Alcohol related parental behaviour disorders and their effects on learner’s academic achievement in public primary schools in Marmanet, Laikipia County, Kenya
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Date
2016-02
Authors
Kamau, Anne N.
Journal Title
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to establish alcohol related parental behavior disorders and their effects on children’s academic achievement. Alcoholism has been a major challenge not only in our country but globally. No matter the type of alcohol consumed, when taken excessively, the user and the significant others get affected. This study investigated the effects of alcohol related parental behavior disorders on academic achievement among learners in public primary schools. The study was guided by the social learning theory (SLT) and parental acceptance and rejection (PAR) theory. The target population was 1376 persons consisting of head teachers, teachers and learners in class 6 and 7 in the nine public primary schools in Marmanet zone. This is because pre-adolescent and adolescent children are the most prone as they go through the physical, emotional and psychological changes of this stage. They are also maturing up and become aware of the happenings at home. In each school, the study sampled 10% of the population in each class using stratified and systematic random sampling. The researcher purposively selected two class teachers in each school. All the head teachers in the schools selected participated in the study. The data was collected using questionnaires which were later coded and analyzed with the aid of SPSS computer program. The quantitative data was organized in frequency tables, graphs and pie charts. The study established that most of the parents in Marmanet zone take alcohol. It is readily accessible in homes, shopping centers and in rare cases has been brought to school .Due to this rampant parental alcoholic disorder, the parents have neglected their children hence denying them the much needed support for achievement of academic grades. This neglect was manifested in children lacking basic needs, being unkept, carelessness in their academic assignments, lack of concentration in class, chronic absenteeism, truancy, deviancy and antisocial behavior. The effects of this neglect cause the children to perceive rejection and therefore, are unable to achieve their full potential in academic work. The study recommended that there was need to enforce the liquor laws as given out in the Kenyan law. The fight against illegal ‘second generation’ alcohol should be maintained until it is fully eradicated .Also the learners, teachers and parents should be counseled and be made fully aware of the effects of alcohol and coping skills for alcoholics. Children of alcoholics (COAs) should also be empowered on coping mechanisms.
Description
On Going Masters Department of Early Childhood Education