School based factors influencing girls’ completion of primary education in Migori district of Migori county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the school based factors that influenced girls’ completion of primary education in Migori District of Migori County, Kenya. The study had six objectives; to determine the effects of distance from home to school on girls’ completion of primary education in Migori district; to assess the effects of school levies on girls’ completion of primary education in Migori district; to assess how government policy on repetition influences girls’ completion of primary education in Migori district; to assess the extent to which the proportion of female teachers in a school affects girls’ completion of primary education in Migori district; to investigate the effects of school’s sanitation facilities on girls’ completion of primary education in Migori district; and to investigate the influence of school safety on girls’ completion of primary education in Migori district. Literature review revealed that distance from home to school, school levies, repetition, proportion of female teachers in a school, sanitation facilities and school safety were significant factors in determining girls’ completion of primary education. The study employed descriptive research design. The study used stratified random sampling to select 34 schools, simple random sampling using pieces of papers with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to select 170 girls, and purposive random sampling to select 34 headteachers and 34 class teachers of class 8. Data was gathered using questionnaires with both close and open-ended items. Expert judgement from the project supervisor ensured instrument validity while test-retest in pilot study yielded r=0.86 which indicated the questionnaire items were reliable. The collected data was computed into descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages. Analysis of the findings revealed that distance from school, school levies, repetition, proportion of female teachers, and school safety were significant factors influencing girls’ completion of primary education in Migori district. The study further established that sanitation facilities were not a significant factor influencing girls’ completion of primary education in the district. Multiple regression revealed that the school based factors accounted for only 35.4% in determination of girls’ completion of primary education in Migori District. In the light of the research findings, it was recommended that more schools be established and be spread well to reduce on the distance girls have to walk from home to school. In addition to more schools, there was need for establishment of at least a public boarding primary school for girls only in Migori district. It was recommended that the Ministry of Education should ensure that the repetition policy is implemented fully. It was further recommended that the government should increase capitation funds to primary schools. The researcher recommended that there should be parity in the proportion of female teachers to male teachers to attract girls to finish school. It was recommended that school safety and child friendly school policies and practices be implemented to ensure that practices such as corporal punishment are done away with completely to encourage more girls to complete primary education in the district. Finally, it was recommended that guidance and counseling be given priority to address discipline issues and other challenges facing girls in schools. The researcher suggested that a study be conducted to establish out-of-school factors influencing girls’ completion of primary education. A similar study can also be replicated but to investigate school based factors that influence boy’s completion of primary education in Migori district.