The impact of bursaries on the persistence of undergraduate students in public universities in Kenya

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of bursaries on the persistence of undergraduate students in public universities in Kenya. The motivation was to examine the adequacy of the current bursary awards and hence make policy recommendations based on the results. The study employed an empirical methodology in which other known determinants were included in the model. The data covered four academic years starting from 2008/2009 to 2011/2012. All undergraduate students who received bursaries over the sample period from all public universities were analyzed. Firstly, correlation analysis was employed. Secondly, regression analysis was done. Lastly, the principal component analysis was done. The results of the correlation analysis showed that persistence is positively related to the bursary award, and accumulated debt but negatively related to the duration of the degree program enrolled by the student. The regression analysis shows that bursary, student loans, parents‟ education, occupation and income, and the duration of the degree program have a significant impact on undergraduate student persistence in public universities. There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between bursaries and the student loans. However, there is a negative and significant relationship between persistence and parents‟ education, parents‟ occupation and parents‟ income, and the minimum duration of the degree program. Principal component analysis revealed that bursaries, student loans, the level of education and occupation of the mother, the level of education and occupation of the father and the minimum duration of the degree program as the main determinants of persistence