Njuki Gladys Wanjiru2025-08-012025-08-012025-01https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/31014A research project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Education (Sociology of Education and Policy Studies) in School of Education and Lifelong Learning, Kenyatta University, January 2025 Supervisors. Dr. Violet Wawire Dr. Salome NyamburaThe study focuses on understanding the socio-economic and socio cultural obstacles that impede the sustained enrolment of boys in government-run primary schools. It seeks to delve deeply into the factors that obstruct the continuous education of male pupils in these institutions. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish trends in the retention of boys in public primary schools in Embu County; to determine how socio economic obstacles affect boy child retention in public primary schools in Embu County; to examine measures that can be put in place enhance boys access and retention of boys in public primary schools in Embu County. The cases of pupils dropping out of school are rampant in that region and have caused great concern to the Kenyan government and the community in the study area. The study was guided by the Social Learning Theory. The study population consisted of 384 public primary schools and the researcher targeted school head teachers, teachers and class 7 and 8 pupils. Purposive sampling method was be used to get a sample size of 20 primary schools. The researcher purposively sampled 2 teachers in every school, one being the head teacher. The research involved a total of 280 participants, including 123 seventh graders, 117 eighth graders, 20 educators, and 20 head teachers. The study utilized a descriptive survey approach, gathering primary data through detailed questionnaires. The collected quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 21 and descriptive statistics, with the findings presented in graphs, frequency tables, and percentages. Narrative analysis was used for the qualitative data, which was then organized into themes. Key findings highlighted socioeconomic obstacles, such as sand harvesting, Miraa farming, transport business, income prospects, and household poverty, as major contributors to boys' school dropout rates. Boys drop out is also caused by prevailing social socio cultural obstacles which include society’s assumption on boys participation in education, inadequate mentorship of boys in line with labour and neglect by society as media over emphasizes girl child education. This scenario disadvantages the community and the effects of the same are likely to spill over to the rest of the surrounding communities.enThesis