EFFECTS OF SINGLE PARENTING ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE A CASE STUDY OF MANJASI HIGH SCHOOL, TORORO DISTRICT
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Date
2024-09-17
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
While some students have been able to make achievements under equitable education, these
achievements have been unevenly distributed among students, within schools and among
countries. Despite of unprecedented effort at universal education by government, millions of
students fail to attain desired levels of academic performance. This determined the effect of
single parenthood on students‟ academic performance at Manjasi high School, Tororo District.
Specifically, the study investigated factors contributing to single parenthood and assessed how
single parenthood has affected the academic performance of students at Manjasi high School,
Tororo District. The study also examined interventions put in place to improve academic
performance of students at Manjasi high School. Data was collected from 80 respondents from
Manjasi high School who included opinion leaders, child welfare officers and parents. Data was
collected using surveys and interviews. Study participants were identified using probability and
non-probability sampling. The study employed a mixed research approach using descriptive
study and case study designs and data processing was done through editing of the data which will
be coded for further data analysis. Data from questionnaires was analyzed using both descriptive
statistics while interview data was analyzed using frequency analysis by counting the number of
times of responses had by the respondents. Findings showed that family conflicts and gender and
domestic violence contribute to single parenthood. Other factors that contribute to single
parenthood found by the study are stress and anger by either spouse, drug and alcohol abuse and
lack of adequate financial resources. Further, the study found that students of single parents
usually experience absenteeism and school dropout and they lack of scholastic materials with
persistent health problems that reduces on attendance. The study also found that single
parenthood leads to student indiscipline due to lack of parental involvement and lack of family
support may lead to reduced concentration and performance of students. Additionally, a number
of interventions to help enhance academic performance of students were found such as guidance
and counseling programs should be implemented in schools and there is need to rebuild broken
relationships among couples so as to encourage their children to study and remain in school.
Strengthening marriages laws may help to enhanced academic performance and the church
should take center stage in addressing family problems and this may help to promote school
learning of children from single parents. The recommended putting in place peace and conflict
resolution mechanisms for families to help strengthen marriages and couples should seek
counseling from social workers and marriages expert to help address the most pressing
challenges in their marriages.