Investigating The Causes Of Pupils Dropout In Public Primary Schools In Imenti North Sub County, Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Education plays a key role in human development through the process of empowering people to improve their well being and participation in national building. Dropout however, poses a serious threat to gains in education despite the government emphasis on Education for All (EFA) by this year (2015). The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of pupils’ dropout in public primary schools of Imenti North Sub-County. The objectives of the study were to determine the influence of socio-economic factors, school based factors and pupil characteristics on dropout in public primary schools in Imenti North Sub-County. The study used descriptive survey design targeting 59 head teachers and 671 teachers from all the 59 public primary schools in Imenti North Sub-County. Stratified random sampling was used to select 18 schools, 18 head teachers and 108 teachers. The study used questionnaires on teachers and head teachers to collect information on dropout. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Findings were presented using frequency tables and bar graphs. This study established that low socio-economic status, poor school performance, drug and substance abuse, peer pressure among others contribute to pupil dropout. Poverty leading to financial problems was also cited as a cause of primary school dropout. The study recommends that the government should take stern measures against traders who employ children to pave way for these children to go to school. Head teachers should come up with school policies for drug free learning environment and the administrators to play an active role in enforcing the policy. A similar study should be carried in other sub counties that were not covered by the study. Similar studies should be carried out among other students groups like high school students.