Causes Of School Drop Out In Selected Primary Schools In Kakuzi Division Thika District, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the causes of primary school drop out.

Specific Objectives of the study were to investigate the relationship between poverty and

primary school drop out, Determine the school factors that lead to primary school drop

out, Detennine the relationship between attitudes and primary school drop out,

Investigate the relationship between cultural practices and school drop out, Determine the

relationship between indiscipline and primary school drop out and Investigate the

relationship between HIV/AIDS and primary school drop out. The methods used for data

collection were questionnaires to pupils who were randomly selected and interviews with

teache.rs. The findings revealed that children drop out of school because of poverty. 31 %

of the respondents strongly agreed to this and 34% agreed. The study also revealed that

most of the schools did have a safe environment that is only 18% of the respondents

strongly agreed that the school is safe. 42% of the respondents strongly agreed while 32%

agreed that teacher's attitudes lead to school drop out, 38% of the respondents strongly

agreed that early marriages lead to school drop out, 42% of the respondents strongly

agreed that drug abuse leads to school drop out, 38% strongly agreed that children leave

school to take care of HIV positive relatives and 31 % agreed. The study recommended

the community and parents should be sensitized on the importance of education

especially girls. The government should make sure they supervise schools to make sure

that the environment is conducive for the pupils. Policies should be made to prevent some

cultural practices that affect the education of children. The teacher should avoid any act

of discrimination that marginalizes girls and minorities or make them feel guilty,

behavior that suggests to them that they are less capable. School authorities and teachers

should identify the reasons for children's misbehavior and therefore deal with the problem. The community should be sensitized on the disadvantages of some cultural practices on not only the health of children but also on their education.