Factors contributing to boys' drop out in public secondary schools in Muthambi division, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya
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Date
2014-07-22
Authors
Gatwiri, Judith
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Abstract
There are a number of challenges that face the delivery of secondary education in Kenya, and
some of them have led to wastage. This is in form of declining completion rates, repetition and
drop out of school. If the drop out rates goes unchecked, the problem will hinder the attainment
of Education for All (EF A) goals which the government aims at meeting by the year 2015. The
purpose of this study was to establish the factors responsible for the dropout problem among
boys in public secondary schools in Muthambi Division, Maara District, and to assess the
measures that have been adopted to curb the problem. The focus was on the boys in secondary
schools which is terminal to many students and which can provide good employment
opportunities especially with addition of further training. In chapter two of this study, the
researcher reviewed previous studies on dropouts, which are conducted in both rural and urban
areas. These studies include Wandera (2004), in Nairobi Province, Nzuki (2004), in Kibwezi
Division, Gachungi (2005) in Nyeri District and Rono 1990 in Nandi District. Their findings
show presence of dropouts in their areas. These findings cannot be generalized to apply to
schools in Maara District which is in a different geographical location and also has different
cultural/ socio-economic dynamics. This study also focused on the boys' dropout unlike other
researchers who looked at dropout rates in general. Descriptive survey research design was used
to gather information about the subject. The study was carried out in the 10 secondary schools
within the division.
The target population was 10 head teachers and 40 class teachers, 10
households heads and 10 boys dropout selected through simple random sampling. The main
data collection instruments was questionnaires, which were administered on the principals and
class teachers. The questionnaire sought to establ ish the presence and the causes of the dropout
phenomenon and also the measures taken to curb the problem. Document analysis was done to
corroborate the information provided by the headteachers and classteachers on the number of the
school dropouts. The findings from the study indicate that boys drop out in all the schools in the
division. Some of the causes of dropout in schools include school fees, peer pressure, some
disliked school among others. The recommendations
given to curb the problem include:
strengthening guidance and counseling in schools, parents should be more responsible, schools
should provide programmes to support the boy child. Teachers and parents should work harder to
make the learning environment
more conducive
i.e both at school and at home .
Description
Department of Educational Management Policy & Curriculum Studies, 69p.2013