Factors influencing student enrollment in Christian Religious Education subject in public secondary schools in Nyamachi Division, Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

Christian Religious Education is an educational subject at all levels of learning. The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing student enrolment in C.R.E in public secondary schools. The study pursued the following objectives students' perception on importance of C.R.E and its effects on enrolment, the role of career guidance in the selection of C.R.E as a subject and it affects enrolment, relationship between teacher's qualification and student enrolment and challenges facing the teaching of C.R.E and how it affects enrolment.

This study adopted a descriptive survey design to determine the factors influencing student's enrolment in C.RE. To carry out a research on this area the researcher selected a sample of 30 out of 48 public secondary schools. In each of the 30 public secondary schools the researcher selected 5 from four students who have enrolled in C.R.E form 5 students who have not enrolled in C.R.E, and students were randomly selected.

The research developed and use questionnaires for students who have enrolled for C.R.E, a questionnaire for students who have not enrolled in C.R.E, and a questionnaire for C.R.E teachers. The researcher employed descriptive statistics as a technique to analyzing qualitative and content analysis for qualitative data. Distributions and percentages, conclusions, records and suggestions were given.

Data was presented using frequency tables. The study revealed that students' perception on importance of C.R.E affect their enrolment in public secondary schools to great extent. The study also revealed that role of career guidance in the selection of C.R.E as a subject and it affects enrolment in public secondary schools to great extent as most school didn't offer career guidance on selection of subject.

The study found that teacher's academic qualification affected student enrolment into C.R.E, thus a relationship between teacher's qualification and student enrolment in C.R.E. The study further established that there were numerous challenges facing the teaching of C.R.E which negatively affected the enrolment of C.R.E in public secondary schools.

The recommendation for the study is that there is need for the Ministry of Education Science and Technology to employ more qualified CRE teachers as this will help in increasing student enrolment in the C.R.E subject. There is need for school to offer career guidance on subject selection as this will help in improving C.R.E enrollment in public secondary schools.