PARENTING STYLES INFLUENCE ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF YOUTH IN BORSTAL INSTITUTION IN KENYA

Parenting styles can influence youthful offenders on academic achievement, behaviours and truancy. The studys objectives were to identify parenting styles used by guardians on youthful offenders in borstal institutions in Kenya, to establish behavioral problems exhibited in students due to parenting styles in borstal institutions in Kenya and to analyze academic achievement of youthful offenders in borstal institutions in Kenya. Respondents to the research were selected using the simple random technique through the Krejcie and Morgan formular table. Since the purpose of the study was to identify parenting styles used by guardians on youthful offenders in borstal institutions in Kenya, stakeholders including students, parents, prison warders, counsellors, social workers and administrators constituted the sample population. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussions before being presented in tables. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Statisticsversion 20. Primary and secondary sources were also used in the study. Findings indicated that more pupil responses showed that behaviours adopted by youthful offenders were a result of parenting styles. Neglectful parenting resulted in increase of bad behavior. Absentee parenting was the leading cause of poor academic achievement. Recommendations of this study include review of policy of the Education Act toaddress academic achievement problems in borstal institutions. Parenting styles should be discussed and taught in both primary and secondary school.Future research should focus on parents cultural beliefs and practice influence on youthful offenders academic achievement.