Factors Affecting Girls Education in Selected Primary Schools of Soyoi Zone West Pokot District, Kenya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ..................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL ........................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ....................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ......................................................................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ V

LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................ vii

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ viii

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background of the Study ................................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................... 2

1.3 Purpose of the Study ...................................................................................... 2

1.4 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................... 2

1.4.2 Specific Objectives were: ............................................................................. 2

1.5 Research Questions ....................................................................................... 3

1.6. Scope of the study ......................................................................................... 3

1.7 Significance of the Study ................................................................................. 3

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................... 5

LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................... 5

2.0. Introduction .................................................................................................... 5

2.1 The status of Girls Education in Africa ............................................................ 6

2.2 Reasons for Low Enrolment of Girls ............................................................... 7

2.2.1. Safety and security of girls .......................................................................... 7

2.2.2. The curriculum ............................................................................................ 8

2.2.3. Harmful traditional practices ........................................................................ 8

2.2.4. Attitudes towards girl's education .............................................................. 10

2.2. 5. Poverty ..................................................................................................... 11

2.2.6. Sanitary conditions .................................................................................... 11

2.3 Theoretical framework ..................................................................................... 5

V

CHAPTER THREE .............................................................................................. 12

METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................ 12

3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................... 12

3.1 Research Design .......................................................................................... 12

3.2 Environment / Area and population of study ................................................. 12

3.3 Sample selection ........................................................................................... 12

3.4 Data Collection .............................................................................................. 12

3.4.1 Research instruments ................................................................................ 12

3.5. Data Collection Procedures ......................................................................... 13

3.6. Methods of data analysis ............................................................................. 13

3.7 Statistical Treatment of Data ......................................................................... 13

CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................ 14

FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATIONS ................................................................ 14

4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 14

4.2 Profile of the respondents ............................................................................. 14

CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................. 31

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................. 31

5.0. Introduction .................................................................................................. 31

5.1. Summary ...................................................................................................... 31

5.2. Conclusion ................................................................................................... 32

5.3. Recommendations ....................................................................................... 33

5.4 Areas further research .................................................................................. 34

REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 35

APPENDICES ..................................................................................................... 37

APPENDIX A: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE PUPILS ........................................ 37

APPENDIX B: FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE WITH THE PARENTS ..... .

······························ ........................................................................................ 41

APPENDIX C: INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR THE TEACHERS .............................. .42

APPENDIX D: MAP OF THE RESEARCH AREA .............................................. .43

ABSTRACT The main purpose of the study was to investigate the factors affecting girls' education in the rural primary schools of West Pokot District Kenya. Specific objectives were to the relationship between security, safety and enrollment of girls, the relationship the curriculum and enrolment of girls: poverty, the relationship between harmful traditional practices and enrollment of girls, the relationship between attitudes towards girls and enrollment of girls and the relationship between sanitary conditions and enrolment of girls. The methods used for data collection were questionnaires to the teachers and focus group discussions with the students. The findings from the study indicated that low economic status which was supported by 50%, Cultural beliefs 45%, parental attitudes 70% and family structure 80% are among the social economic factors that affect academic performance of students. The study recommended that the teacher should avoid any act of discrimination that marginalizes girls or makes them feel guilty in comparison with boys, behavior that suggests to girls that they are less capable than boys; and any physical, verbal or mental violence susceptible of harming the dignity of girls or hindering their full growth. Teachers should not ignore children who are with drawn instead should try to find out the problem and devise means to solve it. For example children from single parents.