The extent to which administrative practices contribute to secondary school dropout in Kitui district

Abstract

All countries m the world experience high dropouts rates in high schools. The problem is worse on the Sub Saharan Region where you find children who dropout of school either in the streets of urban areas, in coffee, tea or sisal plantations or in mining areas ( East Africa Standard, Saturday, November 11th 2000: 13).1t is estimated that 85 percent of Kenyan budget is used on staff salaries (livondo (992), therefore dropout is a major drawback to investment done on education either by Government, individuals or parents. Most research in this area concentrated on student characteristics, their social and economic factors, academic ability and peer pressure. Such studies include Sifuna (1978), Yoluye (1968) and Reche (1982) among others. The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which school administrative practices contribute to dropout in secondary schools in Kitui District. The study had four objectives and five hypothesis. The literature reviewed in the study revealed that there are various factors which influence dropout. The literature reviewed included provision of secondary school education in Kenya, related studies done on dropout, school administration and dropout and research done on Africa in dropout. It also supported the fact that school administrative practices influence dropout rate in high schools among other factors. Correlation research design was used in the methodology. A sample of 34 secondary schools in Kitui District was selected using stratified random sampling procedure .In each school 4 teachers were randomly selected to respond to the research instrument (profile of a school staff questionnaire). Piloting of the instrument was done in 7 schools which included 28 teachers .The response showed that the instrument was able to collect valid data. Dropouts rate was calculated using the grade dropout formula considering the 1999 -2002 Cohort. The research instrument was administered personally to the respondent by the researcher. The return rate of the questionnaires was 100 percent. The data co llected was checked, grouped, coded and entered in computer data bank. It was analyzed using SPSS programme. The analysis of data was done by computing frequencies and percentages for demographic variables. Means, standard deviations and analysis of variance was used in descriptive data. Pearson correlation method was used to test the hypothesis and simple linear regression was done to Asses the relationship between school climate and dropout variables. The followings were the major findings of the study:- 1. School climate (in terms of climate, leadership and intervening) significantly predict schools dropout rate in secondary schools in Kitui district. 2. Leadership styles have an impact on dropout rates of secondary schools ill Kitui District. 3. Dropout rates were high in mixed schools than in single sex schools. 4. Dropout rates were high in girl's school than in boy's schools. 5. Dropout were higher in private and District schools than ill Provincial schools. 6. That climate and leadership variables have the highest impact on dropout rates . •• Their correlation with dropout rate was .40 and 40 respectively. 7. Administrative practices were different across the schools in the District hence differences in their impact on dropout across the schools 8. The study suggests that there are other variables apart from administrative practices (school climate), which can explain dropout rates in Kitui secondary schools. The study presented the following recommendations:- 1. Efforts be made to have secondary schools administrators take an intensive course in educational administration and leadership either before they are appointed or soon after they are appointed. 2. The government ought to devise policies, which will encourage 100 percent graduation in secondary schools especially in mixed, girls and District secondary schools in the District. 3. The Head teachers in secondary schools need to assess their administrative practices by getting feedback from students and teachers in order to assist the potential dropouts to complete the secondary school course. 4. Secondary school Head teachers should be people of credibility and strong personality in order to enable them make schools conducive for students to stay in. 5. The T.S.C and its agents ought to recruit Head teachers using professional • parameters . 6. There is a need for the Ministry of education to control the movement of students from one school to another before they finish form four in order to discourage school leaving. 7. Education planners should ensure that the educational recourses have been equally distributed in schools. This will control school leaving. 8. K.E.S.I courses on educational management be intensified In secondary schools especially on administrative practices. 9. Further research on dropout be carried out to establish other factors that may explain dropout as identified in this study. 10. Secondary school administration not only should work closely with parents in making schools conducive for the students to live in but should also encourage student and support them to complete the four-year course without difficulties. 11. There is a need for students to be given a forum to participate in the administration of the school and be given opportunities to express their views and suggestions freely. 12. Team work should be encouraged between secondary school administration and teachers. Finally the suggestions for further research were made which are:- 1. There is a need to carry out another study covering a larger area such as province or country in order to enable wide generalization of findings. 2. Future study in this area should include Head teachers, students and • subordinate staff as respondents instead of teachers alone in order to analyze deeply the secondary school administrative practices. 3. The dropouts themselves should be considered and interviewed in order to get information about school climate and their reasons for leaving school. 4. In future the research should focus on District and private schools, which have high drop out rates in order to identify the problems they face in creating effective, positive and conducive school climate. 5. Future research should require Head teachers to give detailed background information of their schools. 6. Future research on dropout should also take into consideration factors outside school, which may have influence on dropout rates.