An investigation into the causes of dropout among male students in public secondary schools in kipipiri division of Nyandarua district

Abstract

Education is universally recognized as playing a key role III sustainable Socil-economic development. It is the right of every child to get education. Since independence, secondary education has expanded but retention has remained a real challenge. Male students who get admitted to secondary schools drop out before the completion of the secondary school cycle. This study investigated the causes of male dropouts in public secondary schools in Kipipiri Division of Nyandarua District. It sought to find out the reasons for the high drop out of male students in public secondary schools. It further tried to establish the role played by school related and non-school related factors and their influence on the drop out phenomenon. The study gave suggestions on possible strategies to curb the drop out from school. Employing an ex post-facto design, the study collected data from 9 out of 10 mixed schools in the division using three types of questionnaires focused on principals, guidance and counseling teachers and the dropouts. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics involving frequencies and percentages were used to explain the findings of the study. The findings revealed that there is a complex interaction of many factors causing the drop out of male students from school. No one factor can be fully identified as the main cause. However, several factors that have optimal effect were identified. These include: lack of school fees and the capacity to meet the schools' financial obligations, de-motivation of students, lack of counseling in schools, lack of role models in and out of schools, lack of peaceful and conducive atmosphere, rebellion against school environment, drug abuse, hunger, desertion of school by the students, family instability and the effect of HIV/AIDS. The study then made pertinent recommendations based on these findings and study conclusions. The government should increase budgetary allocations to schools to ensure provision of facilities and learning materials and to ease the burden of educating children. Guiding and counseling in schools should be intensified to tackle student' problems. The teaching of HIV/AIDS should be strengthened. The government should met out stiff penalties on drug dealers to save the future generation. The Ministry of Education should ensure there is enough personnel to carry out frequent school inspections to ensure maintenance of high education standards and performance. Finally, due to the gaps identified and the questions raised in relation to certain aspects of the study and related issues,the study recommends further research on the following areas:(i) Retention, repetition and completion rates at secondary school level. (ii) Disbursement and effect of constituency bursary fund on the education of boys and girls. (iii) Extent of drug abuse in secondary schools. (iv) Extent of male drop out in boarding and day schools.