Socio-economic factors influencing orphans’ quality education in public primary schools in Kibera Slums, Nairobi County

Abstract

Despite government measures like teacher salary increase, performance in public primary schools in Kibera slums has been persistently low. While education is considered to be a basic right, the delivery of primary education in Kibera has registered deterioration in quality of education among orphans due to several bottlenecks. This study investigated the socio-economic factors influencing orphans’ quality education in public primary schools in Kibera slums, Nairobi County. The study employed a descriptive survey study. The population of the study consisted of the 8 primary schools in Kibera slum. The study sampled 8 head teachers and 24 class teachers of classes 6, 7 and 8 from the 8 public primary schools Purposive sampling technique was used to sample the head teachers and simple random sampling was used to select the class to participate in the study. The main research instrument that was used in this study was questionnaires. Frequency tables were used to present the research findings. From the findings it shows that school dropout affects the quality of education among orphans. Orphaned pupils drop out of school often due to lack of school uniform. They lack guidance and counseling to help them to face their problems and therefore eventually drop out. The findings led the researcher to conclude that availability of learning resources affects the quality of education among orphans. The orphaned pupils face a challenge of learning resources. They cannot afford the learning resources and this affects the quality of education. This eventually adversely affects the quality of education attained by orphaned pupils in primary schools in Kibera slum. The study concludes that regular school attendance has effect on quality of education among orphans. The orphaned pupils miss school due to lack of school uniform and learning material. This led to missing classes and therefore affects the quality of education. inadequate financial resource affects the quality of education among orphans. The orphaned pupils have fewer finances for education. They do not pay school uniform on time and are forced to divert finances to cater for other needs other than education. This eventually affects the quality of education they attain. The study findings may contribute to the existing body of knowledge to other researchers on the role quality education in primary schools in Kenya. It may highlight the socio-economic factors influencing orphans’ quality education. The researcher recommends that the Ministry of Education should sensitize the guardians on the importance of education for their children. The primary schools should make sure they support the orphaned pupils through availing learning resources to them. This will make their studies comfortable and easy and therefore will lead to improved performance. The head teachers should enhance the guiding and counseling for the orphaned pupils in the schools. This will encourage the orphaned pupils to stay in to school and attend the school regularly. The DEO should mobilize funds from the CDF and bursaries from the Ministry of Education to support orphans. The findings may provide useful information for the National policy-makers, civil society, research organizations and the public as they focus on quality of education as a topic of discussion and inquiry.