Academic Performance of Teenagers from Single Parent Families in Kenya: Focus on Kajiado County High Schools

This book is designed out of an empirical study conducted to investigate academic performance of teenagers from single parents’ families. Given that the numbers of single parenting families have been on the rise for diverse reasons, it is important for parents, teachers and other stakeholders of basic education to find out whether single parenthood affects the academic performance of their children at teenage. This is because teenage is a major transition stage in life and brings along identity issues that may affect self-perception and hence academic performance. Data was collected from teenagers and from parents of teenagers using questionnaires. The findings indicated that single parenthood did not have any direct effect on the academic performance of teenagers. The factors that had direct effect were: Parental involvement on the teenager’s education, social economic status of parents and the classroom environment. Gender was also a factor, but it was dependent on the gender socialization of teenagers. The book therefore can help parents to: improve their involvement in the education of their children, improve their social economic status, work with teachers in enhancing safe classroom environment and to socialize their children, whether male or female, in an empowering way. Teachers, policy makers and other stakeholders need to work together to empower teenagers to thrive holistically regardless of their parenting backgrounds.