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VOL. 6, ISSUE 3 (2021)
Challenges faced by boy-child in relation to school participation in Embu west Sub County, of Embu County, Kenya
Authors
SR Hellen Wambui Wainaina
Abstract
This paper is premised on the findings of a study that sought to establish the challenges faced by boy-child in relation to school participation in Embu West Sub County of Embu County, Kenya. Specifically, the study aimed at establishing and identifying the challenges faced by boy-child in relation to school participation. The study was anchored on functionalism theory and adopted a pragmatic mixed method approach with a sample size of 205 comprising of class eight, form four boys’ students, teachers, schools heads and community members in five main town centers in Embu West Sub County. The researcher adopted purposive and simple random sampling strategies for setting up samples. Questionnaires, interview schedules and document analysis were used for data collection and data analyzed using SPSS (version 20). The study established that there are socio-economic and school-related factors affecting school participation of boys. In particular, poverty, family size, child labour, circumsicion and desire for earnings affected school participation. Perceived importance of education among boys was low in comparison to girlchild, Majority of boys of age and youths were found in town centers as boda boda riders, selling and consuming khat, touts and other form of occupations. Peers pressure and lack of mentors; class repetition, victimization, and poor academic performance affected school participation. Drug and substance abuse was very high in the area. Majority of boys out of school were engaged in unproductive social activities such as video, pool, discos, monitory gaming which has Captured the boychild mind instead of concentrating with schooling. The study recommends that the national and county government should avoid over-focus on girls’ programmes and initiate programmes to empower the boy child. Use of existing structures including “nyumba kumi” initiatives should be applied to monitor the boychild activities and ensure they are going to school. The government should also put mechanisms to stop all forms of child labour by ensuring compliance with the law including withdrawal of licenses for businesses employing school-age children. Cultural rites like circumcision should be conducted in a way that does not instill values and freedoms likely to interfere with boys’ enjoyment of the right to be children and to enjoy a good education as a solid foundation for future prosperity. Embu West Sub county schools and religious societies should implement guidance and counseling sessions and find ways and means of admitting students back to school after dropout to curb wastage of resources. Embu West Sub county schools should embrace and encourage motivation talks to counter poor school participation. Role models should be used to make visitations to schools to encourage learners’ school’s participation. Policies of readmission of dropouts should be formulated especially those touching on boychild to reduce wastage. The study also recommends more research to identify factors contributing to marginalization of the boy child and to prioritize solutions in programmes and other interventions.
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Pages:31-37
How to cite this article:
SR Hellen Wambui Wainaina "Challenges faced by boy-child in relation to school participation in Embu west Sub County, of Embu County, Kenya ". International Journal of Advanced Education and Research, Vol 6, Issue 3, 2021, Pages 31-37
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