A survey of education access by the Girl-child in Asal Region: A study of Magadi Division, Kajiado District

Abstract

Despite the growing body of knowledge about the importance of female education as not only a right but also a need, many pastoralist children, especially girls, hardly enjoy this opportunity. Instead a great gender disparity is portrayed with girls registering a low retention rate in the transition stages. The enrolment rate for girls at upper classes in primary remains minimal compared to lower classes. Therefore, the study intended to study factors that inhibited the girl-child from full access to education, retention and performance in pastoral communities, particularly the Maasai of Magadi division. In particular, the study sought to find out the enrolment, dropout rate and the factors that hinder academic performance among the Maasai girl-child. The study aimed at establishing the view held by the local community, teachers and learners on the importance of girls' education. The study also found out how effective intervention measures put in place have been, besides making appropriate recommendations based on the findings of the study. The study covered selected primary schools where enrolment rate and drop-out rate would be verified. The descriptive survey design was used for data collection. Stratified random sample was used to select 3 schools out of the 8 primary schools in the division. Purposive sample was used in carrying out interview schedule. Two schools were public day primary schools while the other was a mixed-boarding public school. Questionnaires were used by the researcher. Researcher used the school records to fill appropriate data in the document analysis tables. The researcher visited the Area Education Officer, Head teachers and local representatives to interview them. The collected data was subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study results should be used for providing useful information to the policy makers inimplementing workable strategies that will promote girls' education in pastoral regions. Useful insight as to the effectiveness of existing government and Non-governmental organizations intervention measures was provided with an aim to strengthen them in working with the local community.