Factors Influencing the Girl Child Academic Performance

The purpose of the study was to examine the role of Guidance & Counselling as tools to enhance secondary school girls' academic performance in Teso District. The study used a descriptive survey targeting 17 secondary schools with a student population of 9,140 of whom 3,357 were girls. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 8 secondary schools, 4 girls boarding secondary schools and 4 mixed secondary schools. Purposive and Random sampling techniques were used to select a sample size of 304 students as well as 40 teachers from the sampled schools in Teso District. Data was collected by use of questionnaires and analyzed by use of descriptive statistics using SPSS computer programme version 17.0. The study findings established that Guidance & Counselling services are critical tools required to boost girls' academic performance in KCSE. The study recommended that, every secondary school should have a functional Guidance & Counselling department and the Ministry of Education in partnership with other relevant stakeholders provide information on sexual maturation and menstrual management and sanitary protective materials to girls in all schools in Kenya.