Influence of kenya government interventions on girlchild dropout in public primary schools in Malindi Subcounty, Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of Kenya government interventions on girl-child dropout in public primary schools in Malindi SubCounty, Kilifi County, Kenya. The four objectives that guided the study were; to determine the extent the provision of sanitary pads, government policy on early marriages, government children rights, government bursaries influence girl-child dropout in Malindi Sub–County, Kilifi County. The study targeted 69 head teachers and 1,587 teachers and 21317 girls from one stream of class 6, 7 and 8 in Malindi Sub-County. The sample size was made of 14 headteachers, 159 teachers, and 207 girls‟ pupils yielding a sample size of 380 respondents. Purposive sampling was used for head teachers while simple random sampling for teachers and girls pupils. Questionnaires for teachers and an interview guide for girls pupils and headteachers were used to collect data. Reliability analysis was done through test-retest method. Pearson‟s product moment‟s correlation was used to test reliability. 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 frequency tables and graphs. Descriptive statistics and thematic statistics were used. This assisted in determining the level of influence the independent variables have on the dependent variable. Secondary data was obtained from journals and schools database. Data collected were processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The findings indicated that provision of sanitary pads by the government influences completion of girl child. Head teacher do not consult all stakeholders in improving the sanitary conditions of the school. It was concluded that government policy on early marriages influences girls drops out. Schools employ tough disciplinary actions that scare pregnant girls from schools. Head teachers do not properly govern the school as regards girl return to school after pregnancy. The findings showed that child rights observation influences the girl child school dropout. The head teachers‟ enforcement of child right policy implementation influence girl child dropout to a very large extent. There is influence of government bursaries on girl-child dropout. The government does not offer enough scholarships to the girl students. The government bursaries and scholarships to the girl students enhances girls‟ retention in schools. The head teachers do not enforce school policies on scholarships and bursaries. The findings of this study provide information on the influence of Kenya government initiatives on girl child drop out in primary schools. The findings serves 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 may enhance the attainment of education for all by 2015 and the realization of Vision 2030. The government should initiate programs that enhances the provision of sanitary pads in primary schools. This is because the pupils highlighted it as a major cause of girl-child dropout in public primary schools in Malindi Sub-County, Kilifi County.