Cultural Practices and School Drop Out in Selected Primary School in Tana Delta District, Coast Province, Kenya

ABSTRACT The study correlates cultural practices and school dropout in selected primary school in Tana delta district, coast province, Kenya. The purpose of the study was to; (a) Test the null hypothesis of no significant relationship between cultural practices and school dropout, (b) Validating the “influential, theory” of Fin (1993), (c) To bridge the gaps identified in the literature rev~ew, (d) to contributes to the existing knowledge in the field of cultural practices and school dropout. The study was guided by the following specific objectives. (a) To determine the profile of the respondents in term of gender, age, level of education and year of experiences. (b) To determine the level of cultural practices in selected primary schools under study. (c) To determine the level of school dropout in selected primary schools under study. (d) To establish if there is a significant relationship between level of cultural practices and school dropout. Using 15 selected primary schools out of 57 in Tana Delta district, the respondents of the study were basically 187 teachers. The study employed descriptive comparative and corelational survey design to analyze the data. Frequency and percentages was used to analyze the profile of the respondents. Mean was used for objective two and three, objective four was analyzed using pearson’s linear correlation coefficient and regression analysis. The findings of the study includes that, there is high cultural practices in Tana Delta district, there also high dropout rates in schools and there is significant relatonship between cultural practices and school dropout in the district .The study recommends that The government of Kenya should organize awareness education campaigns to communities on the impact of cultural practices to school dropout. Equal opportunity of education should be given to both boys and girls. The cultural practices that hinder learning opportunity should discouraged e.g. female circumcision, early marriage, child labour etc. Teachers should be encouraged to seek for further education in order to add more on their experience and finally he government of Kenya should subside the cost of education so that it becomes affordable to teachers and the community at large.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

DECLARATION A

DECLARATION B ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRACT V

Chapter

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

Background of the study 1

Statement of the Problem 3

Purpose of the Study 4

Research Objectives 4

Specific objectives 4

Research Questions 4

Hypothesis 5

Scope 5

Significance of the Study 5

Operational definition of the terms 6

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2

Ct..ltural practices 7

Theoretical perspective 13

Three METHODOLOGY 18

Research Design 18

Research Population 18

Sample Size 18

Sampling procedure 19

Research Questionnaires 19

vi

Validity 19

Reliability of Instrument 19

Data Gathering Procedures 20

Data Analysis 20

Ethical Consideration 21

limitation of the Study 21.

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF

DATA 22

Profile of the Respondent 22

Level of cultural practices 24

Level of school dropout 26

Significant relationship 28

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDETIONS 30

Findings 30

Conclusion 32

Recommendations 32

REFERENCES 33

APPEN DICES

APPENDIX IA: Transmittal Letter 37

Appendix IB: Transmittal letter for the respondents 38

Appendix II: Clearance from Ethics Committee 39

Appendix III: Informed Consent 40

Appendix IV: Research Instrument 41

Appendix v: Solven’s formula 44

Appendix VI: Availability and Reliability Table 45

Appendix VII: Researcher’s Curriculum Vitae 46