| dc.description.abstract | This study set out to establish the factors that in
fluence parental involvement
on enrolment of physically challenged preschool chi
ldren in Langata district.
The study examined the relationship between parenta
l literacy level and
enrolment of physically challenged preschool childr
en, the role of parental
awareness, the role of parental social economic sta
tus and the role of parental
cultural beliefs in the enrolment of physically cha
llenged preschool children.
From the findings, boys were found to be highly enr
olled compared to girl
child. Such enrolment was noted to consistently inc
rease with level of class
(baby to pre-unit class) as most of the learners’ p
rogressed to formal school.
However enrolment of the physically challenged lear
ners were found to be
highly low compared to the number of normal childre
n. There was no doubt
therefore that physically challenged learners were
denied opportunity to be
enrolled in preschool for learning activities irres
pective of their needs and
difficulties. The study further established that pa
rents who had higher
qualification in education, well placed in terms of
employment were able to
care for their individual learners’ needs as they c
onsistently chose quality
learning centers with relevant resources for learne
rs’ activities irrespective of
their cultural background. They also competently ch
ecked up on their
children’s school attendance and quality follow-up
for their adequate
learning. Hence, the children under their care were
lively, active and
competent in class activities and school attendance
as compared to their
counterparts from either unemployed parents or low
level of education.
Further additional analysis showed that parental in
volvement on their
physically challenged learners exerted positive eff
ects on rate of enrolment
and retention. It helped to improve quality learnin
g atmosphere, support in
collection of learning materials and ensuring effec
tive use to improve
learning. The level of collection and preparation f
or special activities
influenced the number of children to be enrolled in
preschool centres. It was
recommended that preschools should create more lear
ner support centres in
order to promote parental involvement and adequate
level of commitment for
the physically challenged learners in order to prod
uce great rewards for
improved enrolment. The support includes what child
ren eat for effective
growth and development. Preschools and families sho
uld also ensure high
level of parental activity and financial participat
ion .in preschool and
sustained improvement on rate of enrolment of learn
ers with physical
challenge. This will largely improve the demand for
enrolment among all
learners irrespective of their needs and abilities | en_US |
