Factors influencing the enrollment rate of boys in secondary schools in Tetu district Kenya.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the enrollment of boys in secondary schools in Tetu District. The study assessed the influence of the family, the school environment as well as peer pressure as determinants for low enrollment figures. The study adopted descriptive survey research design to study the factors leading to low enrollment rate of boys in Tetu District secondary schools. The• study targeted all the male students and head teachers of boys and mixed schools in Tetu District as well as the D.E.O of the District. A census approach was adopted in selecting head teachers to participate in the study. Employing multistage sampling, the researcher selected 8 schools in the District from where the participants were drawn from. Four (4) male students from each school totaling to twenty four (24) students were interviewed. Questionnaires and an interview schedule were used to collect data. The interview schedule was administered to the District's D.E.O. Descriptive analyses were employed in the data analysis. Findings were presented in the form of tables in frequencies. The study found that on the influence of the family on enrollment of boys, 50% of the head teachers felt that the influence of the family on the enrollment of boys in Tetu District enrollment was very high. 62% of the students agreed that some boys failed to enroll to school or drop out because the school environment is not conducive. The effect of the peer groups on the enrollment of the boys in Tetu District was rated highly by 38% of the head teachers who participated in the study. The study identified other factors that influenced enrollment of boys in public secondary schools in Tetu District, these are: drug abuse, HIV/ AIDS, job seeking, joining of vigilante groups and marriage. The study concluded that the family, school environment and peer groups all influence enrollment of boys in public secondary schools in Tetu District. Among others, the study recommended that guidance and counseling in schools should be bolstered to educate boys more and shield them from giving in to negative peer pressure as regards drug abuse and vigilante groups.