Factors Affecting the Implementation of Free Primary Education in Rural Primary Schools: a Case Study of Kikuyu Division, Kiambu County, Kenya
Abstract
The study sought to investigate the factors affecting implementation of free
primary education in rural public primary schools in Kikuyu District, Kiambu
County.
There were four objectives to guide the study; to establish the constrains facing
successful implementation of free primary education, to establish the impact of
free primary on pupil enrolment and retention rates, to investigate the status of
school learning materials; and to establish the impact of availability of adequate
school infrastructure on high student enrolment due to the introduction of free
primary education.
Free primary education (FPE) was initiated by the NARC government in line with
achieving Millennium Development Goal Number Two to achieve Universal
Primary Education (UPE), to ensure that by 2015, children everywhere; boys and
girls would be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.
Quantitative and qualitative methods and tools of data collection were used in the
collection of primary data. Stratified and random sampling method was sued to
identify 71 respondents. Focus group discussions were used with the schools
chairpersons, interviews were conducted with the DEO and the researcher made
personal observation with an observation checklist.
The study found out that implementation of free primary education was faced
with a myriad of challenge, for example disbursement of funds calendar delay the
purchase of the required teaching and learning facilities. There was poor
participation by the stakeholders, poor management and governance. The high
enrolment was not transiting to completion.
The study recommends that the stakeholders should be sensitized on their role in
implementing and sustaining the free primary education policy in their
communities. Disbursement of funds calendar should be implemented as per the
schedule to avoid education inconveniencies. The government should undertake
an education awareness exercise among primary school management bodies on
FPE. The government should also involve the stakeholders.
Publisher
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
Collections
- Final [891]