Influence of educational support systems on participation of orphans and vulnerable children in primary schools in Kalama Division, Machakos County, Kenya
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Date
2016-03
Authors
Mutie, Jeniffer Ndungulu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate on the influence of educational support
systems (ESSs) on participation of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) in
primary schools in Kalama division, Machakos County, Kenya. This was crucial
as OVCs‟ school attendance, retention and class concentration was low due to
poor educational support. This contradicted the Kenya National policy on OVCs
(2005) which stipulates that OVCs have the right to access education. The study
was concerned with ESSs namely nutritional, academic and emotional support
and their influence on participation of OVCs in primary schools. The objectives
of the study were to: Find out the nature of nutritional support and its influence on
OVCs participation in primary schools; Establish academic support and its
influence on OVCs participation in primary schools; Examine emotional support
and its influence on OVCs participation in primary schools and explore
intervention measures that can enhance the educational support systems. The
study adopted descriptive research design. Simple random sampling technique
was used to select 5 public primary schools. Head teachers of the selected primary
schools were selected using purposive sampling technique while teachers and
regular pupils were sampled using simple random sampling technique.
Systematic random sampling was used to select OVCs. Sample size was
determined by calculation based on 10 percent of the target population. The
sample included; 5 head teachers, 36 teachers, 200 OVCs and 110 regular pupils.
The sample size was 351 with 158 males and193 females. The instruments for
data collection were questionnaires, interview schedule, Focus Group Discussions
(FGDs) and observation schedules. A test retest method was used to determine the
reliability of the research instruments where formula of spearman rank order
correlation was used. Validity of the instruments was determined by the
researcher. Qualitative data was analyzed by use of content analysis approach
while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics which included
the use of excel computer Programme. Quantitative approach was mainly used in
this study since most of the data was analyzed in numerical form. The findings of
the study were presented on frequency tables and percentages, pie-chart, bar
graphs and in narrative form. The findings revealed that the ESSs offered to
OVCs were; free primary education, school feeding programmes and guidance
and counseling, among others. However, the ESSs were inadequate leading to low
participation of OVCs in primary schools. The suggested intervention measures
for enhancing the educational support systems for OVCs included; community
sensitization on OVCs‟ matters and involvement of government towards
supporting OVCs. Recommendations were made to the government to support
OVCs nutritional needs by ensuring school feeding programmes were operational
in all public primary schools and ensure the pro-poor initiatives were reaching all
the OVCs so as to meet their basic needs. Community and private organizations
were recommended to support OVCs meet their educational needs.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of master of education (sociology of education) in the School Of Education of Kenyatta University. March 2016