Students’ Demographic Characteristics Influencing Their Participation In Public Secondary Schools In Narok North District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish students‟ demographic characteristics influencing their participation in public secondary schools in Narok North district, Kenya. Four research objectives were formulated to guide the study. The first objective was to examine how birth order affects their participation in secondary school education. The second objective was to establish the extent to which students‟ gender influenced their participation in secondary school. The third objective was to establish the extent to which students‟ attitudes towards education influence their participation in their education. The fourth objective was to determine how the age of students affects their participation in secondary schools. The study was based on the student involvement theory by Alexander (1975). The study employed descriptive survey design. The researcher used simple random sampling technique to select the sample population. Out of the 21 public secondary schools, 6 were selected to participate in the study. Similarly, 8 Form III class teachers were selected randomly. This represented 30 per cent of the target population. In addition, 175 students representing 10 per cent of the target population were part of the sample population. Data were collected using questionnaires and student observation schedules. The results of the questionnaires and the student observation schedules were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings revealed that there were students‟ demographic characteristics influencing their participation in secondary education. Such demographic characteristics included students‟ birth order, students‟ gender, students‟ attitudes towards education and students‟ age. Findings indicated that students‟ birth order influence their participation. Further, students‟ gender was also a demographic characteristic influencing their participation in secondary school education. Students‟ attitude towards education also played a significant role in influencing students‟ participation in education. Further, students‟ age influenced their participation in public secondary school in Narok North district. It was concluded that students‟ participation in education was influenced by their birth position. It was also concluded that students‟ gender influenced their participation in secondary school education. More so, students‟ attitude towards education greatly influenced their participation. Finally, it was concluded that students‟ age influenced their participation in secondary education. Through the study findings it was recommended that there should be legal changes that allow for girls re-entry to schools after getting pregnant or being rescued from forced marriages. It was also recommended the community should be sensitized on the importance of education. This will make them develop a xiii positive attitude toward education hence changing the students‟ attitude towards education. Students should be encouraged to emulate their elder siblings who have excelled. Finally, the county government should take up the initiative of allocating more money to the bursary kitty to benefit more students. This would help curb the problem of students being sent home to collect school fees