The influence of female genital mutilation on girls’ participation in education: a case of primary schools in Mbeere North Siakago Sub-County, Embu County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing the girls’ performance in education in Mbeere North, Siakago Sub-County, in Embu County. The study employed a descriptive research design and targeted students in 10 public primary schools to represent the 95 public primary schools within Mbeere North, Siakago Sub-County. The main respondents were; primary school students and teachers. Stratified random sampling technique was used. The target population was divided into strata on the basis of subgroups. In this regard, a total of 40 respondents were sampled from the 10 primary schools selected of virtue of sex, age, role and the kind of information needed representing the 95 public primary schools. The study used questionnaire and focus groups discussions. Purposive sampling technique was utilized to help identify the interviewees and the female students. All respondents completed questionnaires and the questionnaires were edited for completeness and consistency, checked for errors and omissions and then coded. The quantitative data were processed with the help of Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) software programme while the qualitative data were subjected to content analysis from where relevant information was extracted. The data were presented using tables to give a clear picture of research findings at a glance. The findings of the study indicate the influence of socio-cultural factors such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriages, school absenteeism and school dropout. It is the role of the government that parents and the community should be sensitized on the importance of girl child education. The results revealed that in Mbeere North Siakago Sub-County, Embu County FGM has an influence on girls’ performance in education, FGM influences girls dropout rates from schools, there is a significance difference between in age of marriage between girls who have undergone through FGM and those that have not. It also revealed that there is a relationship between FGM and girls absenteeism in schools. Based on the study findings the researcher recommended that the government should ensure that parents and the community are sensitized on the importance of girl child education. It also recommended that FGM should be understood by the community as a gender inequality ad gender based violence, therefore elected leaders should lobby on its abolition. Further the study suggested that a study to be carried out on boys so as compare the findings with those of this study.