The hidden costs of free primary education and their implication on enrolment in Kisii Central District, Kenya
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Date
2012-04-02
Authors
Ngwacho, George Areba
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Abstract
In spite of the Republic of Kenya's (ROK) efforts to make primary education free and
accessible to all, approximately 3.9 million children still remain out of school due to
hidden costs (Census Report ,2009), hence the government's initial objective of every
child attaining primary education remains unattained. In addition, prior researches have
established increase in non - enrolment and drop-out in various parts of the country due
to these hidden costs. The study sought to establish the hidden costs in the provision of
free primary education and their impact on enrolment in Kisii Central District. The study
was guided by the budget principal theory which emphasizes the balancing of three basic
components in any ideal educational budget namely; educational programme,
expenditure/cost and income/revenue for a successful education system. The study used a
descriptive survey method, which was designed to investigate the hidden costs in the
Provision of Free Primary Education and their impact on learning in Kisii Central
District. Prior to the study, pilot study was conducted to ensure validity and reliability of
the research instruments. Cluster random sampling technique was used to select 10% of
the Head teachers and 10% of the parents from the sampled schools. This being a survey,
the researcher used questionnaires and interview schedules as research instruments to
collect data. The data were then analyzed with the aid of frequencies, averages,
percentages and presented in tables, bar graphs and pie charts. Thematic analysis was
used to analyze qualitative data: The study revealed that though the introduction of FPE
Programme had greatly reduced the financial burden of public primary school going
children, the parents still incurred some costs. It was established that on average parents
spent Kshs 1674 per child on these costs. In addition the findings established that
partially the hidden costs contributed to drop out rates as most parents were unable to
meet the hidden costs of FPE. Further, the findings revealed that the government funding
on FPE was inadequate and it was characterized by late disbursement. The results
indicated that many public primary schools in Kisii Central District have insufficient
physical facilities and learning resources. Conclusively, FPE implementation in Kisii
Central District has not been effective as evidenced through educational wastage due to
hidden costs of FPE; inadequate government funding among other factors. The study
recommends government budgetary increase on FPE progamme so as to ease the
financial burden met by parents, involvement of other stakeholders in funding FPE,
timely disbursement of FPE funds to schools by the government among other
recommendations as discussed in chapter five of the study. Significantly the study
findings underscored the impact of hidden costs on the provision of FPE, which will
enable education policy-makers and other stakeholders to cope with strategies for easing
parents' cost-burden and ways of mobilizing funds to meet the cost of FPE programme to
ensure its sustainability to avoid wastage in terms of human and material resources.
Finally, the study has provided information that could form the basis for further critical
assessment and evaluation of the FPE situation by future researchers to facilitate more
concrete and valid solutions to the problem.
Description
Department of educational management, policy and curriculum studies, 108p. The LB 2970 .K4N48 2011
Keywords
Education,Primary --Kenya --Kisii Central District Thesis, Education --Costs --Kenya --Kisii Central District, Education --Finance --Kenya --Kisii Central District, Education --economic aspects --Kenya --Kisii Central District