Thesis:

Influence of free primary education enrolment variation management on learners transition rates in public primary schools in Loima sub-county Turkana county Kenya

Education is an important investment. It empowers all people and provides opportunities for active participation in development by inculcating knowledge, skills and attitudes that are compatible with sustainable development. This study was guided by the following objectives; to investigate the social-cultural influence on transition rates for learners in public primary schools in Loima Sub-County, to determine influence of economic pattern on transition rates for learners in public primary schools in Loima Sub-County, to ascertain school effects of physical facilities on transition rates for learners in public primary schools in Loima Sub County and to establish influence of lesson attendance on learners’ transition rates in public primary schools Loima Sub County. This study was guided by the theory of Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Data collection instruments included; Questionnaire for teachers and learners and interview schedules for CSOs and head teachers. The study population was 9822 participants where Krejcie and Morgan Table was used to determine a sample size of 384 respondents. The pilot study was carried out and face and content validity of the research instruments were assessed by experts’ opinion to ascertain their relevance, meaningfulness and appropriateness to the respondents. Reliability of the instruments was resolved through the internal consistency where Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient of 0.7 and above was considered acceptable. Analysis of variance indicated that model was significant at a confidence level of 95% since the P-Value was 0.000b and hence >0.05. The R - Squared of the study model was able to explain 70.2% of changes in FPE enrolment variations. Data were descriptively analyzed using means and standard deviations, and inferentially by Pearson's correlation and regression analysis to measure strength and direction. Inferential analysis study findings established that the four variables; social cultural (β= 0.272, p<0.05), economic pattern (β= 0.137, p<0.05), cross-cutting issues (β= 0.149, p<0.05) and lesson attendance (β= 0.323, p<0.05) were found to be statistically significant in influencing learners’ transition rates. The study concludes that since the model of the study was significant at a confidence level of 95% with a P – Value of 0.000b, the study therefore recommends that social cultural, economic pattern, cross-cutting issues and lesson attendance which were found to be statistically significant should be addressed so as to create a safer and more supportive environment that would enable improved learners’ transition rates in public primary schools Loima Sub County.