Investigation on the schools’ preparedness in dealing with Orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in public primary Schools in Mathira division, Nyeri County, Kenya
Abstract
The emergence of HIV/AIDS scourge appeared to undo the progress that society had made on
children survival, development, protection and participation, leaving many children as orphans and
others suffering from HIV/AIDS. Most of orphans are vulnerable to physical and emotional
deprivation. School managers advocate on behalf of vulnerable children through the mobilization
of communities and sponsors so as to remove or reduce barriers that prevent children from
attending school. The central problem addressed in this study was that despite the role played by
government and other school managers in dealing with orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs),
children are still experiencing inadequate care and performing poorly in the academic
examinations. The strategies employed by schools managers in dealing with orphans and
vulnerable children in public primary schools in Mathira Division Nyeri County has not been
adequately investigated and well understood hence could be hindering quality care. To this end,
the purpose of this study was to investigate schools’ preparedness in dealing with orphans and
vulnerable children in the targeted region. The objectives of the study was, to investigate strategies
employed by school manager in dealing with OVCs, find out whether schools have resources to
cater for OVCs and to investigate the implementation of educational policies governing school
managers while handling OVCs. The study adopted a case study with a qualitative methodology.
The target population comprised 27 head - teachers, 27 Deputy Head teachers and 351 Members
of PTA, and 351 teachers, making a total population of 756 respondents. Ten schools were selected
using random sampling method. From each of the 10 primary schools, 10 head teachers, 10 deputy
head teachers, 60 teachers and 60 Members of PTA were elected yielding a sample size of 140 to
participate in the study. Interview guides for, Head Teachers, Deputy Head Teachers and Teachers,
while Focus Group Discussions for Members of PTA were used. The research yielded qualitative
data which was analyzed qualitatively. In summary, all objectives of the study were achieved. The
first objective was to investigate the strategies employed by school managers. The research
revealed that 5 (50%) of the respondent postulated that seeking for donors was one of the strategies
employed by school managers, 3(30%) revealed that managers seek funds from NGOs, while
2(20%) indicated that the strategy employed was prior teaching/learning. The second objective
intended to find out adequacy of OVCs resources. The study findings revealed that 5(50%) of the
respondents viewed that physical resources are adequate, 3(30%) indicated human resources
adequacy, while the rest 2 (20%) denoted financial resources adequacy. The third objective of the
study was to examine the level of awareness of educational policies in management of OVCs.
From the findings, (70%) of the respondents indicated children’s right was one of the OVCs rights,
2(20%) indicated UNCRC as yet another policy, while the rest 1(10%) pointed out African charter
as yet the other policy. The study made a number of recommendations, with the first
recommendation stating that an intensive study on OVCs should be conducted in private primary
schools in Mathira division Nyeri County Kenya. Secondly, the researcher recommends a study to
be conducted on the effectiveness of the Schools’ Preparedness in Management of Orphans and
Vulnerable Children (OVCs) in Public Primary schools in Mathira Division, Nyeri County and the
rest of Kenya. Additionally, the researcher recommends revision of OVCs policies regarding
school preparedness. Lastly, the study recommends that resources be pulled together in supporting
OVCs, and right strategies of managing OVCs should also be implemented.
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