Publication: Factors affecting enrollment in public primary schools in Kiteta zone, Mbooni east district in Makueni county
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2015-04
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
The central problem of this study is that although the government is providing direct grants to
primary schools under free primary education F.P.E, some areas still experience decreasing
enrolment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to
enrolment in public primary schools in, Kiteta Zone, Mbooni East District, Makueni County. The
objectives of this study were to establish pupils' enrolment in the period 2007-2014, to
determine the social, economic and cultural factors, the school based factors and pupils'
characteristics and the state of physical facilities contributing to enrolment and to establish
measures that could improve enrolment in the public primary schools in, Kiteta Zone, Mbooni
East District, Makueni County. A descriptive survey design was used to collect data from 8 head
teachers, 40 teachers and 160 pupils and key informants like the DEO and the parents. The
study used questionnaires for head teachers, teachers and pupils. General interviews were
conducted with the key informants. Observation of the facilities in the schools was carried out
by the researcher. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using frequency counts and
percentages and presented using tables and bar graphs. Qualitative data were analyzed by
arranging responses according to the research questions and objectives. The study found that
enrolment rates in public primary schools in, Kiteta Zone, Mbooni East District, Makueni County
declined. The problem of enrolment affected boys more than girls. The most prominent causes
of declining enrolment of pupils are poverty, transfer of pupils to private academies,
poor performance, shortage of teachers, and alcohol abuse by parents reducing birth rates,
negative attitude towards education, indiscipline and domestic conflicts. This shows that there
are social-economic and cultural factors, based factors and pupil characteristics that pose a
challenge to the FPE in this location which calls for attention of all stake holders. The
government through the Ministry of Education should increase funding per child through the
FPE, provide more benefits to pupils in public primary schools and sensitize the community to
enroll school age going children, both boys and girls, introduce school feeding programmes
and employ more teachers. The community through the county administration should be
educated on the dangers of local brews and the prescribed sects. Alternative source of income
should be introduced.in the area to reduce poverty school alumni should be used to as role
models to give the student in these schools hope.
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admission in schools