Factors influencing high dropout rate of boys in public primary schools. The case of Ndoleli Division, Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

The study focuses generally on factors influencing high dropout rate by boys in Ndoleli division, Meru County. Despite the high attention placed on education by government aimed at improving education by introducing the free primary education you still find boys dropout out of school especially between class 4 and class eight. The factors were found to be major contributors to boys dropout which include influence by culture, relationship, miraa farming lack of guidance and counseling and also the parental relationship with boys.

The researcher used ex-post facto design since factors have already taken place and variables can not be manipulated by the researcher. Researcher targeted a population of 545 pupils, 30 class eight teachers and 30 head teachers. A 10% of population was used to get sample size for pupils, which was 54 pupils hence making a 114 sample size to respond to questionnaires. Data collection instrument was through questionnaires and observation schedules. Data analyses were done through a descriptive statistic and questionnaires were coded for easy computation data was analyzed by use of frequency and percentage tables. The instruments were pilot tested at Kiengu educational zone to a certain their reliability and validity.

The study was guided by the underlined objectives to establish the influence caused by miraa farming and high dropout rates by boys in public primary schools, to examine the parental contribution towards high dropout rate by boys in public primary schools, to asses the role of guidance and counseling units and the high dropout rates of boys in public primary schools and to establish the influence of culture towards high dropout rates by boys in public primary schools. The results from the study will be useful to the Ministry of Education, Teachers Service Commission and other policy makers in the implementing of the education programmes effectively within the division and the district at large.