EFFECT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN ISLAMIC SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN SAGNARIGU MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of socioeconomic factors on the academic performance of students at Tamale Islamic Science Senior High School. Grounded in a positivist philosophical paradigm, the research adopted a quantitative approach, utilizing structured questionnaires to collect data from a sample of 306 second-year students and 60 parents selected through convenience and purposive samplingmethods, respectively. The study sought to answer key research questions related to the relationship between parental educational attainment, family income, parental occupation, family size, and access to educational resources and how these factors impact academic performance. A descriptive survey design was employed to analyze these relationships, with correlation and regression techniques used to test hypotheses and identify patterns. The findings revealed that parental education, income, occupation, family size, and access to educational resources significantly influenced student academic performance. Furthermore, the research highlighted that, student from poorer family backgrounds often faced challenges in meeting academic needs, underscoring the detrimental effect of low socioeconomic status on educational outcomes. In light of these findings, the study recommends that parents become more actively involved in their children’s academic endeavors and that schools develop support mechanisms for students facing financial constraints. This research aligns with previous studies in the region, providing valuable insights that can be generalized to a broader population. The implications of these findings suggest a need for educational policy interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of socioeconomic disadvantage on student achievement