Influence of Miraa Business Management on Students’ Participation in Secondary School Education in Marsabit Central Sub-county, Marsabit County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of miraa business management on students’ participation in secondary school education in Marsabit Central Sub-County, Kenya. The study sought to determine the influence of demographic information, miraa business activities, school governance strategies, parental involvement and Ministry of Education Policies on students’ participation in secondary school education in Marsabit Central Sub-County, Marsabit County, Kenya. The study was guided by Walberg’s theory on educational productivity and Individualized (Eclectic) Theory. The study employed descriptive survey design. The study target population comprised 72 parent representatives, 3000 students, 144 teachers and 12 principals of secondary schools and sample consisted of 106 teachers, 61 parent representatives and 353 students in Marsabit central Sub-County. Stratified random sampling was used to select 106 teachers, 61 parent representatives and 353 students in Marsabit central Sub-County. Census technique was used to select all the 12 principals in Marsabit central Sub-County. Primary data were collected using three sets of questionnaires administered to teachers, parent representatives and students. Interview guide was also held with school principals where responses were handwritten. The output of the regression coefficient showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between miraa business activities and students’ participation in secondary school education, school governance strategies and students’ participation in secondary school education, parental involvement and students’ participation in secondary school education, Ministry of Education Policies and students’ participation in secondary school education in Marsabit Central Sub-County. The study recommends that school management need to create awareness on dangers of engaging students in picking miraa and transporting miraa to business centres. Parents need to be vigilant on how their children go about their daily school activities as far as miraa business activities are concerned. There is need for proper school governance strategies that include involving checking things students carry, motivational speakers by Board of management, during morning assemblies, engaging students through a guiding and counselling session on miraa use and engaging all students in enforcing school policies on miraa use. The study further recommends for active parental involvement that includes counselling students on miraa use and guiding students on miraa use, parents need to maintain close monitoring of their children. Though there are Ministry of Education Policies on drug use, there are no clear laws on miraa use. There is need for the creation of policies in support by the Ministry of Education to mitigate use of miraa among students. Based on the study findings, the study made suggestions for future research that include to: determine the effects of miraa business management on students’ academic performance, establish a comparison study on benefits of miraa business activities and its harmful effects on educational outcome and determine the relationship between miraa use, use of other drugs and substance and students’ delinquency in school.