| dc.description.abstract | This study was conducted to investigate factors influencing the survival rate of
female students' enrolment in physics subject in public secondary schools in
Kirinyaga Central District. The study was guided by four objectives. How the
school policies influence female students' enrolment in physics subject,
parents' influence on the enrolment of the female students' in physics subject,
how the anticipated career placement affect the female students in enrolling in
physics subject and how the teaching and practical aspect of the subject affects
the female students' enrolling in physics. The study employed a descriptive
survey design. All form three girls doing physics, physics teachers, career
masters and principals in Kirinyaga Central District were targeted. A sample of
16 schools, 16 principals, 16 career masters, 16 physics teachers and 355
students were selected through simple random sampling to participate in the
study. The data was collected by use of questionnaires, interview guide and
check list. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics by using the
computer statistical package for the social sciences SPSS version 16 and
Microsoft Excel. The study found that schools have policies that guide the
subject selection. In most schools such policies don't allow the students
choose subjects combination they may wish and are left to pick from the
available alternatives offered by the school. It was very evident that the
principals don't play an active role in supervising or guiding the students in
the selection exercise and have delegated the work to dean of studies or class
teachers. Though most schools had appointed career's master the department
was found to be ineffective due to the fact that majority of those in the office
had no formal training in the area. Parents were found very influential in
assisting their daughters in subject selection. It was found that the level of
involvement depended with the parents' level of education and the type of
employment. The teaching methodology of physics subject was found to be
more student-centered in co-educational institution than in girls' only
institutions. The female students in co-education schools were found to be
more comfortable in doing physics practical than those in girls' only schools.
The enrolment in physics subject was found high in girls' only schools than in
coeducation schools. Therefore it is recommended that the school
administration formulate policies that give students freedom in subject
selection so that they can achieve their career aspirations. Also more should be
done towards training the career masters to match the current trends in labor
and job market to give their students right and latest information regarding
career | en_US |
