Effects of free secondary education funding policy on Transition rates from primary to secondary education: a case of The larger Gatundu District, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of free secondary education funding policy on transition rates from primary to secondary sub-sectors in the larger Gatundu District. The study targeted the two DEOs of the larger Gatundu and 20 principals, 10 from each of the two districts curved from the larger Gatundu and QASO officers 4 from each district. The study combined purposive and random sampling techniques. Purposive sampling enabled the researcher to select the participants who met the objectives of the study. Random sampling helped the researcher to apply inferential statistics to the data and provide equal opportunity of selection for each element of the population. The study used a questionnaire, document analysis and, in-depth interviews schedules as data collection tools. Before the actual data collection procedure, a pilot study was carried in three schools to pre test the data collection tools. Descriptive statistics including frequency counts and percentages were used to analyze the quantitative data. Qualitative data obtained through interviews was analyzed thematically based on research objectives. Results of the study were presented using frequency tables, bar graphs and Pie charts. The study established that: FSE funding policy increased enrollment in secondary schools though a few schools recorded decrement in enrollment. It was established that the major factors which contributed to this decline included financial constraints, poor academic performances, negative attitude towards education and peer influence. The study also established that high inflation rates, under staffing, delayed disbursement of funds, insufficient funds, were other challenges that affected implementation of FSE policy. As a result, FSE negatively affected the quality of education where most schools experienced under staffing, overcrowding in classrooms, inadequacy of teaching and learning resources and eventually poor academic performances. The study recommends that; the government should increase the secondary education bursary fund. The operational principle of the bursary fund should be reviewed so that it is possible for out of school youth to benefit from the bursary fund; the government should also ensure timely disbursement of funds to avoid delayed projects; The Ministry of Education should employ more teachers in order to cater for students-teachers ratio and hence minimizing the problem of under staffing which most schools experienced; among other recommendations. Findings of the study would help in justifying the continuous planning of government financing secondary sub sector in Kenya. They would also help in improving the implemented strategies in order to reap maximum benefits from the huge sums of recurrent capital being invested by the government.