Influence of Socio-Economic factors on girls' participation in Primary School Education in Narok North District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of socio- economic factors on girls participation in primary school education in Narok North District, Kenya. The study was guided by five objectives: To determine the extent to which early marriages and pregnancy influence school participation among girls in primary Schools in Narok North District, to determine the extent to which poverty affect participation of girl's in primary school education in Narok North District, to establish how the parents level of education affects participation among girls in primary schools in Narok North District, to determine the extent to which child labour influence participation among girls in primary school in Narok North District and to asses influence of adequacy of learning and physical resources on girl child participation in primary education in Narok North District.

Data was collected from public primary schools through the use of questionnaires and focused group discussion with pupils. The target population of the respondent in the forty four (44) public primary schools included; Thirty headteachers, Three hundred teachers and Four hundred girls in their final year 2011 in standard eight. According to the findings, girls do not participate fully in primary school education. Pregnancy and early marriages were found to be the main reason why girls dropout from school. Other factors identified included poverty, lack of parental concern, lack of interest and child labour. Parents level of education was also given as a contributory factor influencing participation on girls in primary school education. From the findings, the following recommendations were suggested;

Improvement of parental involvement in education of their children through sustained campaigns on the importance of education. The provincial administration to see that the culprits who make the girls pregnant are punished according to the law. Guidance and counseling should be intensified as a means of curbing the low participation of girls in public primary schools. The researcher also recommends, if possible girls to be taken to boarding primary schools.