Publication: Strategies employed by school administrators to alleviate Wastage in transition from Primary Education to Secondary Education in Kibwezi Zone, Makueni County - Kenya
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2015-10
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
Education is one of the most powerful instruments for reducing poverty and inequality and it lays a
foundation for sustained economic growth. School wastage is a grave issue resulting from serious
causes. There are overwhelming statistics that higher numbers of boys and girls dropout of school
or repeat classes in different parts of the world. The general objectives of the study were to
investigate the strategies employed by the school administrators to alleviate wastage in transition
from primary schools to secondary schools in Kibwezi Zone in Makueni County. The study was
guided by the following specific objectives; to identify the main causes of repetition and dropout in
public primary schools in Kibwezi Zone, to establish the strategies used by public school teachers
to mitigate wastage in Kibwezi Zone and to establish the strategies used by public primary school
management to alleviate wastage in Kibwezi Zone. The study was guided by Social Darwinism
Theory of Equal Opportunities that asserts that each person is born with a given amount of
capacity which to a large extent is inherited and cannot be substantially changed. The key literature
review of the study was concept of primary school wastage in transition from primary education to
secondary education and the role of school administrators in mitigating wastage. The study
adopted descriptive survey design. The study targeted 21 head teachers, 161 teachers and 1 quality
assurance officer. Out of this target population, 16 class teachers, 7 head teachers and 1 quality
assurance officer were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. Data was
collected using questionnaires for teachers and head teachers. Interview and observation schedules
were used to gather information from quality assurance officers. Quantitative data were analyzed
using descriptive statistics through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive
statistics were presented by use of frequencies and percentages. Data collected through interview
were examined for completeness and relevancy in order to ascertain their usefulness, adequacy and
probability. Data analysis was thematic. The following are findings, of the study that majority of
the school head teachers, teachers and quality assurance officers indicated that their schools
experienced cases of dropouts and repetition. The major reasons cited why pupils dropout were;
poverty, lack of moral support from parents and poor performance. The study exposed that pupil’s
repeat in classes in Kibwezi Zone because of the following reasons: poor performance, irregular
school attendance and advice from teachers and parents. To curb wastage, the respondents cited
the following strategies; carrying out sensitization programmes to parents on the value of
education, guidance and counseling and conducting remedial programmes. The following
conclusion was drawn from the study:- that, poverty, lack of moral support, irregular school
attendance, forced repetition, early marriage, orphan hood, contributes significantly to primary
school wastage in the zone. Strategies suggested by respondents were creating guidance and
counseling in schools, adoption of remedial teaching, and adherence to automatic promotions and
carrying out sensitization programmes to parents to value education and avoid charging
unauthorized levies in schools.
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Keywords
Poverty, Adoption