Abstract:
This study was undertaken to investigate pupils’ ac
cess and participation challenges in primary school
education in Kakuma and Lokichoggio divisions of Tu
rkana County in North Western Kenya. The
purpose of the study was to investigate factors tha
t hinder pupils’ access and participation in primar
y
school education in Turkana County, using Kakuma an
d Lokichoggio divisions as case study. The two
divisions’ nine schools were randomly selected to f
orm the sample population for the study. The
research study employed the descriptive survey desi
gn. The data collection instruments utilized
included questionnaires administered to head teache
rs and teachers, focus group discussions
conducted for pupils and parents and interview guid
es done for the key informants and head teachers.
The data collected was analysed using descriptive s
tatistics. The study, paradoxically, revealed that
financial resources played insignificant role in sc
hool access whereas cultural factors, parental
negligence and ignorance of their roles in educatio
n provision, poverty among the majority of parents
and insecurity played a major role in hindering edu
cation access and participation in the area. This
study recommends that more boarding schools be esta
blished in the area of study. The study also
recommends that a sensitization programmed be undert
aken for education stakeholders in the area to
improve understanding of their roles and responsibi
lities in the provision of education opportunities
to
learners.
