Factors influencing enrolment in ECDE Centres: A Case of Mbita Sub County, Homa Baycounty, Kenya

Abstract

For Kenya to realize vision 2030 its socio-political and economic blueprint, there is need to invest more in education which is under the social pillar in the document. In terms of enrolment, pre-primary schools in Mbita Zone have recorded a low enrolment rate in the past years. This study investigated the factors that influence enrolment in Early Childhood Development and education in Mbita Sub County, Homabay County. The study was guided by three objectives; how parents influence enrolment in ECDE centers, how teachers influence enrolment in ECDE centers and how the government influences enrolment in ECDE centers in Mbita Sub County. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design and obtained its data from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The primary data were derived from the questionnaires and the interviews. The target population comprised of all the pre-school children, head teachers, ECDE lead teachers and parents from Mbita Sub County. The researcher used stratified random sampling to select 40 schools in the four zones. He used purposive sampling to select forty head teachers and forty ECDE lead teachers. Simple random sampling was used to select two parents from each school. The sample size was 40 head teachers, 40 ECDE lead teachers and 16 parents; all these were sampled for the study. However, only 12 parents were interviewed. Data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics and presented in form of tables and pie charts. Findings revealed that 72.7% of parents interviewed agreed that factors such as ignorance, poverty and attitude influenced enrolment in ECDE centers. 70.9% of teachers agreed that that teacher factors such as training, materials and remuneration influenced enrolment in ECDE centers. 75% of the respondents agreed that government factors such as Free Primary Education, Feeding Programs and infrastructure influenced enrolment in ECDE centers in Mbita sub county, Homabay County-Kenya. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that parents, teachers and the government influenced enrolment of pupils in ECDE centers in Mbita Sub County. To enhance enrolment, the study recommended that the parents be sensitized on the benefits of early enrolment to pre-schools, the ECDE teachers be well trained, have enough teaching and learning materials and get good remuneration. The study also recommended that the government incorporate early childhood education into the Free Primary Education program to relieve the parents from the burden of fees, enact feeding program and develop infrastructure in ECDE centers to enable quality learning to take place