School Based Protection Factors Influencing Retention Of South Sudanese Refugee Pupils In Public Primary Schools In Githurai Division, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the School-based protection factors influencing the retention of South Sudanese refugee pupils in public primary schools in Githurai Division, Kiambu County Kenya. The research was guided by the following objectives; to identify school based protection measures that influence the retention of Sudanese refugees in Githurai Division, to examine the school based psychosocial protection measures that support retention of Sudanese refugees in Githurai Division, to examine the cognitive protection measures in schools that influence the retention of refugee pupils in public primary schools in Githurai Division. Tinto’s Theory of retention was adapted for this study. The study used descriptive survey design. The study population was 2 schools that admitted Sudanese refugees,2 Head teachers 113teachers and136 Sudanese. The researcher therefore sampled the two schools’ principals, teachers and pupils. Purposive sampling technique was used to get a sample size of 34 teachers and 25 Sudanese refugees. The study used questionnaires that had both open-ended and closed questions. Quantitative analysis was done, percentages, frequencies were determined. Mean and standard deviation were calculated to establish the relationships between variables. Qualitative data was analyzed to provide detailed descriptions of the setting, participants, and activities before being subjected to categorizing and coding pieces of data and grouping them into themes. Interpretation and descriptions was done reading and understanding information provided in the data. The SPSS analytical tool was used analyze the data. From the findings obtained majority of the teachers 93% revealed that the 2 primary school in Githurai are safe for the Sudanese refugees. The findings obtained show that psychosocial programs have been put in place to support refugee children helped them overcome such difficult experiences as reported by the teachersover82.8%. The study findings indicate that 68% of the Sudanese refugee pupils are willing to continue with schooling to completion there was a cordial relationship between the teachers and the pupils. The study concludes that schools in Githurai Division are safe for refugee pupils, teachers promoted Psychosocial development amongst public primary schools in Githurai had initiated cognitive measures to support Sudanese refugees.