Relationship Between Students’ Home Background and Their Academic Performance: A Case of Some Selected Senior High School Students in Rural Districts in Ashanti Region, Ghana

Abstract

This study was primarily designed to find out the relationship between students’ home background and their academic performance. The study was conducted largely in senior high schools in rural districts in Ashanti Region, Ghana. The study used the ex-post facto correlation design. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 275 senior high school students. Questionnaire was used to collect the data from the respondents. Percentages and correlations were used to analyze the data. The family size was found to be highly correlated with the academic performance of students (coefficient = .711, p value = .002). Parent found it difficult in paying school fees and other levies of their children as a result of parents’ income (ρ = .669, p value = .004) in rural Ghana. The study also revealed that the educational background characteristics of parents had a significant correlation with the academic performance of students (coefficient = .711, p value = .002). Following from the findings, the Government of Ghana (Ministry of Education) should stick to its mandate of ensuring the provision of free quality secondary school education premised on the principle of inclusivity and equity to bridge the gap between the students from rich and poor homes. Such government intervention programs like the free education should favor the poor and low-income families most.