School Based Factors Influencing Students’ Dropout in Public Secondary Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
Kiambati, Regina Wangeci
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The Kenyan government acknowledges that there is need to enhance the education
levels of its citizens in a bid to improve the livelihood of its citizens and to enhance
the growth of the economy. Improved secondary education is essential in the
enhancement of the education levels and skills of human capital in any nation.
Unfortunately, in Kenya, the number of students leaving schooling without
completing secondary education is quite alarming. The determination of this study
was to assess school based factors influencing drop-out in secondary schools in
Kikuyu Sub-County. Exploration was steered by four objectives; to establish the
influence of school resources on drop-out in secondary schools in Kikuyu SubCounty, to assess the impact of school policies and practices on drop-out in
secondary schools in Kikuyu Sub-County, to determine the influence of principals
leadership style on drop-out in secondary schools in Kikuyu Sub-County and to
reveal the extent to which students‟ discrimination by teachers influence drop-out
in secondary schools in Kikuyu Sub-County. Exploration was based on the
education production function theory. The study was conducted using descriptive
survey design. The study was carried out in Kikuyu sub-county, Kiambu County
and the target population was 28 principals and 427 teachers and 10400 students of
public secondary school in Kikuyu Sub-County. To determine the sample size the
research adopted the 10-30% of the universe which is seen as representative. The
sample therefore comprised of the 3 principals of the involved schools which is 10
percent of the 28 schools, 43 teachers which is 10 percent of the study‟s population
of 427 teachers and 1040 students which is 10% of the 10400 student‟s population.
The raw data needed for this study were collected with the help of pre-determined
questionnaires and interviews. Piloting study was conducted with a hundred (100)
students from Gichuru high school. The researcher used descriptive statistics where
frequencies and percentage of responses were obtained through the use of SPSS.
The study found that resources utilized in the passing and acquisition of knowledge
was not enough in the institutions which negatively influenced dropout. Use of
discriminative school policies lead to drop out of the discriminated students.
Principal‟s leadership style influences the students drop-out. The study
recommended that there is need for provision of adequate resources to reduce the
burden passed to the parents. The government should ensure that the laid down
policies are adhered to. The school management should adopt strategies to
discourage student‟s discrimination.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment for
The Requirements of the Award of the Degree of Master
of Education in the Department of Educational
Management, Policy and Curriculum Studies, School of
Education Kenyatta University
Keywords
Students’ Dropout, Public Secondary Schools, Kiambu County, Kenya