Drought and homebased factors influencing access of the boy child to education in public primary schools in Mashuuru sub-county, Kajiado County.
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the home-based factors that influence access
of the boy child to education in public primary schools in Kenyewa Division, Mashuuru
Sub-County, Kajiado County. The following were the specific objectives; to examine the
extent to which poverty among families affects the access of the boy child to education in
public primary schools; to determine the effect of culture among pastoralists and its
influence on access of the boy child to education in public primary schools; to establish the
effect of drought on the access of the boy child to education in public primary schools; to
determine the influence of nomadic lifestyle on access of the boy child to education in
public primary schools in Kenyewa Division, Mashuuru Sub-County in Kajiado County.
The study used descriptive survey design. The study target population was all the 42 public
primary schools in Kenyewa Division comprising of 228 teachers and 7,299 pupils, out of
which, 3,687 are boys, and 3,612 are girls. Purposeful sampling technique was used to get
a sample size of 7 primary schools from Kenyewa Division from which 760 respondents
were drawn. This was necessitated by the vastness of the area. The sample comprised of 7
head teachers, 24 class teachers, and 729 pupils. Data was collected through questionnaires
consisting of both open and close ended questions for the headteachers and teachers.
Quantitative as well as qualitative data was collected. Quantitative data was analyzed using
descriptive statistics such as tables, histograms, and narratives. Qualitative data was
analyzed thematically as per the objectives. The research established that the home-based
factors that influence access of the boy child to education are poverty, culture, drought, and
nomadism. The study found poverty to affect the quality of education accessed by the boy
child in the study area. In regard to culture the study found misalignment of cultural
practices and technology to be the greatest limitation to access to education by the boy
child in the study area. The study also found drought to greatly affect the economic activity
in an adverse way culminating to negative implication on access to education by the boy
child. The study found nomadism to adversely affect the availability of teachers to the boy
child in the study area. The study concluded that there is need for urgent measures to be
taken to address the poverty levels in Mashuuru Sub-county in an effort to address the
access to education by the boy child in the area. In regard to culture, the study concluded
that cultural practices have greatly influenced access to education by the boy child in the
study area. The study further concluded that the implication of drought on education in the
region has been overlooked by the concerned stakeholders. The study further concluded
that the implication of nomadism on education have been relatively overlooked by policy
makers in the study area. The study recommend the development of measures aimed at
addressing and mitigating the poverty levels in the study area. The study also recommends
sensitization of the locals in an aim to change their perceptions to culture and education in
a positive way. The study further recommends the installation of infrastructure that will be
customized towards alleviating the implication of drought in the study area. The study
further recommends sensitization of the locals in an aim to encourage them to shun
nomadism by the boy child
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Master of Education in Education in Emergencies,
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [6011]