The impact of cost sharing policy in education on the dropout rates of public secondary schools in Keumbu division, Kisii central district

Abstract

Many children miss to joint the education cycle and even those who join it drop before completion due to the inability to parents to cost share The purpose of this study was to establish the impact of cost sharing policy on the drop out rates of public secondary school students in Keumbu Division of Kisii Central District Seven research questions were formulated to guide in the study, The sample for the study was composed of 291 students,13 head teachers and 68 class teachers, The research used an ex-post facto design, data was collected by use of questionnaires duly validated Findings revealed that that there were drop out students among the school sampled, Most of the students were forced to be out of school because of failure to raise school fees, It was also revealed that socio-economic background of their parents (level of education and their occupation) were factors that impacted on students drop out It was also found that there existed social stratification among students in the schools Although this was largely, based on academic performance rather than economic, a significant number of the respondents said it was also economic based This was seen as a contributing factor to the school drop out. Findings also revealed that the policy on cost sharing impacted on students drop out. The study found out that gender had a significant influence on students' completion rate of secondary school education cycle Findings also revealed that the number of children in a family and the position of the child in the family order of birth had a significant contribution to school drop out It was also found out that the government policy on school fees structure, was a factor that led to students drop out. Based on the findings it was concluded that cost sharing policy had a negative impact on students drop out. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that there should be clear policy guiding the school fees payment Students from poor economic background should be considered. It was also recommended that cost sharing policy should also be determined by the location of school and ability of the parents in that area to cost share. Bursaries should be offered to needy students to prevent them from dropping out of school, and schools should be encouraged to have profit generating activities to cater for poor students school fees. Taking the limitations and delimitations of the study the researcher suggested that a study on impact of cost sharing policy on students academic performance should be conducted, and also the role of principals in policy decision on cost sharing should be studied parental and students attitude on cost sharing should also call for another study.