The role of non-governmental organizations increasing access to secondary education in West Pokot District, Kenya

Abstract

It is generally agreed that to ensure that the goals and objectives of educational development are achieved, there is need for equalizing access to education. Current statistics show that there still exist disparities in terms of access to secondary education in Kenya on the basis of gender and region. ASALs are the worst hit. The study will focus mainly on accessibility and equality of education opportunity in Kenyan educational system. The study investigated the extent at which Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have offered in supporting the government in increasing access and participation in secondary education. Two NGOs were purposively sampled in West Pokot District; this is because the study had a special reference to the ASAL areas. A sample of a hundred and fifty secondary school students, two school leavers (1992-2004), five secondary school principals, three education officers and five NGO management staff consisted the respondents. Closeended questionnaires were used to obtain data from students and open-ended for principals. Interview schedules were used in the case of the education officers and the management staff. Observation of the sites was also made. The data collected was tabulated and analyzed by use of descriptive statistics. The research findings indicate that poverty and lack of secondary schools within the vicinity of a given community are the major factors that are affecting the enrollment of students in secondary schools. The contribution of NGOs is significant but still there is still there is need for these organizations to check into the sustainability of the educational projects. The government through its machinery and authority should enact special legal framework that will provide an affirmative action in order to ensure that marginal communities especially in the ASALs are given assistance in accessing to secondary education. It should look into a possibility to make a provision for "free" secondary education.