dc.description.abstract | Kenya has made tremendous progress towards the achievement of universal primary
education since independence. It has experienced an impressive increase in the
number of pupils enrolled in primary schools. Despite the tremendous gains in
enrollment, some Sub Counties such as Kuresoi South have challenges ensuring that
those enrolled, complete the 8 year primary school cycle due to dropouts among
other reasons. This study intends to examine the influence of management of school
environmental factors on pupil dropout rates in public primary schools in Kuresoi
South Sub County. The objective of the study is to investigate how the management
of the physical, social, learning, teaching and the instructional environments
influence the dropout rates in public primary schools in Kuresoi South Sub County.
This study was guided by the institutional theory whose data focus includes
individual and institutional perspectives. It utilized descriptive survey research
design and the accessible population comprise of 93 head teachers and 744 teachers.
Purposive sampling was used to select schools from each of the zones to be studied
in the Sub County. Stratified random sampling was then used to select a sample of
28 head teachers and 224 teachers who were involved in the study. The target
population included Head Teachers’ Interview guide and Teachers Questionnaire.
The reliability of the instrument was at using Cronbach Alpha method. Data was
analyzed with the aid of the IBM’s Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 24)
that includes Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, Qualitative and Quantitative
analysis. The study concludes that management of school physical environment
influences the pupil drop out as it was evident that most of schools had inadequate
classrooms, furniture, latrines. The study concludes that social factors influence the
pupil drop out in schools this was evident due to Peer pressure as it had made most
pupils to quit. The study concludes that Learning and teaching influence the pupil
drop out in schools. It was evident that some of the pupils were receiving negative
attitude from the teachers this made them feel unwanted and hence they opted to
drop out. The study concluded that evaluated Instructional factors influence the pupil
dropout rate in Schools; this was evident as some schools had shortage of teachers.
The study recommends that the school physical environment should be bettered
through building of school infrastructure so that pupils would have a conducive
learning environment. The study recommends that pupils should be counseled
whenever possible to avert the danger of peer pressure which was majorly making
them to drop out of school. The study recommends that the teachers should be
trained on how to manage the students and treat them equally regardless of their
capability in class. The study recommends that the schools should look for
alternatives in having more teachers in class such as recruitment of interns to curb
the teacher shortage which was also a course of pupils drop out. The study creates a
gap that other researchers or academic students can address through concentrating on
effect of management of school physical environment on pupils drop out. The results
are also expected to assist school administrators and the ministry of education in
formulating policies that discourage drop outs and promoting access to primary
school education, retention and completion rates. | en_US |