Effects of Drug and Substance abuse on Girls' Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya

Secondary school education is regarded as the most important stage in the educational cycle of a child as it is the level at which learners acquire proficiency in both academic and applied subjects, and the foundation of further education and work. At the end of the four - year secondary education cycle, students sit for KCSE examination that is used for certification and selection of those to be admitted in Universities and Post - Secondary training institutions. Performance of girls? in Secondary Schools in Nakuru County in national examinations has generally been low. Girls? schools tend to perform poorly compared to those of boys? therefore the study sought to assess the effects of Drug and Substance abuse on Girls? Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study was based on social learning theory by Bandura (1971). The study adopted descriptive research design. The location of the study was Nakuru County, Kenya. The study - targeted population comprised of Form three Girls, Deputy Principals, PA representatives and Guidance and Counseling teachers in Girls? secondary Schools in Nakuru County. The study targeted 371 girls in Form three from 74 girls? secondary Schools in Nakuru County comprising of 17 public Girls? Secondary Schools and 57 private Girls? Secondary Schools in Nakuru County. The study selected 44 Girls? Schools representing 60% of the 74 - targeted Schools. Stratified random sampling was used to get sampled Secondary Schools from each Sub County. Slovin?s formula was used to get a sample size of 371 Girls from the targeted population of 5, 188 form three Girls. Primary data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules, and focused discussion groups. Questionnaire method was used to obtain information from Students, Teachers in - charge of Guidance and Counseling and Parent Association (P. A) representatives because the Students? number was large and Parents are not always in the schools. Focused Group Discussions method was used on students. The questionnaire instruments were piloted in four of the Girls? Secondary Schools in Kericho County. Quantitative data was analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Descriptive statistics involved the use of percentages, frequencies, measures of central tendencies (mean) and measures of dispersion (standard deviation). Data was presented in form of tables and figures. From the findings, the study concluded that drugs and substance abuse affected the health, behaviour, discipline and the girls? participation in learning. Most of the respondents indicated that learners who abuse drugs were indisciplined and engaged in behaviors that affected their academic performance. From the conclusion, the study recommended that schools to develop policies that promote participation in learning by creating environments that make it enjoyable and interesting.