Marxist analysis of primary school drop out in Malindi district, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to use Marxist analysis to investigate the causes of primary school dropout in Malindi District, Kenya; noting that retention of learners in school is still a challenge despite the introduction of free primary education. The findings indicated that the people of Malindi District are poor because they are alienated by successive governments (capitalists) from the factors of production. As a result, therefore, the people are economically marginalized and the results show that children drop out of school to engage in child labour, sex tourism, bodaboda business and drug peddling to get basic needs and supplement the family income. There is need for collaborative effort by all stakeholders and political will by the government to empower the residents economically. Distributive justice of the productive resources is recommended to alleviate poverty which will strengthen retention of learners in primary schools in the district.