Publication: Impacts of social conflicts on provision of basic education in Baragoi division of Samburu North sub county Kenya
Total Views 2
total viewsTotal Downloads 11
total downloadsDate
2015-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mount Kenya University
Cite this Item
Abstract
The study sough to find out the impact of social conflicts on provision of basic education on
pupil’s access to basic primary education in Baragoi Division Samburu North Sub-County of
Kenya. Access to good quality education in several conflict-affected areas is seriously imperiled
not only due to the direct effects of fighting, but also because schools, teachers, students and
staff are often targeted by violent attacks. In the face repeated incidents and threats of attack,
children are afraid to go to school and parents are scared of sending them to school whereas
teachers will be afraid to go to work. With such magnitude of violence in place Schools have
closed to prevent attacks and the governments may be reluctant to re-open schools because
threats of attack may still be present. As a result most areas that experiences cattle rustling
recorded low pupil enrolment since most parents feared for their lives of their children. Most
schools in these marginalized areas also register high dropout rates due to insecurity reasons.
Teachers on the other hand have been forced to desert duty and relocate to other place. All these
happenings causes serious problems towards accessing basic primary education. The researcher
formulated study objectives with the main objective being to find out the impact of cattle rustling
on pupil’s access to basic primary education in Baragoi Division in Samburu Sub-County, with
the goal of identifying major causes, the effects, the challenges and the measures taken to stop
cattle rustling in the division. Research questions were derived from the specific objectives and
were later used to come up with questions for the questionnaires. The study was guided by Peace
Building Theory of Redekop which identified five interrelated categories of Human identity
needs. The Theory stipulates that deep rooted conflict is about identity. The study used
descriptive survey design using both qualitative and quantitative approaches because it intended
to avail useful detailed information on the factors influencing pupil’s access to primary education
in cattle rustling prone areas of Baragoi Division in Samburu North. The instruments used in
collection of data included questionnaires and interview guides. They were designed for the
different groups of sample representatives. The study established that cattle rustling have various
causes such as need to expand boundaries, incitements by politicians, competition for grazing
fields and it was a lucrative business to some people. The study also established out that cattle
rustling had effects on pupil’s accessing basic primary education. Some pupils dropped out of
school as a result of cattle rustling others became orphans, others feared attacks while at school
therefore they stopped going to school and teachers stopped going to school for fear of being the
targets. All this crippled accessibility of education by pupils in Baragoi Division of Samburu
North Sub-County. The study made the recommendation that in order to improve the situation on
the area the government in partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations should set up
more boarding schools to shorten the distance and improve on security by building police camps
near the boarding schools. In order to stop the practice of cattle rustling the government eradicate
black markets for cattle. Also, all security agencies and relevant line ministries should
collaborates with each other and with key education stake holders to ensure that the cattle
rustling is promptly and effectively resolved so that pupils can continue with their education
without fear.
Description
Keywords
Education