Impact of Attitudinal Adaptation on Academic Achievement among Students: A Comparative Study of Boys and Girls in Boarding Secondary Schools in Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Academic achievement among secondary school students in Kenya is important because this determines future chances for advancement in life in terms of career options, further studies and sociopolitical appointments in the society. Hence, there is need to examine factors that may influence academic achievement among secondary school students in the country for which adapation in school is key. Consequently, this study sought to examine the impact of interpersonal adaptation on academic achievement among secondary school students with special emphasis on comparing boys and girls in boarding secondary schools in Meru County in Kenya. The study employed the descriptive survey research design on a sample size of 384 students, school counsellors and deputy principals in boarding secondary schools in Meru County. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect the required data. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as means, standard deviations and t-test statistic were used to analyze the data with the aid of the Scientific Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Data analysis results revealed that although interpersonal adaptation impacted positively on academic achievement, there were no significant differences in the impact between boys and girls in boarding secondary schools. Thus, to improve and sustain academic achievement among secondary school students, measures need to be put in place to enhance interpersonal relationships among students as well as between students and school staff, school administrators, relatives and parents.