An Investigation into the Social-Economic Determinants of Girls’ Drop-out from Secondary School

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Feb 23, 2022
https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.5.2.87
Download
pdf
Statistic
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2020): African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research (AMJR)

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Daniel Nzengya, Zablon Bundi, Maina Dickson Kibiru

Abstract


Cases of secondary school girls dropping out of school have been in the limelight in the recent past. This is despite increased efforts by the government to promote enrolment and transition from primary education to secondary education. This has necessitated an investigation to determine the possible causes of this dropout. The objectives of the study were to examine the reasons for the girls‟ dropout from day secondary schools in Murang‟a East Sub-County and to examine the influence of household income, family structure and parents‟ and siblings‟ highest educational attainment on the girls‟ dropout. Using convenience and snowball sampling techniques, this paper presents results from a sample of 58 female participants who have dropped out from day schools in Murang‟a East Sub-county during the last 5 years. The study used mixed-method design and data were collected with a questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions. Qualitative data from the completed participants‟ responses on the open-ended questions were analyzed using content analysis. The most frequently mentioned reasons for dropping out of school included lack of school fees, negative peer pressure, drug abuse, poverty and pregnancy. These were mentioned among the key factors leading to school dropout. Over half the participants sampled mentioned that they had siblings who had dropped out of school. In addition, the average age at the time of dropping out of school was 17 years. Majority of the dropouts, 45% of the participants had dropped out in Form 2. According to the study findings, intervention to reduce girls‟ dropout in day secondary schools in Murang‟a East Sub-County may need to focus on Form 2, since the majority of girls drop out from day secondary schools at this stage.
Keywords: Girls‟ Dropout, Day Secondary Schools, Socio-Economic Determinants, Murang‟a, Kenya


##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

How to Cite
Kibiru, D. N. Z. B. M. D. (2022). An Investigation into the Social-Economic Determinants of Girls’ Drop-out from Secondary School. African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.5.2.87

References

  1. Agnew, R. (2012). Reflection on "A Revised Strain Theory of Delinquency". Social Forces,
  2. (1), 33-38.
  3. Ahmed, M. (2019). Kenya: Armed and Ready to Kill: Inside the Deadly Gangs of Mombasa.
  4. Retrieved 30 October 2019, from https://allafrica.com/stories/201908120062.html.
  5. Arnab, R. (2017). Survey sampling theory and applications. Cambridge, MA: Academic Press.
  6. Bordens, K.S. & Abbott, B.B. (2005). Research and Design Methods. New Delhi: Tat McGraw.
  7. Boup A.O, et al. (2018). School-Based Factors Influencing Dropout Among Primary School Pupils in Kenya. Advanced and Multidisciplinary Social Science, 4(1) DOI: 10.5923/j.jams.20180401.01. The Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
  8. Cai, Y., & Mehari, Y. (2015). The Use of Institutional Theory in Higher Education Research. Theory and Method in Higher Education Research, 1-25. doi: 10.1108/s2056- 375220150000001001.
  9. Cooper, D.R., and Schindler, P.S. (2006). Business Research Methods (9th edition). USA: McGraw-Hill.
  10. Danovska, K. (2018). Reasons behind children drop out of primary schools with unequal socio-economic preconditions: A comparative case study of three primary schools in Babati Town Council, Tanzania. Souderton‟s University.
  11. Gouda, M, S., & Sekher, D. (2014). Factors Leading to School Dropouts in India: An Analysis of National Family Health Survey-3 data. IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSRJRME), 4(6), 75-83. doi: 10.9790/7388-04637583.
  12. Gudmunson, C., & Danes, S. (2011). Family Financial Socialization: Theory and Critical Review. Journal of Family and Economic Issues,32(4), 644-667. doi: 10.1007/s10834-011-9275-y.
  13. Israel, G.D. (1992). Determining Sample Size. Agricultural Education and Communication Department. University of Florida, IFAS Extension, pt OD6 (Review, 2013).
  14. Khan, A., Hussain, I., Suleman, Q., & Mehmood, A. (2017). Causes of Students' Dropout at Elementary Level in Southern Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Research on Humanities and Social Science, 7(23), 20-24.
  15. Kinuthia, K. (2019). IN-DEPTH: School dropouts fuel inequality among children in Kenya. Retrieved 29 October 2019, from https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/datahub/School-dropouts-fuel-inequality- among-children-in-Kenya/3815418-4612552-vji9cmz/index.html.
  16. Koech, J.K. et al. (2017) Causes of High Dropouts in Secondary Schools in Kipkellion Sub County Kenya. Research and innovation, 5(1), 1-11. Kabarak University.
  17. Lugonzo, H.M. et al. (2017). Factors contributing to high dropout of Girls in the Secondary Schools Around Lake Victoria. Education Research, 7(4),49-60, doi 10.15580/GJER.2017.4.061817077.
  18. Michubu, T. (2012). A Study of the Causes of Dropout in Public Primary Schools in Ndoleli Division, Igembe North District, Kenya. The University of Nairobi.
  19. Ministry of Education Science and Technology (2014). 2014 Basic Education Statistical Booklet. UNICEF, New York City, NY.
  20. Mudemb, E. (2013). Causes of dropout among Boys and Girls from Secondary Schools in Ugenya District, Siaya County, Kenya. Retrieved 29 October 2019, from http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/55775.
  21. Mugenda, O. M. & Mugenda, A. G. (2009). Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (Revised edition) Nairobi: Acts Press.
  22. Müller, M. (2018). Governing crime and violence in Latin America. Global Crime, 19(3-4), 171-191. doi: 10.1080/17440572.2018.1543916.
  23. National Council for Population and Development. (2017). 2015 Kenya National Adolescents and Youth Survey (NAYS). Retrieved 29 October 2019, from
  24. http://www.ncpd.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Muranga-County-Adolescents- and-Youth-Survey-NAYS.pdf.
  25. Ng'ethe V., (2016). Only two out of five students reach Form Four.Retrieved 30 October 2019, from https://www.nation.co.ke/newsplex/school-dropout-kcse/2718262- 3101106-lw3mir/index.html.
  26. Nyagah, O. (2010). “Overcoming the Challenges of Dropout and crime among Youths in Africa: the Nigerian Experience” In Nigeria‟s contribution to Regional and Global meetings on HIV/AIDS / STIs 1986- 2003.
  27. Nyaranga, R.L. (2012). Factors contributing to Primary School Dropout in Bunyala District, Kenya. Sociology of education, University of Nairobi.
  28. Okari, J. (2018). Effects of Drug Abuse on Academic Performance among Secondary School Students in Masaba North Sub County, Nyamira County, Kenya.The University of Nairobi.
  29. Ondere, J.S., (2012). A Study on Causes of Drop Out Among Girls in Selected Mixed Day Secondary Schools in Kasarani District, Nairobi County, Kenya. Kenyatta University.
  30. Orodho, J. (2009). Elements of education and social science: Research Methods. Kenezja Publishers, Maseno Kenya.
  31. Shavisha, T. (2016). The Role of Student Characteristics in Dropout Cases among Secondary School Students in Vihiga County, Kenya. Education and Research, 4 (2), 75-100.
  32. Thiruane, R.K. (2016). The Causes of Pupils Dropout in Public Primary Schools in North Imenti Sub-County, Kenya. Curriculum development, 63(15), 60-73, KCA university.
  33. Toughi, D., Arbabisarjou, A., & Shahrakipor, H. (2016). The Effect of Cultural, Social and Economic Factors on Students Persistence Rate in Rural Areas in Fenouj from the Perspective of Teachers. International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies,3(1), 1874-1883. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/61c0/491ff4a47bb48ba83d13b854c1de1c7a782f.pdf
  34. UNESCO. (2019). 42% of African school children was drop out before the end of primary education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
  35. Retrieved 29 October 2019, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/member- states/single- view/news/42_of_african_school_children_was_drop_out_before_the_end/.
  36. UNESCO. (2019). Out-of-School Children and Youth. UNESCO UIS. Retrieved 29 October 2019, from http://uis.unesco.org/en/topic/out-school-children-and-youth.
  37. UNESCO. (2019). SDG 4: Education. Global Education Monitoring Report. Retrieved 29 October 2019, from https://en.unesco.org/gem-report/sdg-goal-4.
  38. UNICEF. (2018). UNICEF annual report 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2019, from https://www.unicef.org/reports/annual-report-2018.
  39. Valkov, P. (2018). School dropout and substance use: Consequence or predictor? Trakia Journal of Science,16(2), 95-101. doi: 10.15547/tjs.2018.02.004.
  40. Wagachira, M. (2015). Factors influencing girl student drop-out rate in mixed public secondary schools in Murang'a County, Kenya. University of Nairobi Research Archive, 1(1).
  41. Weybright, E., Caldwell, L., Xie, H., Wegner, L., & Smith, E. (2017). Predicting secondary school dropout among South African adolescents: A survival analysis approach. South African Journal of Education,37(2), 1-11. doi: 10.15700/saje.v37n2a1353.
  42. World Bank. (2015). Half of Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa Are Out of School. Retrieved 29 October 2019, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2015/07/15/half-of- sub-saharan-african-youth-are-out-of-school.
  43. Durrani, S. (2006). Never be silent: Publishing & imperialism in Kenya, 1884-1963. London: Vita Books.