Influence Of Tourism Generated Socioeconomic Factors On Pupils’ Academic Performance In The Kenya Certificate Of Primary Education: A Case Of Narok West Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

Tourism generated practices have been taking place across the world at all tourist’s attraction points as it is a resource for economic and social benefits. Mass tourism is also associated with negative impacts. The purpose of this study was to find out the influence of tourism generated socio-economic factors on pupils’ academic performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in Narok West Sub County in regards to; To investigate how tourism economic activities affects pupils’ academic performance, assess how tourism social activities affects pupils’ academic performance, to investigate how tourism social interactions with the pupils’ affects pupils’ academic performance and to determine the effects of tourism influence on parents status on pupils’ academic performance in KCPE in Narok West Sub County. The study utilized mixed research methods. The target population for this study was 24 public primary schools from Narok West Sub County. The subjects were 587 class eight pupils, 24 Board of Management (BOM) Chairpersons and the 24 Head teachers from all the 24 selected KCPE public primary schools in Narok West Sub County. Class eight pupils, Head teachers and BOM Chairpersons in the selected schools were purposively chosen to obtain a total sample of 224 subjects. The study utilized questionnaires and interview schedule for teachers, pupils and parents to collect data. Mixed research methods were used to analyze data with the help of SPSS. The researcher realized that there was influence of tourism generated socio-economic factors on pupils’ academic performance in Narok West Sub County therefore, the researcher recommends that the schools board of management (BOM) committees to address tourism generated socio-economic barriers to education by ensuring that pupils, teachers and parents are sensitized on the impact of tourism interaction on pupils’ academic performance. Also, the schools BOMs should enhance guidance and counseling in their schools so as to address the tourism generated socioeconomic challenges facing the pupils such as absenteeism from attending learning lessons as a result of child labor. This will increase pupils’ participation in school thereby enhancing their academic performance. Key Words: tourism economic activities, social activities, social interactions, parents’ economic, pupils’ academic performance