Causes of poor K.C.P.E. performance in primary schools in Loita Division of Narok south district, Kenya

Abstract

For many years, the K.C.P.E. results of the primary schools of Loita division ofNarok South District have been the poorest in the District and also among the poorest nationally. The Maasai of Loita are also known for their cultural conservatism. It is against this background that this study was carried out to examine the socio-cultural, school- related factors and factors outside the school control that have been contributing to the poor K.C.P.E results. The sample was made up of 89 learners, 6 head teachers, 40 teachers, 7 opmion leaders, officers of education office and the District Education officer himself. Data was collected through questionnaires administered on learners and interview schedules administered on head teachers, opinion leaders and D.E.O and his officers. Focused discussion group interviews were also used on teachers. The collected data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. From the study, the following emerged as the major causes of the poor K.C.P.E performance:- • Socio-cultural factors such as circumcision & moran ism, F.G.M, early marriages and nomadic pastoralism. • School- Related factors such as long distance to school, under staffing, lack of learning/teaching materials and qnreliable S.F.P. • Factors outside the school control, such as high poverty levels, inaccessibility by the DQASO, lack of support by the provincial administration, the patrilineal system and the general inaccessibility of the region due to the rough terrain. In conclusion, the study makes the following recomrnendationsr- • There is need for aggressive campaign to sensitize the community on the importance of education for both boys and girls. • There is need to initiate a dialogue among all the stakeholders in the division on the need to abandon f.ftrogressive cultural practices like moran ism, prolonged rituals of initiation, F.G.M and early marriages because they all impacted negatively on the education of both boys and girls. • The number of boarding schools be increased in order to solve the problem of distance to schools and also to isolate the learners from the daily cultural influences and other related problems.