Cultural factors influencing Sudanese urban refugee girls’ participation in public primary schools in Ruiru sub-county, Kiambu county
Abstract
This study aimed at investigating factors influencing Sudanese Urban refugee
girls’ participation in public primary schools in Ruiru sub-county, Kenya. The
study sought to achieve the following objectives: establish the extent to which
gender roles influence participation of Sudanese urban refugee girls; assess
the extent to which early marriages influence participation of Sudanese urban
refugee girls; identify the extent to which the patriarchal nature of culture
influences participation of urban refugee girls and examine the extent to
which female genital mutilation influences participation of Sudanese urban
refugee girls in public primary schools in Ruiru sub-county. The study used
descriptive survey design and was carried out in 6 public primary schools.
Random sampling was done to come up with 176 respondents 80 of who were
teachers, 90 urban refugee pupils and 6 head teachers of the Primary schools.
Data was collected by use of questionnaires and focus group discussion. In
order to validate the research tools, a pilot study was conducted in two
schools. Data was collected, coded and analyzed to form the bases for
research findings conclusions and recommendations. The findings of this
study showed that gender roles, early marriages, and patriarchal nature of
culture and female genital mutilation influence participation of the refugee
girls in public primary schools. Urban refugees who underwent female genital
mutilation hardly reported back to school and the few that returned did not
fully participate because of frequent absenteeism due to the health
complications involved. Other factors included general lack of parental
support, height and age, trauma, poverty, insecurity and language. The study
came up with some recommendations. First, the Ministry of Education in
collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR) as well as United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) should create awareness programs among the
communities on the harmful effects of female genital mutilation and early
marriages. Second, UNHCR should work with the government and other
stakeholders to enlighten the refugees on importance of educating the girl
child. The government of Kenya should impose stiffer penalties on all
perpetrators of fgm in the country. This study has also made suggestions for
further research. These includes, a study on factors influencing participation
of urban refugee boys in primary school, factors influencing academic
achievements of urban refugee pupils in primary schools and a study on
institutional factors influencing refugees pupils’ performance of languages in
primary school.
Citation
Degree of Master of Education in Education in Emergencies, University of Nairobi, 2014Publisher
University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5979]