Factors that influnce the dropout of boys in public primary schools in Kenya, case of Kakamega Central district

Abstract

School dropout is a serious issue resulting from various causes. There is overwhelming statistics that higher number of boys is dropping out of school as compared to the girls. The underlying causes of dropout remains obscured and that is why this study sought to investigate the factors that influence dropout of boys in public primary schools. The general objective for this study is to investigate factors that influence boys' dropout in Kakamega Central District. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; to assess the extent to which school related factors, family economical background and environmental factors influences dropout rate of boys in public primary schools.

The study employed descriptive survey design. The boys who dropped but came back to school were established through the school records such as class registers and the admission book. The current record from EMIS indicated that 2540 boys had dropped out but came back to school. From this population 104 boys were selected both from schools and out of school to participate in the study. Schools were selected proportionally by simple random sampling. Simple Random Sampling was also used on the 88 sampled schools to select the head teachers in Kakamega Central District. The head teachers, pupils and parents were the respondents for this study. Purposive sampling used to select school dropouts who not presently in school to be respondents. Purposive sampling is one that is selected in a deliberative and non random fashion to achieve a certain goal.

The main instruments for data collection were questionnaires, interview schedules and school records. Data collected was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively through descriptive statistics. Validity of the instruments was checked by consultation from my supervisor from the School of Continuing and Distance Education. Reliability will be measured by test-retest technique. Operational definition of variables was used to guide in data analysis. The family background that had an immense influence on boys drop out were parents socio-economic status which include; family income, occupation, literacy level, family size and poverty. The study established that school related factors that causing dropout of boys were poor academic performance, teachers attitude, too much work in school and failure to pay school extra levies. Repeating of classes also discouraged pupils and had to drop out of school.

Activities within the surrounding of the school and home were found to attract boys into cheap labor jobs. Most of the findings indicated that they chose to be out of school to create income in order to subsidize their parents' low income. The study recommends that the school head teachers should avoid forcing children to repeat classes unless they so wish. Repeated examinations should not be used as a means to sieve those who do not perform well instead they should be counseled to improve their performance. In this study the government was called upon to give a guideline on the extra levies charged in schools in order to curb the dropout of boys from schools. The community should be sensitized through the ministry of education on the importance of education. The study also recommends that the government to come with a law on age that should be allowed to ride bicycles and motor cycles as a business mean. As a basis for further research, the study should be conducted in the in the whole country to have an overview of the nation and apply the present findings.