Causes of high dropout among secondary school students in Kirinyaga Central sub- county.

Abstract

The studyaimed at finding out the causes of high dropout among secondary school students in Kirinyaga Central Sub-county. The study further intended to recommend intervention measures and further studies to ameliorate the challenge of school dropout in secondary school. The phenomenon has severe negative consequences to both individuals and the society in terms of economic, social, political and psychological dimensions. Kirinyaga County has a high secondary school dropout rate of 10.6% compared to 6.6% national dropout rate. The purpose of this study is to establish the causes of dropout among secondary schools in Kirinyaga Central Sub-county, Kirinyaga County in Kenya. A conceptual framework was used in the study to help focus on these causes. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised of all secondary schools in Kirinyaga central Sub-county. It also targeted all educational officers in the district. Teachers and head teachers in the schools had also been targeted. Probability and random sampling technique was used to select 36 students, 6 Principals and 6 class teachers and 1 education officer. The instruments of data collection were interviews using interview schedules. Pilot studywas done in Mukinduri Mixed secondary school using test- re-test method. Validity of the instruments was ascertained through expert guidance. Research data was analysed qualitatively. The study established that pregnancy, early marriage, low academic achievement, poverty and indiscipline caused dropout among boys and girls in secondary schools in Kirinyaga central sub-county the study also established that mores girls dropped compared to boys. Close to three quarters of the principals and class teachers recommended and employed guidance and counseling as a measure for retaining learners in the school until completion. The study therefore recommended that schools should strengthen guidance and counseling departments in order to offer quality services that may lead to responsible behavior, abolish forced repetition for weak students and solicit funds from donors and well-wishers for assisting the learners from poor families. Increase Constituency Development Fund, Local Authority Transfer Fund and government bursaries to take care of the increasing number of needy students in the district. Majority of the schools did not have income generating activities and there was need for such projects to be encouraged to reduce parent’s burden on school levies. The findings of the study may be used by policy makers to curb dropout and improve the enrolment of students in Kirinyaga Sub-county.