Extra levies as determinant factor in the implementation of free and compulsory education in public day secondary schools in Kenya

Abstract

Despite the government’s efforts in implementing free and compulsory education policy, transition from primary schools and completion rates at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) rates are still below 100 percent, contrary to government efforts to boost them. This study therefore sought to investigate extra levies as determinant factor in the implementation of free and compulsory education in public day secondary schools in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to; establish the effects of levying admission fees and BOM teachers’ salaries; determine the effects of levying charges for infrastructure installation and determine the impact of levying charges for remedial teaching and teacher motivation on implementation of free and compulsory education in Kitui County. The study was anchored on the Liberal Educational Theory (LET), which proposes that each country’s citizen should be accorded freedom and opportunity to access and acquire education without any form of discrimination. The study used descriptive survey research design and collected data from a sample of 164 school principals, 17 Parents’ Association (PA) chairpersons and the Kitui County Director of Education (CDE). Data were collected by use of questionnaire for principals, interview schedules for CDE and PA chairpersons and document review analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed on basis of emerging themes in line with the objectives of the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Further, hypothesis was tested using the product moment correlation coefficient at the .05 level of significance. Analyzed results were presented in tables. The findings from the study revealed that there was a negative and significant relationship between extra levies charged and transition and completion rates (r =-.747; p≤ .01). In view of the foretasted findings, the study concludes that there is a statistically significant relationship between charging of extra levies and implementation of free and compulsory public day secondary schools’ education in Kitui County. This means that the higher and the more the levies are charged, the lower the transition and completion rates. The study recommends that The Ministry of Education (MOE) should enforce the ban on charging of extra levies in schools for it is illegal and the government should publish all approved levies that a school can charge learners if need arises.