Influence of orphan care strategies on retention of orphaned children in primary schools in Trans-nzoia county Kenya; a case of Kwanza sub county

Abstract

Children without parents are not only among the most vulnerable members of society but their care and protection also presents a major child care policy challenge due to their high population which is increasing day by day (Tatek Abebe, 2009). Kenya is home to over 2.6 million orphans with over 1,600 orphans being in Kwanza sub county in Trans Nzoia County. According to the Kenya 2010 Constitution, all children have basic rights and right to education is one of them. This study sought to establish influence of different strategies of orphan care on retention of orphans in primary schools in Kwanza Sub County, Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to examine factors in Kinship, foster, community-based and institutional care, which influence retention of orphans in primary schools. It’s theoretical framework was based on two polarized theories of care ( Abebe and Aase 2007). The first theory is captured by the ‘social rupture thesis’, while the second theory is grounded in ‘perspectives of social resilience’, The study used descriptive design which employs various methods for data collection and analysis. Those used in this research were Questionnaires, Interview guides, and observation. Secondary data was obtained from school records. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used. The target population was orphaned children, both boys and girls who are in ordinary day primary schools, both public and private, in class eight. The study samples included 25 ordinary day primary schools with class eight, 56 orphans, 25 head teachers of all schools selected and 14 key informants. Simple random sampling design was used to select schools from a list of all day ordinary primary schools from the sub county. Purposive sampling design was used to select only class eight and school heads. School admission records and class registers were used to obtain the number of orphans in class eight in the schools, type of orphan care and their attendance. The questionnaires were piloted in two public day primary schools selected randomly from the list of schools. Both schools participating in the pilot study did not take part in the final study. Data Analysis was done scientifically using SPSS. descriptive statistics and chi-square were used. Its presentation was done in chapter four using descriptive statistics which involved tables, frequencies and percentages. The findings showed that Kinship care had the highest influence on primary school with 59%retention, followed by foster care, 55%. Community based care 53% and institutional care 51% It was expected that the findings would add knowledge to research which would inform future decisions concerning orphan care placement.