Contribution of faith based organizations and the government of kenya in addressing gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

Gender disparity with regard to retention and completion of schooling continues to be a challenging issue to education of the girl-child in marginalized communities such as the Pokot whose literacy level stands at a lower rate (23% against the national indicator which is 43% KBS from 2013 government of Kenya (GoK)report). The Kenyan government has made strides in expanding educational opportunities through free primary education since the year 2002, yet the retention of girls in primary schools continues to be low, a factor necessitating inclusion of other stakeholders such as Faith Based Organizations (FBO). Apart from the Kenyan constitution, FBOs maintain that all humans are equal regardless of their gender. The purpose of this study was to establish the role of FBOs and GoK in addressing gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot sub-county, Kenya. The specific objectives of this study were: to investigate factors leading to gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot Sub County, to find out how FBOs and GoK contribute to minimization of gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot Sub County and to explore challenges facing the GoK and FBOs in addressing gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot Sub County. This study was guided by the cultural adaptation and Feminist education theories to determine factors leading to gender disparity. This is a qualitative study that adopted the exploratory research design which was cross-sectional in nature. Primary data was collected from 25 respondents from Central Pokot Sub County who were purposefully sampled for interviews and focus group discussions. Secondary data was derived from books, journals and archives. Collected data was analyzed qualitatively using narrative and thematic analysis. The study found out that socio-cultural and socio- economic issues such as nomadic pastoralism contribute to gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot Sub County; FBOs and the GoK have attempted to address the issue of gender disparity on girl child through a number of programs and there are challenges facing FBOs and GoK in their attempt to minimise gender disparity on girl child in primary schools such as insufficient funds. The study concludes that FBOs and the GoK have a role in minimizing gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot sub-county, Kenya. The study recommends that, in order to minimise factors leading to gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot Sub County we should introduce alternative rites of passage. It also recommends that more funds should be allocated to FBOs and the GoK to support programs intended to minimize gender disparity in primary schools in Central Pokot Sub County. Lastly, it recommends that challenges facing the FBOs and the GoK in addressing gender disparity in Central Pokot Sub County can be minimized through implementing anti-discrimination policies.