Parental Participation on Academic Performance and Graduation of Male Students: A Case Study of A University in Western Region of Kenya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate ways in which parental participation affects academic performance and graduation of male students from a university in Western region of Kenya. The objective of this study was to investigate ways in which parental participation affects academic performance and graduation of male university students. This qualitative study was informed by relativist ontology and constructivist epistemology. Case study was the methodology adopted while phenomenology was the theoretical perspective that informed the study. Unstructured interviews and journal keeping were used in data collection. Six participants were engaged in the study and since the study was purposive, the assistance from male hostels caretaker’s office was sought to help identify the participants who met the target. Ethical considerations were observed throughout the study. Data was analyzed thematically and the results were presented as reported by the respondents with the aid of thematic networks. The study findings revealed that there was poor communication between parents and their sons where participants perceived their parents as frustrating in the sense that they were subjugating, heartless, they left them to survive on their own and that they were disappointing. In conclusion, parental participation in this study was found to be wanting. Parents ought to be concerned with issues affecting their sons so that they can offer genuine support and understanding. Parents also ought to have open forums with the university administration to enable them have close monitoring of the students’ academic affairs. The recommendations of the study would provide the university management and stakeholders with vital information on the need to set time frame for completion of studies. The findings and recommendations of this study would also add to existing reference for future researchers and readers.