Effects of Informal Businesses on access and Retention of Boys in Public Primary Schools in Kenya

Abstract

Despite dramatic increase in enrolment since the introduction of FPE in 2003, gender disparities have been noticed particularly in rural areas and urban slums (ROK 2008). The emphasis is however put on girls’ empowerment. This study filled the gap in gender disparities in access and retention in schools by addressing itself to the boy child. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of informal businesses on access and retention of boys in public primary schools in Emuhaya district. The objectives that guided the study were: to determine the influence of socio-economic background of boys in public primary schools on their involvement in informal businesses, establishing the effect of informal businesses on access and retention of boys in schools, determining the school factors that influence the participation of boys in public primary schools in informal businesses and establishing the challenges faced by head teachers of public primary schools in their endeavor to improve access and retention in their schools. This study was based on Tinto’s theory of student retention to education. This theory is centered on the concept of “integration” with three underlying principles namely; academics, social and economic life of a student. The study adopted descriptive survey because the information was collected from a sample rather than entire population. The target population comprised of 97 head teachers of public primary schools with an enrolment of 97 head teachers. A total of 30 head teachers, who were the main respondents, being 30% of the target population and the D.E.O were used in the study. Stratified random sampling was used to identify head teachers and purposive sampling used to identify the D.E.O. This was basing on rural and urban based schools. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the head teachers where as an interview schedule used to gather information from the District Education Officer. Document analysis technique was used on data from head teacher’s offices. Validity of the research instruments was determined using Content Validity Index whereas test – retest technique was used to assess reliability. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and narrative analysis techniques. The findings were presented in form of frequency tables and bar graphs .The study findings were: the socio-economic background of boys in schools influenced their participation in informal businesses, the selling of scrap metals, boda boda transport, hawking and brick making affected access and retention of boys in school, School factors influenced access and retention of boys in school and Head teachers faced many challenges in school administration due to lack of knowledge and skills in school management. The study concluded that informal businesses such as boda boda, selling of scrap metals, hawking and brick making have an adverse effect on the boys’ access and retention in school in Emuhaya district. The gender disparity in enrolment in public primary schools in Emuhaya where by girls are more than boys especially in the upper primary classes is caused by the boys involvement in informal businesses. The researcher recommended the following: there is need for the government to introduce financial support to needy pupils to enable them pay for school requirements that are not catered for in the FPE program, the government should enforce child labour policy to ensure that boys do not engage in informal businesses , that school managers should equip their schools with resources that will enhance teaching and learning and there is need for capacity building for school managers to enable them acquire knowledge and skills in school management.

Despite dramatic increase in enrolment since the introduction of FPE in 2003, gender disparities have been noticed particularly in rural areas and urban slums (ROK 2008). The emphasis is however put on girls’ empowerment. This study filled the gap in gender disparities in access and retention in schools by addressing itself to the boy child. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of informal businesses on access and retention of boys in public primary schools in Emuhaya district. The objectives that guided the study were: to determine the influence of socio-economic background of boys in public primary schools on their involvement in informal businesses, establishing the effect of informal businesses on access and retention of boys in schools, determining the school factors that influence the participation of boys in public primary schools in informal businesses and establishing the challenges faced by head teachers of public primary schools in their endeavor to improve access and retention in their schools. This study was based on Tinto’s theory of student retention to education. This theory is centered on the concept of “integration” with three underlying principles namely; academics, social and economic life of a student. The study adopted descriptive survey because the information was collected from a sample rather than entire population. The target population comprised of 97 head teachers of public primary schools with an enrolment of 97 head teachers. A total of 30 head teachers, who were the main respondents, being 30% of the target population and the D.E.O were used in the study. Stratified random sampling was used to identify head teachers and purposive sampling used to identify the D.E.O. This was basing on rural and urban based schools. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the head teachers where as an interview schedule used to gather information from the District Education Officer. Document analysis technique was used on data from head teacher’s offices. Validity of the research instruments was determined using Content Validity Index whereas test – retest technique was used to assess reliability. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and narrative analysis techniques. The findings were presented in form of frequency tables and bar graphs .The study findings were: the socio-economic background of boys in schools influenced their participation in informal businesses, the selling of scrap metals, boda boda transport, hawking and brick making affected access and retention of boys in school, School factors influenced access and retention of boys in school and Head teachers faced many challenges in school administration due to lack of knowledge and skills in school management. The study concluded that informal businesses such as boda boda, selling of scrap metals, hawking and brick making have an adverse effect on the boys’ access and retention in school in Emuhaya district. The gender disparity in enrolment in public primary schools in Emuhaya where by girls are more than boys especially in the upper primary classes is caused by the boys involvement in informal businesses. The researcher recommended the following: there is need for the government to introduce financial support to needy pupils to enable them pay for school requirements that are not catered for in the FPE program, the government should enforce child labour policy to ensure that boys do not engage in informal businesses , that school managers should equip their schools with resources that will enhance teaching and learning and there is need for capacity building for school managers to enable them acquire knowledge and skills in school management.