Influence of government intervention measures on girl child completion of primary education in Mao Division, Narok county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of government intervention measures on girl child completion of primary education in Mao Division, Narok County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to establish the influence of repetition policy, sanitary conditions, back to school after delivery and counseling on the girl child completion of primary education in Mao Division, Narok County, Kenya. From the 13 schools, a sample of 13 head teachers was purposively sampled. The researcher used simple random sampling for 59 teachers’ respondents from the 195 teachers in Mao division which represent 30 percent of the target population to make a representative sample. The sample size consisted of 13 head teachers, 59 teachers, 58 girls’ pupils and 2 Non-Governmental Organization officers. This resulted to a sample size of 132 respondents from the 13 public primary schools. The researcher used simple random sampling for 59 teachers’ respondents from the 195 teachers in Mao division which represent 30 percent of the target population to make a representative sample. Questionnaires for teachers, interview for head teachers and document analysis was used to generate data for this study. Reliability analysis was done through test-retest method. Pearson’s product moment’s correlation of 0.6 indicated that the instrument was reliable. Validity was ensured through discussion with the experts including supervisors and colleagues. Primary data was collected and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques and presented in tables and graphs. Secondary data was obtained from journals and schools data base. Data collected was coded using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used. This assisted in determining the level of influence the independent variables have on the dependent variable. The findings of this study provide information on the influence of head teachers’ management initiatives on girl child completion in primary schools. The findings serve as a springboard for policy makers to design, implement, monitor and evaluate policies meant to create safe schools and change the inherent school-based impediments as they develop strategies that enhances the attainment of education for all by 2015 and the realization of Vision 2030. Pregnancy was found to be contributing majorly to girls’ school dropout. The sanitary condition was found to have influence on the completion of girl child.. The head teachers should hold meetings with the pupils and counsel them. The head teachers do not hold enough talks with the girl students to discuss about their sanitary challenges in school. The head teachers need to enforce implementation of the repetition policy so that the pupils do not get frustrated by repeating classes. This study can be replicated in other divisions in order to give a reflection of the whole country on head teachers management initiatives contributing to girls drop out from public primary schools in primary schools. This will ensure better decision making on ways curbing this problem.