Influence of Education Level of Parentson their involvement in Pre-Primary Children’s Science Skills Acquisition in Kitui County, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue X, October 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Influence of Education Level of Parentson their involvement in Pre-Primary Children’s Science Skills Acquisition in Kitui County, Kenya

Kianga Njagi, Dr. Maureen Mweru*

Kenyatta University, Kenya
*Corresponding Author

Abstract:- The aim of this study therefore was to determine whether the education level of parents influences involvement in their pre-primary children’s science skills acquisition in pre-primary schools in Mumoni Sub County, Kitui County Kenya. The study was based on Epstein’s Theory of Parental participation. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and the target population was 1457 subjects comprising of 149 early childhood teachers and 1308 parents of pre-primary school children. Simple random sampling was employed to select 45 teachers and 132 parents of the pre-primary children who were included in the study. The instruments for data collection included questionnaires for teachers and parents. Prior to data collection, the researcher conducted a pilot study in two schools in Mumoni Sub County that were not included in the final study. The quantitative data were coded and entered in the computer for analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21 for windows.Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means and percentages were employed to analyze quantitative data obtained from the field. The study established that parents with no formal education inadequately engaged their children in science learning at home and inadequately supported their children’s science learning. This study therefore, recommends raising the level of parent’s education through capacity building, through adult literacy programmes, community empowerment programmes aimed at improving family incomes and diversifying and strengthen family guidance and counseling programs to mitigate divorce among other family disintegration triggers.

Keywords: Level of Education, Involvement, Acquisition, Science Skills

I. INTRODUCTION

Globally, Science skills form the basis of growth and development in the contemporary industrial world and hence itsearly acquisition at school level and adoption require much attention. Children at pre-primary level acquire science skills from science activities in which they engage which is likely predetermined by the manner children are prepared in school and at home (Copple & Brekekamp, 2009).

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