A study on the factors that lead to girl child dropout in Schools in Makindu Division Makueni County.

Abstract

Access to education determines the ultimate life chances of an individual. When such chances are inequitably distributed, educational attainment becomes the instrument for increasing inequality rather than the converse. In developing countries, gender gap persists in education despite research evidence that girls’ education is the key determinant of women’s involvement in development for the above nations. In Kenya, the government is committed to promoting free primary education and subsidized secondary education to all its citizens.Inspite of this commitment, girls’ high dropout in secondary education in some parts of the country remains unresolved. If women in such areas continue to be left out of education and by implication the mainstream of development, they are not only deprived of opportunities to realize their full potential but also serious inefficiencies in the utilization of the country’s resources will persist.The purpose of this study therefore was to investigate the factors that influence girls’ dropout in secondary education in Makueni County. Research questions were developed to gather relevant information on family [home] characteristics, social cultural norms and practices, parental perception on girls’ education and school based factors limiting girls’ education. The study was conducted using a sample population drawn from eighteen public secondary schools in the County. The target population was principals, teachers, students and parents in these schools. The target population included 20 head teachers, 137class teachers, 841 parents and 3206 students. The total target population was 4204.Data was collected by use of questionnaires administered to students, FGD with teachers and interviews with principals and parents. The data was then be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and presented by use of frequencies, pie charts and graphs. Literature review related to the topic was done it was organized under topics related to concepts of school dropout cases, the causes of school dropout and the mitigation measures that can be taken to overcome the school dropout cases and to ensure girls are retained in school from form one to form four when they do their KCSE.he researcher then commended on findings of study and suggested areas of concern and as well provided possible solutions to the area under study.