Factors Affecting the Retention Rate of Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Hindi Division, Lamu West Sub-County, Lamu County

Abstract

Kenya’s vision 2030’s social pillar on Education and training states in part that the overall goal for 2012 is to reduce illiteracy by increasing access to Education, improving transition rate in primary and secondary schools and raising the quality and relevance of education hence retention. There are so many factors that have contributed to low retention rates of pupils in public primary schools. In almost all developing countries, School dropout, and retention rate has been a subject of interest to academics, researchers and policy makers for a long time. The general of this study was to determine factors affecting the retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in hindi division, Lamu west sub-county while Specific Objectives included to determine the effects of family background on retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in Hindi Division, Lamu west sub-county, to establish the effects of learning environment on retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in Hindi Division, Lamu west sub-county and to analyze the effects of societal culture on the retention rates of pupils in public in primary schools in Hindi Division, Lamu west sub-county. It is hoped that findings of this research will help improve the understanding of factors affecting the retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in Hindi division, Lamu west sub-county and their effects will help improve on the retention rate. The study was firmly founded on three theories; human capital Theory, functionalist Theory and achievement motivation Theory. The study adopted a survey research design, where selected public primary schools will be targeted for the study. The study was carried out using open and closed ended questionnaires which were given to (32) thirty two head teachers. From the findings, the study concluded that the aspects of Family background aspects such as Level of education of parents, Gender of children in family, Economic background of the family and Aspiration of the family affects retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in Hindi Division, Lamu west sub-county. It was also clear from the findings that the learning environment aspects such as availability of textbooks/teaching aid /parents, clubs and social facilities around the school, gender of children in family and achievement level affects retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in Hindi Division, Lamu west sub-county. Further, from the findings, the respondents felt that the aspects of Social culture aspects such as Social – cultural practices, roles of social-cultural practices, relevancy to learning to the society and number of children in family affects retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in Hindi Division, Lamu west sub-county. The study herefore concluded that family background, learning environment and societal culture influence affects the retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in Hindi division, Lamu west sub-county, Lamu County. The study recommended that the Government should formulate policies favorable to learners in order to enhance retention rates, especially through provision of necessary learning facilities in public schools. Further, the study recommended that parents and guardians with children in schools must be sensitized on what ought to be done to ensure that pupils get retained in schools; an effort that would ensure that these pupils are prepared fully to assume challenging responsibilities in future. Pupils in public primary schools in Hindi Division, Lamu west sub-county. Further, from the findings, the respondents felt that the aspects of Social culture aspects such as Social – cultural practices, roles of social-cultural practices, relevancy to learning to the society and number of children in family affects retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in Hindi Division, Lamu west sub-county. The study therefore concluded that family background, learning environment and societal culture influence affects the retention rate of pupils in public primary schools in hindi division, Lamu west sub-county, Lamu County. The study recommended that the Government should formulate policies favorable to learners in order to enhance retention rates, especially through provision of necessary learning facilities in public schools. Further, the study recommended that parents and guardians with children in schools must be sensitized on what ought to be done to ensure that pupils get retained in schools; an effort that would ensure that these pupils are prepared fully to assume challenging responsibilities in future.