ABSTRACT:
Conducive home environment is likely to motivate students to concentrate on studies without distractions. However, students who are brought up in a home environment that is disruptive, chaotic and lacking some essential facilities are likely to be discouraged from effective learning. Therefore, the study set to investigate the effects of home environment on the academic performance of day secondary schools in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County. The study was guided by the following objectives: To explore the role of family structure on students’ academic performance in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County; To find out the role of parenting style on students’ academic performance in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County; To investigate the influence of home chores on students’ academic performance in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County and to interrogate the influence of parent’s level of income on students’ academic performance in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County. The study was grounded on the Social Cognitive Theory of Albert Bandura. It adopted descriptive survey design approach. The population of the study was 408 from where a sample of 122 was drawn. Eventually, 107 respondents comprising of 98 students and 9 teachers were able to participate. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data. The study established that most students came from financially poor backgrounds and therefore could not afford most of the school requirements such as electricity, comfortable furniture and favourable reading environment at their homes. Students from single parent families were found to struggle to afford school which was hindering their academic progress due to absenteeism after being sent away to get school fees. Students coming from families with two parents were found to have high chances of having their parents follow up on their academic affairs. Parenting style and especially the authoritative style of parenting was found to be more supportive. The study recommends that parents should strive to have their children provided with school requirements such as school fees, uniform, stationery and follow the academic affairs of their children.