Publication: An investigation of the contributions of parental Characteristics on the enrollment rates of Preschool learners in Ndoleli division, Meru county.
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2015-04
Authors
Ntarangwi, Peter I.
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PARENTAL
CHARACTERISTICS ON THE ENROLMENT RATES OF
PRESCHOOL LEARNERS IN NDOLELI DIVISION, MERU COUNTY
PETER I. NTARANGWI
MEC-24734/2013
A RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
STUDIES OF MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY
APRIL, 2015ABSTRACT
Academic performance of preschool children from poor socio-economic backgrounds has
registered low academic grades. Thus, the study intended to investigate the contributions of
parental characteristics on enrolment rates in Ndoleli Division in Meru County. The literature was
reviewed based on the contributions of parents’ level of education, parental income, family type
and parental attitude on enrolment rates of preschool children. The study adopted both quantitative
and qualitative methods. Questionnaires and focused group interviews were used to collect data.
The study applied explanatory sequential research design which involved mixing both quantitative
and qualitative research and methods in a single study. The target population for this study
comprised 29 head teachers, 50 preschool teachers and 600 parents with children at preschool
levels all totaling to 679. Using The Central Limit Theorem, the researcher will sample 8
preschools (27.59% of 679). Based on this theorem, the researcher sampled 150 respondents. The
researcher applied stratified random sampling to create 6 different strata based on the number of
zones each consisting of 5 preschools. From each stratum, 1 preschool was selected using simple
random sampling. The researcher then applied purposive sampling to identify at least 1 head
teacher and 2 preschool teachers considering preschools which have registered the lowest
enrolment rates. Purposive sampling was appropriate for selecting head teachers and preschool
teachers. The researcher applied simple random sampling to select 22 parents’ representatives from
each stratum to avoid the feeling of bias amongst the respondents. Analysis of data was done
through identifying common themes from the respondents’ description of their experiences.
Frequency counts of the responses were then obtained to generate descriptive information about
the respondents and to illustrate the general trend of findings on the various variables under
investigation. Qualitative data was analyzed along the set objectives whereas the basic quantitative
data was analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in Statistical Packages for Social
Sciences (SPSS Version 21). The findings of the study were presented using tables and charts. The
study has established that majority of the respondents hold the view that parental characteristics
such as level of education, incomes, family types and attitudes have a relationship with enrollment
rates of preschool children, that they enhance enrollment of large number of learners, enhance new
admissions and improved enrollment rates. The study thus concludes that parental level of
education; parental incomes, family types and parental attitudes contribute immensely towards the
enrollment rates amongst preschool children. It thus recommends that parents should be advised
to pursue academic seminars and adult education programmes to make them aware of their roles
in improving the enrollment rates of preschool children. They should invest their incomes towards
sending their children to school by providing the pre-requisite resources for learning. The
government and other education stakeholders should organize workshops where parents from
different family types can be advised to mind the academic welfare of their children by sending
them to schools despite family challenges. Parents should develop positive attitude towards their
children’s education which should then act as a motivator to their children to attend schools. The
government should formulate a policy to enforce Adult Literacy, School Feeding and other
programmes designed to attract more preschool children to schools.
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Keywords
early childhood education