Students' Perception on Head Teachers’ Role in Implementation of Girls’ Re-Admission Policy: A Case of Eldoret

Abstract

The purpose of study was to investigate students” perception on head teacher’s role in implementation of girls” re-admission policy. The study was to help highlight the - plight of girls who drop out of school as a result of pregnancy with a view of giving them a chance to continue with education through re-admission. To achieve this .- objective the study examined students perception on head teachers’ administrative, ' counselling and support roles. whereas the head teachers” age, gender, educational level and teaching experience were independent variables. The study was based on Tinto’s (1975) model of student Students“ perception was the dependent variable retention. According to the model, whether a student persists or drops out is quite ,_ strongly predicted by their degree of both academic and social integration. The research design was a descriptive survey where questionnaires and interview schedule :were used to collect data. The target populations were form three students, head teachers, counselling teachers, class teachers and the District Quality Assurance and Standards Officer. Sampling techniques used in the study were Simple Random, Stratified and Purposive. Reliability of the instruments was established through a pilot study in a mixed school outside the study area. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess the reliability coefficient that yielded 0.82. Validity of‘ instruments was determined through expert judgment involving discussions with researcher’s Supervisors, _ Lecturers and Colleagues in the Department of Education Management and Policy studies. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics that involved frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation. Data was presented in form of tables. inferential statistics were used i.e chi- square was applied in cross tabulation of the dependent variable to variations independent variables. The study established that head teachers have not implemented the re-admission policy to the expectation as reflected in the poor discharge of administrative. counselling and support roles. It was also established that head teachers” age, and teaching experience influences I‘e- . admission policy. The study recommends that; the Ministry of Education to review the re-admission policy so as to come up with appropriate guidelines for implementation, counselling to be strengthened in schools , further training for head teachers and introduction of support program for the girls who drop out of school due to pregnancy.