Effect of Socialization with Regard to Gender Roles on Students’ Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools in Kisii Central District, Kenya

This study sought to determine the effect of socialization with specific reference to the allocation of domestic chores on the academic achievement of boys and girls in mixed day secondary schools in Mosocho Division of Kisii Central District, Kenya. The research was ex-post facto with the specific use of the corelational research design. Data was collected in the months of September and October 2007 from 119 boys and 100 girls in Form Three, randomly selected from 14 mixed day secondary schools. In addition, 14 class teachers as well as 14 Parents - Teachers Association (PTA) members were purposively involved in the study. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data w hereas end of term exam results provided data to be analyzed. The t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings linked students’ participation in dom estic chores to low academic achievement. The results also suggested that students’ engagement in domestic duties affected both boys’ and girls’ academic achievement equally. The study concluded that that the students’ low academic achievement could be attributed to involvement in domestic chores. The study recommends that the domestic chores assigned to the students be reduced as well as offering guidance and counseling to the affected students with intent to boost academic achievement.