Evaluation of cost-effectiveness in the provision of free day secondary education in public schools in Eldoret West district, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the cost effectiveness ofF.D.S.E in Eldoret West district. The study focused on impact of F.D.S.E on access performance, teaching and learning resources since its implementation. The objective of the study was to examine the effect ofF.D.S.E on access on which was done in terms of completion and retention rate in secondary day schools. The study also asses the effect ofF.D.S.E on utilization of resources and their presence in schools, to asses the change in enrollment in public day secondary schools since the implementation of free day secondary education in Eldoret West District and to examine the effect of FDSE on academic performance following the provision of the teaching and learning resources in public day secondary schools.

The study used ex-post factor research design and data was collected using three set questionnaires. The study questionnaires were validated using results of the pilot study and reliability was found to be 0.86. The data was analysed with the aid of frequencies and percentages. However other learning and teaching material like textbooks were found to be adequate in the institutions as a result of~.D.S.E. F.D.S.E has led to improvement in performance among students this because most of the students now spend most of their time in school. The study also found out that quality of education is being compromised since over 90% of the school does not have enough teachers to provide effective and quality learning in the institutions.

The study established that there was a shortage of TSC teachers to attend to the rising number of students, resulting to inadequate curriculum supervision and implementation in schools. The study also established that 100% of the schools reported that the funds released by the government to finance free secondary education were inadequate, and was also not released on time, forcing schools to procure goods on credit or shelve some projects. The government should organize more capacity building programmes for both head teachers and teachers to equip them with adequate skills and abilities to handle the emerging issues with the implementation of Free Day Secondary education. Way of motivating schools managers and teachers should be devised to compensate them for the extra workloads they are undertaking to manage their schools. The government should allocate enough funds in time and resources to schools to ensure that free secondary school education runs smoothly without compromising quality of education. The study established that lack of adequate funds and resources was the biggest challenge affecting effective implementation of free secondary education in public secondary schools.