Title: PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME ON COMPLETION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN TURKANA COUNTY
Authors:
*Daniel EmekwiLokaale, Dr. Stephen LaititiMutunga, PhD and Dr. Purity Gitonga, PhD
Abstract:
The value of education is emphasized as a catalytic tool that enables Kenya restructure itself so as to achieve vision of 2030. However, there has been low completion rate of secondary school education especially in Turkana County. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived influence of household income on completion of secondary school education in Turkana County. The study was guided by the theory of educational productivity. The study used pragmatism paradigm, mixed methods approach including descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised of stakeholders from 67 public and private secondary schools. Notably, 67 principals, 100 senior teachers, 200 parents, 377 form-two students, 6 sub-county educational officers and 356 secondary school drop-outs were included. Data was collected through close ended questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and secondary data was also collected. Study tools were piloted in 7 schools from Baringo County which neighbours Turkana County. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 26. Descriptive and inferential statistics were derived while thematic analysis was used on qualitative data. Pearson correlation coefficient for household income was r=0.872** at α < 0.002. The study concluded that due to high poverty rates and low sources of income in Turkana County, parents/guardians were not able to provide food, clothes, school fees, and decent shelter to the students to enable them remain in school. There were few scholarships, donations and bursary opportunities provided to selected students but did not cater all their educational expenses. Additionally, even though the government had established education policy framework to support the students, funding was a major impediment towards fully implementing the policy. The study recommends that both the government and non-governmental organizations should establish income generating programs meant to improve the livelihoods of the residents of Turkana County for sustainability of education for the children to stem the high dropout rates.
Keywords: Household Income, Completion of Secondary School Education, Turkana County.
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