Investigation of Gender challenges that affect the schooling of Girl child in Public mixed secondary schools in Kiambu

Abstract

In Kiambu Gross enrolment ratio of girl child in mixed public secondary schools is persistently lower than that of boys. The aim of this study was to investigate the Gender challenges that affect schooling of girl child in public mixed secondary schools in Kiambu District in Kenya. This study focused on the ten public mixed secondary schools in Kiambu District with a total population of 4409 students. The study employed exploratory approach and a descriptive survey design.

Two purposively chosen classes were used in the study. A sample of 234 girls which comprised 30% of all the form two and form three girls in each school was sampled using raffle or folding of papers method. Twenty class teachers from the respective classes were purposively chosen. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaires.Validity and reliability of the instuments, in a pilot study were estblished though expert opinion and pearson's product moment formula using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) programme for reliability respectively.

The data obtained was analysed by use of descriptive statistics using the SPSS system, version 11.5. The analysis of frequency percentanges were done. The results showed that pregnancy and sex relation among teenage girls is the most important cause of leaving schooling with 49.7% followed by harassment 8.2% .Walking long distance to school due to day schooling is the most important cause of drop in performance with 44.4%, which also exposes the girls to sexual abuses and harassment. This shows that the girl child has more challenges in schooling than the boy child in public mixed secondary schools in Kiambu District.