THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL BASED SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON ENROLLMENT OF MALE STUDENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN KIRINYAGA COUNTY CENTRAL REGION OF KENYA
Wamichwe Joel Mwangi - PhD Student, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Loise Gichuhi - Senior Lecture, Department of Education and Planning, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Nelson Mari - Lecturer, Department of Education and Planning, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Moses Muriithi - Senior Lecturer, School of Economics, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The male student enrollment in Kirinyaga County, Central region of Kenya has been increasing at a decreasing rate. It has been observed that more females than males are participating in education in secondary schools. This situation is unique and peculiar and a reversal of the gains made at primary levels where more male students than female students were enrolled. According to research, student’s enrollment is attributed to socio-economic factors that are environmental in nature. Thus, this study was an attempt to determine the socio-economic factors that influence the enrollment of male students at the secondary level of education in Kirinyaga County, Central region of Kenya. The objective of this study was formulated to find out the relationship between environmental based socio- economic factors and enrollment. The study employed cross sectional survey as a research design based on primary data collected among the participating standard eight students who completed school in the year 2014. The target population consisted of 12195 standard eight students, (2014 cohort) from 195 public primary schools. The research was based on literature review of studies and reports from different scholars, which affirmed that certain issues affecting male student enrollment were closely correlated to socio- economic (environmental based factors). Data collection was based on sample size of 391 of which 391 questionnaires were administered and 352 responded. The analysis applied inferential statistics and descriptive analysis in analyzing and interpretation of the data. The results from the findings indicated that environmental based factors influenced the low enrollment of male students in secondary schools in Kirinyaga County. The study recommended that school managers, teachers, stakeholders should be trained on the need to enhance guidance and counseling to the boy child on the importance of education. Further, there is urgent need to eradicate manufacturing and consumption of illicit brews, as well as the requirement of tuition free secondary education.
