Strategies to improve transition rate of girls from primary schools to secondary schools in Kuria west, Migori county, Kenya

Abstract

Secondary school comes at a particularly vulnerable age for girls, as they transition into puberty (and thus child-bearing age) and into an age perceived suitable for work (inside or outside of the home); as such, their chances of staying in school reduce). In addition to the fundamental right to education, there is a strong argument for ensuring girls gain access to quality secondary education due to its positive impacts on girls' ability to earn more income as adults, marry later, reduce their vulnerability to diseases such as I-IIV and AIDS and have fewer, healthier children. As a result of substantial low transition rates of primary school to secondary schools many children are leaving schooling without acquiring the most basic skills. Given the above background of the importance of girls transiting to secondary schools, it is important therefore to understand the strategies to improve transition rate to secondary schools for girls in primary schools. According to the researcher's knowledge, there is dearth of empirical evidence on strategies to improve transition rate of girls in primary schools in Kuria West Sub County. Thus the study envisions filling this research gap on strategies to improve transition rate of girls in primary schools. The general objective of this study is to establish strategies to improve transition rate to secondary schools for girls in primary schools: a case study of Kuria West Sub County. The study will target all the 31 secondary school principals, all the 5 education officers in Kuria West Sub County. The study will also target parents of primary going children and also girls who dropped in class eight and never proceeded to secondary school to give in-depth information on transition rate of pupils in primary schools in Kenya. According to 2009 census there are 12,683 households with primary going children in Kuria West Sub County. According to Kuria West Sub County education office the sub county has been experience an average of 400 girls dropping out of primary school and not proceeding to secondary schools. The sample size that will be used in this study will be all 5 education officers; 30% of the population for principals; 10% of the population for Class 8 drop out girls; and 0.002% of the parents in Kuria West Sub County. The schools for the study will be selected using simple random sampling. Class 8 drop out girls will be selected using purposive sampling. The principals and parents will be selected using simple random sampling while census will be conducted for education officers as their population is small. The data for this research will be obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The main instruments that will be employed in primary data collection will be questionnaires and interview guides. The questionnaires will be administered to principals and education officers while interview guide will be used for class 8 drop out girls who never proceeded to secondary schools. The research will generate both qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data will be analyzed thematically guided by the research questions while quantitative data will be descriptively analyzed with aid of SPSS.