Influence of parental occupation on student academic performance in public secondary schools in Kenya: A case study of homa bay sub county

Studies worldwide have established that parents have significant influence on their children’s academic performance. Studies in some parts of Kenya have indicated that parental factors like income level, parental age, and parental marital status do influence students’ academic performance. Notwithstanding these assertions, students’ academic performance in Homa Bay Sub county had been relatively lower for the last three years as follows, 2016-2018 respectively; Rangwe 3.6278; 3.4647 and 5.0251, Rachuonyo South 3.6265; 3.3311 and 4.6163, Rachuonyo East 3.7384; 3.4940 and 4.6372 and Homa Bay Town3.8197; 4.2920 and 4.4860. The objective of this study was to establish the influence of parental occupation on student academic performance in public secondary schools in Homa Bay Sub County, Kenya. A conceptual framework based on Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory showing the relationship between the independent (Parental influence) and dependent variable (Academic performance) was used to guide the study. The study established that parental occupation highly influenced students’ academic performance with a mean rating of 3.55. It is therefore recommended that parents should serve as good role models to their children in their respective occupations so as positively influence students’ academic performance. Schools should also strengthen surrogate parenting in schools to help students find the good role models in their teachers. The findings of this study are significant to the Ministry of Education, Teachers Service Commission, teachers and parents in formulation of guidelines involving parental occupation in enhancement of student academic performance in secondary schools.