Reasons for high dropout among secondary school girls in Kiboko Division, Makindu District, Makueni County.

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate why there was high school dropout among secondary school girls in Kiboko Division in Makindu District. This problem is at rise in most secondary schools both mixed and girls’ school and it is alarming that little attention has been devoted to it in academic works on education. In Kenya, the parliament enacted the children Act that recognizes education as a basic right for all children. In 2003, the government declared free secondary education. Girls have been the most affected group in school despite the introduction of free secondary education in 2008. For the last six years Kiboko Division has been faced with high number of girls dropping out of secondary school. The findings revealed that there are many factors causing them to drop out of school. Recommendation has been made to correct this vice in most schools. Public awareness on the importance of girl child education is being given the greatest opportunity to help the child grow and develop the society. Literature review related to the topic was done. It was organized under the topics including concepts of school dropout, school dropout cases, causes of school dropout, school environment and teachers and principals’ role to control dropout. The sample size was reached at by the use of stratified sampling technique whereby all individual schools had equal chances of being picked. The schools were put in five groups and then independent samples within each stratum were selected. The study discovered that among the five schools which were the focus of the study, four of them had been affected and illiteracy level denied the girl child education support.