| dc.description.abstract | Incidences of early circumcision of boys have been prevalent for a long time in Isiolo Central Sub
County and in general, the larger former North Eastern Province of Kenya. This has led to dropping
out of boys, increased cases of cattle rustling, early marriages and other social challenges, that the
newly circumcised boys are not prepared for, either mentally or physically. This in turn has
influenced the KCPE performance of circumcised boys as their minds are preoccupied with their
newfound social status within the community. There is scanty information as to exactly how early
circumcision of boys influence their KCPE performance. The purpose of the study was to identify
how beading of girls, herding of livestock, personal autonomy and family responsibilities influence
the KCPE performance of circumcised boys in primary schools in Isiolo Central Sub County, Isiolo
County. This study was based on the functionalist viewpoint theory. According to the theory,
society is a well-organized system in which the majority of members share common values and
conventions. The study used a cross-sectional descriptive survey design with 195 teachers and 294
circumcised eighth-grade boys as participants. The researcher used a simple random sampling, and
sampled 29 teachers and 44 circumcised boys in class eight, which represented 15% for each
category of respondents. Descriptive statistics (percentages and frequencies) were used to
summarize the data. Analysis of data was aided by the use of MS Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics
version 23 and was presented in form of tables for the purpose of reporting. The study found that
three variables (beading of girls, herding of livestock and family responsibilities) were found to
have an influence on the KCPE performance of circumcised boys in primary schools in Isiolo
Central Sub County. The study also found that the individual personal autonomy did not have an
impact on the KCPE performance of circumcised boys. The findings of the study showed that
beading was widely practiced by the circumcised boys who were not yet mature and this distracted
them from their academic work, which ultimately influenced their KCPE performance negatively.
Furthermore, it was established that herding of livestock was a cultural practice that targeted the
circumcised boys who were mature, and they were expected to take care of family livestock but
this was a challenge to those boys who were circumcised when they are still not mature. Finally,
the study found that family responsibilities had an influence on the KCPE performance of the
circumcised boys who were not mature and are not mentally and physically prepared for the
responsibility. The study concludes that the beading of girls, herding of cattle and family
responsibilities, all have an influence on the KCPE performance of circumcised boys who are not
yet mature though circumcised in Isiolo Central Sub County, while personal autonomy does not
influence the KCPE performance of circumcised boys. The study recommends that there is a need
to delay the circumcision ceremonies of the young boys until they have completed primary level
education cycle, so that they can gain the basic language and arithmetic skills necessary to be
productive members of society. The study also recommends that the circumcised boys be allowed
to undertake academic activities without being pressurized to herd livestock until they have
finished their primary level schooling. The study also recommends that there is a need to have
mechanisms put in place in the schools so as to deal with cases involving circumcised boys.
Finally, the study recommends that family responsibilities should be handled by senior members
of the family or the community. | en_US |
