The Effect of Socio-Economic Factors on Student Engagement in Christian Religious Education in Public Secondary Schools in Hamisi Sub County, Vihiga County, Kenya
This study investigates the socio-economic factors influencing the teaching and learning of Christian Religious Education (CRE) in secondary schools within Hamisi Sub County, Vihiga County, Kenya. The context for this research arises from alarming trends in moral decay among students, such as increasing instances of indiscipline, along with a declining enrollment in CRE classes. The theoretical framework guiding this study is Ludwig Von Bertalanffy's General System Theory, which conceptualizes schools as open systems interacting with socio-economic environments affecting educational performance. Descriptive research design was employed during data collection. The target population consisted 33 CRE teachers from 33 secondary schools and 334 Form 3 and 4 students. Purposive sampling was used to select 9 CRE teachers, while 100 students were randomly sampled. Structured questionnaires were distributed to students to gather quantitative data, while interview schedules were conducted with teachers to collect qualitative information. Collected data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicated that socio-economic factors have a significant relationship with student engagement in Christian Religious Education (CRE) (χ²=0.003, p<0.05). This suggests that various socio-economic variables, such as parents' education levels, occupations, and the economic conditions affecting students' lives, significantly influence their involvement in CRE lessons. The study recommends that schools and policymakers develop strategies to mitigate the negative effects of socio-economic challenges on student engagement. This could include providing additional support for students from lower-income families, such as after-school tutoring, resource provision, and community engagement initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of parental involvement in education.
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