Application of equity and efficiency principles in bursary allocation in secondary schools, Manyatta division, Embu district, Kenya.

Abstract

This was a study on the application of equity and efficiency principles in allocation of Bursary awards to secondary school students in Manyatta Division. The purpose of the study was to find out extent of which factors such as Academic performance. discipline of the student, poverty and disability of the parents of the students determine the awarding of Bursary. The target population studied comprised of students totaling 5.007 for the twenty one secondary schools in Manyatta Division Embu District. A sample of 357 students were studied which was selected according to krejcie and Morgan (1970). The schools were clustered and simple random sampling was used to select the sample schools. The findings were that poverty level was the major criteria as students were awarded according to social status such as Total orphan. partial orphans and students of single parents who were landless and who lacked basic necessities of life. A pilot study was done before the main study in order to check the validity and relevance of the research instruments. Form 2 and 3 students were used as Form ones were new to the instruments and Form 4 were sitting for their KCSE mock examinations. The conclusion made from the study would mean an establishment of an office in the District to deal with Bursaries or loans to students for onward submission to schools. It is important that the government provides a more specific guideline on awarding Bursaries per the existing one for this being flouted. No record of actual beneficiaries with their respective application form was available-or made available. Further the Government should avail computers to manage data to increase efficiency and transparency. Further research should be done on better methods of identifying the real needy cases. Again a shorter process of identifying the needy cases and a more transparent approach to bursary allocation should be found. It is therefore important that Rawls (1971), approach to equity be applied where bursary is not given to the brightest but to those with family background (socio -economic status) is poor. (Alexander and Simmons, 1975). In gender terms all children should be treated equally in bursary allocation.