Factors that influence educational wastage in public secondary schools in Kathiani sub-county, Machakos county, Kenya

Abstract

Every year, the Government of Kenya invests heavily in public secondary education. In spite of this heavy investment, the delivery of quality secondary education faces various challenges. One of the biggest challenges is wastage: students repeat grades and the rate of dropout remain high. The central focus of this study was to determine the factors that influence educational wastage in Kathiani Sub-county. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish the influence of school-based factors on educational wastage, to establish the influence of home-based factors on educational wastage and to determine the influence of student-related factors on wastage. Descriptive survey design was used in the study. The target population of the study was 31 principals, 59 form four class teachers, the Sub-county director of education, 10 drop outs and 10 repeaters of secondary level of education in Kathiani Sub-county. All 31 principals were purposefully selected and one class teacher in each school was randomly selected. The district education officer (D.E.O), 10 drop outs and 10 repeaters were also included in the study. Data was collected using interview schedules for drop outs and questionnaires for form four class teachers, repeaters, D.E.O and principals. Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential methods. Quantitative data collected using questionnaires was analysed by the use of descriptive statistics and Chi-square statistical procedure using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20) and presented through frequencies and percentages. The hypotheses were tested using the chi-square test. From the findings, it was established that drop out, absenteeism and less than 100% cohort transition existed. The study established that school-based factors, home-based factors and student-related factors influence educational wastage in the sub-county. The study recommends that all stakeholders be involved in efforts to address the school based factors leading to wastage in the sub-county. It also recommends that parents should play a bigger role in the education of their children. Lastly, guidance and counselling services should be intensified in schools to address student-related factors that lead to wastage.