An Assessment Of Factors That Influence The Functioning Of Non-formal Schools In Kibera Informal Settlement, Nairobi

Abstract

Since the early 1990s Kenya has witnessed a rapid proliferation of non formal education (NFE) programmes, which has radically altered the contours of the educational field. There has been an increase in the number of non-formal and alternative approaches to basic education programmes despite the introduction of free primary and secondary education by the government as many children are still out of school. The enrolment of NFE increased from 99,979 in 2003 to 143,409 pupils in 2008, an increase of 43.4 percent. Factors which have been found to influence increased enrolment in NFE are lack of parents‟ ability to meet the high and often prohibitive cost of educating their children such as provision of transport, hidden costs, physical and socio-cultural constraints, such as cultural attitudes and gender bias, low retention, low completion rates and school dropouts. The study sought to determine factors affecting the existence of non-formal education in Kenya with focus on Kibera slum. The objectives were to establish the state of learning conditions, forms and patterns of community participation in the management of NFE culture, socio-economic factors and the level and forms of participation by the learners on non-formal education in Kenya. The study adopted a survey research design in which all the 9,854 learners and 280 teachers in the non formal education centres in Kibera slum were targeted. The study used stratified random sampling method to select 336 pupils from the three locations of Kibera slum. Purposive sampling was used to select 8 headteachers, 8 teachers, one District Education Officer, one County Education Officer 3 chiefs and 3 community members from the sampled centers. The researcher also interviewed the key informants. Data was collected both quantitatively and qualitatively using observation guides, questionnaires and interview schedules. The researcher self administered the research instruments. Data was analysed using both descriptive statistics and content analysis. The study established that the community comprised of community members, parents, NGOs, churches and to a small extent the government. The participation by the community was in forms of building classrooms, buying of school furniture and land for establishment and learning materials. The study further established that most of the schools have classrooms and learners are provided with meals. The study established that the formal and the non-formal education shared in examination, syllabus, co-curricular activities among others. Most of the respondents believe that the poverty has to a large extent influenced the NFE in Kibera as the community view formal education as beyond their reach and therefore believed in overdependence on aids which come in the form of NFE. The study recommended increased government support towards NFE to ensure realization of education for all children, the government should harmonize the formal and the non-formal education, and finally, the government and other stakeholders need to work to support to improve learning conditions for the learners by providing learning facilities