Factors influencing the quality of education in public primary schools among the pastoralist communities in Laikipia north district, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing the quality of education in public primary schools in the pastoralist communities in Laikipia North district, Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish the extent to which conflicts affect contact time, to determine the extent to which teaching/learning resources affect pupils’ performance, to examine the extent to which availability of qualified teachers affect pupils’ performance and to establish the extent to which drought influence pupils’ physical needs. The study adopted the Structuralism theory and applied descriptive survey research design. 75% of the population was used as sample to participate in the study. The target population was 24 head teachers, 231 teachers, 400 parents and 240 school dropouts. The sample totals were 18 head teachers, 172 teachers, 36 parents and 36 school drop-outs. The research findings reveal that majority of head teachers and teachers are males indicating there is no gender balance. Further findings reveal that frequent conflicts have an effect on contact time. It was found that Pupil book ratio is mainly one to five, showing acute shortage. The study established that there was a teacher shortage due to the fact that most classes have an enrolment of forty pupils and above. The study also established that drought has an influence on pupils’ physical needs due to its impoverishing effect on families. The study concluded that teachers need motivation in order for them to work in the pastoralist areas and that drought has serious effects on the physical needs of the learners. The study recommended that the government should employ enough teachers, revive the School Feeding Programme and also provide adequate teaching/learning resources. The study suggests that a study be carried out to investigate the impact of gender inequality on quality education among the pastoralist community.