Factors influencing female teachers decision to pursue early childhood development courses through distance learning mode: a case of Marsabit Central Division Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the female teachers decision to pursue early childhood development course through distance learning mode. The study was carried out in Marsabit Central Division where the target population were the female teachers, the head teachers of the ECD centers in the division, the sponsors and the government authorities (the DEO).

The study employed a descriptive survey design where the sample selected from the target population of 130 respondents was 64 respondents. The sampling techniques employed in the study were stratified, simple random and probability sampling. The data was collected by the use of questionnaires from the female teachers and the head teacher and interview schedules from the sponsors and the government authorities. The data was then analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively using statistical package for social sciences, ms excel and word computer packages. The output was presented inform of tables from where interpretations were made based on the study objectives.

The major findings were that, the reasons why female teacher join ECD programme through distance learning mode are, their fellow teachers who already attended the program and talk from friends about BCD education influenced them, interest in learning with small children, to gain more knowledge. The study recommends that, The sponsors and the government should support the female teachers taking ECD program through various ways, these include improvement of infrastructure especially construction of classrooms and water tanks, hand washing facilities and latrines and capacity building of the school management committees to the schools