analysis was done using multiple regression analysis model. The study findings indicated that participation of single parents in school activities had significant effect on the academic performance of learners in public primary schools in Kiambu County. It was further realized that single mothers participated more in school activities than in single fathers which had proportionate effect on the academic performance of learners in public primary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study recommends that teachers and school administration should ensure they create awareness to parental involvement in school activities while the government through the Ministry of Education (MOE) should come up with clear policy guidelines on Parental Engagement and Empowerment (PEE) as one of the key components in the Competency Based Education (CBE).