Attendance and Gender: Impact on Students’ Academic Achievement in Public Secondary Schools in Hamisi Sub-County, Kenya

Students' school attendance stands out as a major factor in student academic achievement. Sporadic attendance leads to transient knowledge retention hence dismal academic results manifested by poor/receding test scores. Similarly, some archaic gender stereotypes and gender bigotry plays to the disadvantage of students' thus affecting their schooling. This study attempted to analyze the impact of students' school attendance and gender on students' academic achievement in public secondary schools in Hamisi sub-county, Kenya. The focus was put on the observed preceding academic achievement of students at secondary school's KCSE with respect to their scores at primary-level schooling. The study was guided by the following objectives: 1. To determine the effect of students' school attendance to academic achievement in secondary schools in Hamisi Sub-county and 2. Establish the effect of gender to students' academic achievement in secondary schools in Hamisi Sub-county. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population was 4,295 consisting of 41 Principals, 428 teachers, 3826 students. Simple random sampling was used to select both the teachers and students. Stratified random sampling was used to classify and select schools hence 12 principals. The sample size was 523 respondents consisting of 12 principals, 128 teachers and 383 students. Data collection tools used were structured and unstructured questionnaires, interview schedules and document analysis. Content validity and test re-test techniques were used to validate and test instrument reliability respectively. A Pearson Correlation coefficient of 0.5 provided the benchmark for instrument reliability. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Quantitative data was presented using frequency counts, means and percentages with the aid of the SPSS Version 24.0. Thematic trends were used to analyze qualitative data with presentation done using frequency distribution tables, bar graphs, and pie charts. The study established that: The students' school attendance was way below acceptable low. Boys' participation in schooling was higher compared to that of girls. It was recommended that: Secondary schools in Hamisi sub-county should join their programs and routines in a manner that encourages students to attend school. The gender bigotry and stereotypes should be done away with. The government should put in place a clear policy framework to guard against issues that segregate against either gender both at home and school. More emphasis should be placed on the girl child so that they have equal opportunities in schooling with the boy child.