Determinants of Academic Achievement

The purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of academic achievement in public and private primary schools in Saboti division of Trans-Nzoia West District with an aim of determining the causes of poor academic achievement. The study provided the background information and a better understanding of the determinants of academic achievement to educational planners, teachers, parents and all other educational stakeholders. Data was collected from four public and two private primary schools in the division with a total of 419 candidates out of the total of 1738 candidates in the whole division for the year 2007. Six Head teachers each from the selected schools participated. From the findings it was found that there was no relationship between the institutional factors and the academic achievement. On the other hand there was a significant relationship between the teacher factors, pupil factors and parental factors with academic achievement in Saboti division. Based on the objectives and the background of study, it is evident that there is need to provide educational inputs which will translate into good academic achievement in both public and private primary schools