Selected factors affecting girls’ participation in primary school education in Barwessa Division of Baringo District, Kenya

Abstract

The issue of girl child participation in primary school has become a real concern in all nations of the world particularly the developing countries like those in sub-Saharan Africa, East Africa and Kenya included. Girl child education worldwide provides benefits to the family and the society at large thus issues affecting it should be addressed for the sake of human development. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting girls‟ participation in primary schools in Barwessa Division of Baringo District. The investigation employed ex-post facto research design. The universe population was 1,112 (882 girls, 80 teachers, 140 School Management Committees (SMCs) and 10 headteachers). Out of this population, a sample of 240 respondents was selected that included 180 girls, 30 teachers, 20 School Management Committees (SMCs) and 10 headteachers. The samples of headteachers, teachers and SMC were done purposively while that of girls was randomly done. Three classteachers per school representing classes 6, 7 and 8 were purposively selected. In addition, the chairman and treasurer of each of the 10 sampled schools involved in the study were selected purposively. Eighteen girls were randomly selected in each class of the selected classes. Data was collected from the headteachers, SMC‟s teachers and girls by the use of questionnaires and interview schedules. The researcher used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 11.5 for windows to aid in data analysis. Descriptive statistics involving frequencies, percentages were used to analyze and present the results. The findings of the study found that socio-economic, cultural beliefs and school based factors that include early marriage and pregnancies affect girls‟ participation in primary schools in Barwessa division, Baringo District. Majority of the respondents recommended that awareness be created to all stakeholders on the importance of girl child education in the division. The same study be carried out nationwide to find out whether the findings of this study hold.