The relationship between Parents’ Education Background and Retention of Pupils in Schools in Namutumba Sub County, Namutumba District, Uganda

Balikowa Ivan & Lutaro Abas
Team University, Uganda
Email: balikowaivan97@gmail.com

Abstract: The study evaluated the relationship between parents’ education background and retention of pupils in schools in Namutumba District. This study adopted a descriptive design with mixed methods. The descriptive design was assigned scores to individual study variables. The total sample size for the study was teachers, pupils, headteachers and leaders of school management committee obtaining a sample size of 127 respondents. Analysis was a continuous process that took place both during and after the data collection phase, until the results were presented. Regarding the data for this study, there were both quantitative and qualitative analyses conducted independently. The quantitative analysis involved statistical calculations and numerical interpretation of the data, allowing for objective conclusions to be drawn. The study found a positive correlation between parents’ occupations and pupil retention. Government workers, businesspeople, commercial farmers, and teachers were found to contribute to higher retention rates. Teachers, peasant farmers, casual laborers, and religious leaders also played significant roles. These findings underscore the importance of parental occupation in influencing educational outcomes and the need for targeted interventions. The study reveals a negative correlation between parents’ fees and pupil retention in primary schools. The results reveal that parents’ education background explains some positive changes in the retention of pupils (Beta = 0.201; p<0.05). A unit change in the functions of Parents education background resulted in a 19.8 percent improvement in retention of pupils. Therefore, the null hypothesis that states “Parents education background does not have a statistically significant implication on the retention of pupils” was rejected.