Project Planning, Social Capital and Educational Achievements of Orphaned Learners in Public Primary Schools: the Case of Orphans Support Projects in Kisumu East Sub-county, Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Orphan hood is a disheartening life status that no one wishes to ever occur in their family set up because of its adverse effects. Despite the vulnerability of the orphaned1learners, every child in Kenya has got a right to quality education that leads to good performance1and achievement of Universal1Primary1Education (UPE). However, limited research is available from orphan support project environments that have examined the relationships between project planning and on orphaned1learners’ educational achievements. The study therefore assessed project planning, social capital and achievements of orphaned learners in public primary schools: the case of orphan’s support projects in Kisumu east sub-county, Kisumu County, Kenya. The study was guided by 5 objectives, namely; determine1the influence of resource planning on orphaned1learners’ educational1 achievements in Kisumu East Sub County; establish the influence of financial planning on orphaned1learners’ educational1achievements in Kisumu East Sub County; establish the influence of risk planning on orphaned1learners’ educational1achievements in Kisumu East Sub County; assess the influence1of quality planning on orphaned1learners’ educational1achievements in Kisumu East Sub County; determine1the moderating influence1of social capital on the relationship between project planning and orphaned1learners’ educational1achievements in Kisumu East Sub County. This study adopted the cross-sectional study design, with a study sample population of 313 orphaned1learners, caregivers, teachers, project officers. Stratified random sampling technique was utilized in selecting respondents. Both Self-administered questionnaires and an interview guide were employed in collecting quantitative and qualitative data. Results were presented1in table form. Descriptive statistics was adopted in analyzing quantitative data, while Thematic Analysis employed in analyzing qualitative data. The validity of the study was to subjectively1assess the correspondence1between the individual1items and the concept through rating1by expert1judges. To ensure validity1and1reliability of the research instruments, pilot testing1was conducted1in a1community-based orphan1support project in the1neighboring Sub-County in Kisumu. Cronbach1alpha at α =0.05 level1of1significance1was used to compute1the reliability coefficient of the pre-test instruments. This study was guided by two theories, Theory of change by Cooper (2005) and Bio-ecological systems theory by Bronfenbrenner (1979). The study1is of1significance to policy makers and development agencies in community-based orphan support1projects. It will also provide critical insights into planning effective orphan support projects that focus on orphaned1learners' strengths and capabilities rather than project planning orientations that are likely1to reinforce and aggravate poor1educational1outcomes1for the learners who are less advantaged. The study concluded that resource planning, financial planning, risk planning and quality planning significantly influences orphaned1learners’ educational1achievements in Kisumu East Sub County. The study recommends that there need for orphan support project managers in Kisumu East Sub County to ensure that there are strategies in place for guaranteeing orphaned learners’ provision of uniforms, learning resources, tuition materials and school meals. The study also recommends project managers to come up with project resource plan containing every aspect that pertains to every resource necessary for project from beginning to end. The study recommends that orphan support project managers ought to come up with an appropriate risk planning strategy to ensure that un-intended pregnancies, new HIV infections and un-planned/early marriages among orphaned1learners are reduced significantly.