Influence of Parental Income on Students’ Educational Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis of Perceptions in Public and Private Schools in Nandi County, Kenya

Dennis Ndori Maluha

doi:10.53103/cjess.v6i6.586

Authors

Dennis Ndori Maluha Koitaleel Samoei University College, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53103/cjess.v6i6.586

Keywords:

Parental Income, Educational Outcomes, Socioeconomic Status, Human Capital Theory, Public and Private Schools, Kenya, ANOVA, Educational Equity

Abstract

Across countries, there are disparities in the family income of families raising children. Studies worldwide have shown that children’s parental income level determines several aspects of their education, such as the type of school they attend and the resources available at the institution. The topic of parental income and its impact is examined in this study among public and private junior comprehensive schools in Nandi County, Kenya. The Human Capital and Socioeconomic Status theory of Shannon and Mestry (2020) provided the framework for this study’s design. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods research design was used. The study employed questionnaires administered to headteachers, teachers, and parents’ representatives on the School Board of Management of the selected schools as participants. A stratified proportionate sampling procedure was used, representing the 7470-parent population, with 99 respondents selected for the analysis. The study used descriptive statistics to describe the data and Analysis of Variance to determine if there were any significant differences between the study groups. The results showed that parental income significantly predicts school choice, access to learning materials, tutorial attendance, and student outcome (F = 6.214, p < 0.05). The participants from both public and private schools concurred that parental income has a great impact on accessing education resources and consistent school attendance. This study’s findings are consistent with studies conducted worldwide establishing a link between parental income and children’s academic performance. The results also imply that financial status plays a significant role in determining a student’s educational outcome. This study concludes that disparities in income levels are detrimental to achieving equity in education. It recommends that the government should subsidize education and provide bursaries to supplement those of the sponsored schools while considering providing resources to the institutions.

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