Factors influencing primary school pupils’ access and participation among displaced families from Mau water catchment area in Kuresoi sub county, Nakuru county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the access and participation of pupils to primary education in Mau water catchment area. This region has experienced displacement of people as a result of conservation efforts by government. The specific objectives of this study was to assess how school related factors including teacher related factors, security factors affect access and participation of primary school children in Mau forest region. The study employed an exploratory survey research design and targeted the three head teachers and 915 pupils displaced from the Mau water catchment area. A sample of all 3 head teachers and 180 pupils were selected to participate in the study. The research employed the use of the questionnaires and interview schedule as the main data collection instruments. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and presented in tables. The study found that the school factors such as presence textbooks, writing materials, classroom area, the frequency of teachers involving the learners in learning activities has an effect on the pupils’ access and participation in education. The results obtained showed at least 59% of the respondents left their former schools because their parents decided so. Over 67% of the respondents were happy with the learning at their school.Security issues also affected participation of primary school children. The results also showed that 23.6% of the respondents said that they have been absent from school whereby 9 respondents reported they were insecure because they had been displaced from Mau forest.Parents’ support was found to be highly inadequate hence influenced access and participation in primary education. The parents and guardians play a very significant role in curbing the absenteeism of their children from school. The results showed that at least 41% of the respondents said that they were absent from school because of work at home given by their parents The study recommended that the government should increase funding so that schools within Mau forest can purchase school resources such as textbooks, writing materials; improve classroom area and facilities for co-curricular activities such as football, netball, athletics, handball, and drama and music festival. The study revealed that atleast 52% of the respondents were happy with the way teachers taught them The government should empower the parents and guardians of children within Mau forest region economically to reduce child labor as well as introduce school feeding programme so that children room poor backgrounds are more motivated to attend school and as a way of reducing absenteeism. Further a study should be carried out to establish the effect of the cultural practices on the access and participation of the pupils to school activities among displaced people.