Abstract: The study examined parental education, peer and gender effects on academic achievement of Senior Secondary School Students in Gaborone, Botswana. The study drawn 500 Students selected through stratified random sample of ten senior secondary schools. Students bio-data questionnaire with (r = 0.68) and a modified Peer Effect Rating Scale with (r = 0.72) cronbach alpha, adapted by the researcher from National Assessment Educational Progress Scale were used to gathered data on the study. Two research questions were tested using Descriptive statistics, Multiple Regression and Student-t. The results indicates parental education, peer and gender have joint effect and contribute significantly to academic achievement of the participants. Findings reveals further that gender difference exists in the academic achievement of the secondary school students. Based on these findings, it was recommended that parents should use their education experience to give all the needed support to enhance academic achievement of their children. And that the issue of gender bias associated with our educational system should be removed without further delay.
Tella , Adeyinka , Adu , Olusola , Emmanuel , Tella , AdedejI and F.A. Toyobo , 2007. Parental Education, Peer and Gender Effects on Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students in Botswana. The Social Sciences, 2: 76-83.