| dc.description.abstract | This study aimed at establishing the influence of FGM on girl child participation in
public primary schools in Wamba Ward Samburu East sub county of Samburu
County. The specific objectives were to establish the influence of FGM on girls
performance,absenteesim, dropout rate and early marriages. Literature relating to
FGM, overview of FGM, theoretical context, influence of FGM on girl child
participation, absence and performance in education, Laws and conventions on FGM
and current campaigns on eradication of FGM was used in the study. In order to
support the study, the researcher employed the Liberal Feminism theory which
focuses on analyzing gender inequality and how girls miss opportunities through
education. A detailed description of research design was used (survey), target
population, sample size, frame and sampling procedure, reliability, validity, data
collection, analysis techniques and ethical considerations of the study have been
given in the project. Questionnaires, interview and direct observations by the
researcher were used to collect data. The study involved 96 girls and 10 head
teachers as the respondents who were obtained through the use of double simple
random sampling. Questionnaire return rate was 96% which is acceptable. The data
that was collected was analyzed using SPSS after coding of qualitative data and
presented in the form of charts, tables, figures, and graphs. The study findings
indicated that the girls within Wamba ward are poorly enrolled in primary schools,
others drop at the above findings, the study also revealed that FGM has an influence
on girls’ participation in education and that there is a difference in age of marriage
between girls who have undergone FGM and those that have not .Further,
absenteeism from school is caused by FGM as the pupils have to be in seclusion for
a period of time to heal from the cut. In conclusion, it was found out that FGM is a
major problem in the Wamba Ward as well as in other communities. This study
concluded that because of FGM in Wamba ward, the girls are unable to participate
actively in education due chronic absenteeism, dropping out, early marriage as well
as having dismal academic performance. Parents were noted to have contributed
immensely to FGM and its attendant effects. The study recommends that the
government and Faith Based Organizations sensitize the community on the
importance of girl child education, create more awareness on the dangers of FGM,
provision of funds to the rescue centres, education fraternity to set up strong
counseling units in schools as well as build more boarding schools in the County to
curb the problem. The researcher suggests an investigation on the most appropriate
alternative rites of passage for girls in Wamba Ward, other factors that hinder girl’s
education in Wamba ward in Samburu County and the role of mass media as a
source of information on the dangers of FGM in Kenya areas for further research in
relation to FGM. | en_US |
