Factors influencing students transition rates to secondary school: a case of Kieni East District, Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

The problem of high secondary school dropouts and low transition rates are some of the major challenges facing the education sector in Kenya. According to the Kenya 1999 population and housing census in the analytical report on education, the percentage dropout rate of students between the ages of 15-19, which represents those in secondary school, in 1999 was 41.2% while in 1979 the dropout rate was 32.31 which reflects the continued rise of dropouts.

The rate of transition varies in all the province with the largest urban areas registering the lowest transition rates. Coast province registered the lowest transition rate aggregate for the last 10 years with 35.9% transition rate while .Nairobi province had a transition rate of 37%. The rest of the rest of the provinces, which are mainly rural despite registering higher transition rates did not do well in terms of transition either Rift Valley .This study aimed at investigating the factors that influence transition rates to secondary schools in Kieni East District, Nyeri County.

The study specifically assessed the influence by availability of education facilities, parents ability and social factors. By use of survey design, a sample of 98 students were selected from targeted population of 300 students and principals through probability and non-probability sampling the population of study constituted 12. Secondary schools of Kieni East District Schools. The researcher applied both closed ended and open ended questionnaires for form one students and principals to ensure validity of the study. The analysis has been done through descriptive statistics in terms of three themes i.e. availability parents ability and social factors. data collected was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences(SPSS).

The study recommends that the central government should equip secondary schools with necessary facilities to allow transition to take place. The study also recommend that education should be affordable to curb dropout and enhance transition from primary to secondary schools. Parents have an obligation in supporting and encouraging students to join secondary schools.