Factors influencing the choice of agriculture subject by boys and girls in public secondary schools in Kajiado county, Kenya.

Abstract

The objective of the given study was to establish factors that influence the choice of agriculture subject by boys and girls in secondary schools registered as public schools in Kajiado County. This study was conducted based on four objectives, namely, to determine peer influence on choice of agriculture by boys and girls, parental influence on choice of agriculture, individual student‟s attitudes on choice of agriculture, and influence of students‟ career aspirations on choice of agriculture by boys and girls in public secondary schools in Kajiado County. Literature reviewed highlighted the importance of agriculture education globally, in Africa, in Kenya and in Kajiado County. It further showed that the choice of agriculture in secondary schools was influenced by students‟ peers, parents, students‟ individual attitudes, and career aspirations among other factors. The study used the descriptive survey design to collect data from students, principals, agriculture teachers, parents and education officers. The study targeted 50 public schools 1000 form three students who took agriculture, 50 principals, 50 agriculture teachers, 10 parents, and 10 education officers. The sample included 120 form three students who took agriculture, 10 principals, 10 agriculture teachers, 5 parents, and 5 education officers who were sampled using random and purposive sampling techniques. Additionally, the data was collected using questionnaires from students, principals and teachers who teach agriculture subject. The data from parents and education officers was collected using interview schedules. Data collected for the study was subjected to Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 for analysis and presented using frequency tables and percentages. The stud y established that 34 percent of the boys and 27 percent of the girls indicated peer influence as a major factor that determined the choice of agriculture among boys and girls in public secondary schools. This was supported by principals and teacher responses. The study also established that parental influence was a key influencing factor on the choice of agriculture among boys and girls in public secondary schools as indicated by 36 percent of the boys and 24 percent of the girls. School principals and teachers concurred with the students that parents determined the students‟ choice of agriculture. The study further established that 32 percent of boys and 24 percent girls believed that individual student‟s attitudes determined their choice of agriculture. This was supported by 100 percent of the principals and also70 percent of the teachers. The study also established that 39 percent of the boys and 33 percent of the girls agreed that students‟ future career aspiration was the major influencing factor on the choice of agriculture subject among boys and girls in public secondary schools. The study concluded that the main factors influencing choice of agriculture among boys and girls were peer influence, parental influence, individual students‟ attitudes and students‟ career aspirations. It was also concluded that more boys than girls choose agriculture as a future career. The study therefore recommended that students should be well informed about the importance of agriculture as a technical subject which may shape their future career. The study suggested further research on factors influencing choice of agriculture among boys and girls in tertiary and university levels of education.