Socio-economic factors influencing pupils’ access to education in informal settlements: a case of Kibera, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The major thrust of this study was to analyze selected critical socio - economic factors influencing pupils’ access to education in Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi County, Kenya.The study was premised on the Classical Liberal Theory of Equal Opportunity and Social Darwinism proposed by Charles Darwin.A descriptive survey research design using a sample of 114 respondents comprising 6 head teachers, 48 teachers and 60 parents was used to execute the study.The main tools for data collection were questionnaires for head teachers and teachers plus personal interview schedules for parents. The quantitative data from questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while the qualitative data from interviews was managed through thematic techniques.The major findings were that, first, the physical and other critical instructional resources were grossly inadequate and/or in pathetic condition and not conducive to education provision. Secondly, therewas a positive and significant correlation between the level of formal educationof parents and pupils access to education (r=.987, p=.002) at ∝= .05 statistical confidence level. Third, there was a strong non-significantnegative correlation between the occupation of parents and ability to finance education (r= -.740, p= .260) at∝= .05 statistical confidence level. It was concluded that parental level of education was a facilitating factor while the low ability to finance education by parents coupled with the poor status of physical and instructional resources were inhibiting factors to pupils’access to education in the study locale. It was therefore recommended that the government should strengthen the collaboration between key education development partners to mobilize physical teaching/learning resources and strengthen education in the Kibera informal settlement. Secondly, adult education initiatives in the study locale should be intensified to enable parents to further their education levels. Finally, families from Kibera informal settlement should accorded logistical support to enable them venture into income generating activities with a view to enhancing their financial base required to meaningfully finance the education of their children in the study locale (327words).