Factors influencing implementation of free secondary education: a case of Mathioya District

Abstract

In spite of the Free Secondary Education (FSE) policy the rate of transition from the primary school to secondary school has been wanting in Mathioya. With the government funding this scenario ought not to be the way it is since more children are expected to join secondary education since parents have been rid off the burden of paying for tuition. The purpose of this research was to investigate the factors influencing the implementation of the secondary education.

Literature review focused on what other researchers and authors had pointed out concerning implementation of Free Secondary Education. The study was conducted using descriptive survey. A questionnaire that targeted 29 school principals was used while an interview was used for clarity. The findings indicated that there was an increase in enrolment since the inception of FSE funding was not adequate and that it was also irregular. From the findings some of the infrastructure was inadequate to cater for the implementation of FSE. There were various social cultural factors influencing FSE.

The findings also revealed that only a few schools had income generating projects. These projects were not able to cater for the deficit not catered for by the government funding for FSE. More importantly was the fact that the income generating projects only targeted the internal market. The study recommended an increase in the government funding as well as its release in good time. Also recommended was the employment of adequate teaching staff so as to cater for the increased number of students. Schools should come up with income generating projects to avoid over dependency on government funding.

The researcher suggested further research in social-cultural factors influencing education, quality of secondary education since the implementation of FSE and a comparative research in implementation of FSE in day and boarding schools.