INFLUENCE OF SELECTED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS ON PUPILS’ TRANSITION FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KINANGOP SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The introduction of Free Primary Education (FPE) and Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) in 2003 and 2008 respectively by the National Rainbow Coalition Government in Kenya was a move towards achieving Education For All (EFA) goals and also increase access to secondary education. Other policies have been implemented by the government such as introduction of bursaries to poor needy students. However, even with these interventions, transition rates from primary to secondary school remains low in Kenya. Studies done outside and within Kenya indicates that factors such as poverty, negative cultural practices, inadequate secondary school places, teenage pregnancies and marriages as well as negative attitude towards education hinder transition of pupils from primary to secondary schools. However, the extent to which these factors could be influencing transition in Kinangop Sub-county has not been investigated. This study, therefore aimed at determining the extent to which social and economic factors could be influencing transition of pupils from primary to secondary schools in the aforementioned Sub-county. The study targeted 420 teachers from all the public primary schools in the Sub-county. Simple random sampling was used to select 201 teachers. Data were collected a through self-delivered questionnaire to the sampled teachers. Research instrument was validated by seeking the two supervisors’ opinion on the clarity of the items. Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient Index was computed to test reliability of the instrument. A reliability of 0.724 co-efficient was realized. Data collected was then analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequency counts, mean and percentages) and also inferential statistics specifically Pearson’s correlation coefficient and simple regression analysis at .05 alpha level of significance. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Findings from the study will benefit school managers, Parent Teachers Association (PTA) committees and other stakeholders as it will reveal the specific factors hindering transition from primary to secondary schools in Kinangop Sub-county. This will enable them to come up with strategies to enhance transition. The findings and recommendations will also go a long way in enabling the Ministry of Education to identify factors that could be impacting negatively on pupils’ transition from primary to secondary schools. This may form a basis for developing strategies on how to enhance pupils’ transition from primary to secondary schools in the country. The findings will also motivate scholars to carry out further research on other risk factors in regard to pupils’ transition from primary to secondary schools in other parts of the country.