TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ......................................................................................................... ... i
APPROVAL .................................................................................................................. ii
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................ iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................................... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............... ............................................................................... v
LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................... viii
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. ix
ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................ X
DEFINffiON OF TERMS .......................................................................................... xi
CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................ 1
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1
1.0 Background of the study ............................................................................. 1
1.1 Statement of the problem ........................................................................... 3
1.2 Objectives of the study ................................................................................ 3
1.2.1 Main objective ....... .................................... ................................................ 3
1.2.2 Specific objectives .................................................................................... 4
1.3 Research questions ...................................................................................... 4
1.4 Scope ............................................ .................................................................. 4
1.5 Significance of the study ............................................................................. 5
CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................... 6
LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................. 17
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................ 17
3.0 Introduction ......................................... .......................... .............................. 17
3.1 Research design .......................................................................................... 17
v
3.2 Research area .............................................................................................. 17
3.3 Research population ............ ....................................................................... 17
3.4 Sample size and sampling techniques ..................................................... 18
3.5 Methods of data collection ........................................................................ 18
3.5.1 Types of data collected .......................................................................... 18
3.5.2 Instrumentation ...................................................................................... 18
3.5.3 Reliability of the instrument .................................................................. 19
3.5.4 Validity of research ................................................................................. 19
3.6 Procedure of data collection ..................................................................... 19
3. 7 Data analysis ............................................................................................... 19
3.8 Limitations .................................................................................................... 20
CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................... 21
DATA PRESENTATION ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND
DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................ 21
4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................. 21
4.1 Background characteristics of respondents ............................................ 21
4.1.1 Age of teachers ....................................................................................... 21
4.1.2 Age of learners ........................................................................................ 22
4.1.3 Subcultures of teachers ......................................................................... 22
4.1.4 Subcultures of students ......................................................................... 23
4.2 Prevalence of school girl absenteeism and drop out ............................ 23
4.2.1 Level of enrollment in schools .............................................................. 23
4.2.2 Level at which girls drop out of school ............................................... 24
4.2.3 Absenteeism in schools .......................................................................... 25
4.3 Cultural features that affect girl child education ................................... 26
4.3.1 Effects of cultural features on girl child education ............................ 28
4.3.2 Effects of female genital mutilation ............................................. ........ 29
4.4 Governments role in solving the problem of social cultural influences
on girl child education ............................................................................................ 30
VI
CHAPTER FIVE ..................................................................................................... 32
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 32
5.0 Introduction ................................................................................................. 32
5.1 Summary of findings .................................................................................. 32
5.2 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 35
5.3 Recommendations ...................................................................................... 36
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 38
APPENDICES ........................................................................................................ 40
APPENDIX A: QUESTIONNAIRES FOR TEACHERS ............................................ 40
APPENDIX B: QUESTIONNAIRES FOR PUPILS ................................................... 42
ABSTRACT A descriptive and quantitative study was carried out in seven randomly selected primary schools of Kilibwoni division, Nandi central Kenya. The purpose of the study was to examine the sociocultural influences on girl child education. The following objectives guided the study; to establish the prevalence of girl child drop out and absenteeism from school· to identify those cultural practices which affect the education of girls in secondary schools; To establish the effects of culture on education of girls; and to assess the Kenyan policies of social protection of girls in secondary schools. The study utilizes a questionnaire to obtain data about influences of society and culture on the girls education. Findings showed that indeed there was a relationship between social cultural factors and girl's educational advancement and attainment and true the girls were absenting themselves from school and even dropping out. Cultural practices and norms such as circumcision, early marriages, overwhelming domestic chores for girls and attitude towards girl child education were obstacles of girls accessing equal education and to girl retention in school. It was recommended that the government of Kenya revise its social policies on female school children, sensitize the parents and community about the value of female education and gender issues. And to empower women by sensitizing them about their rights and adopting a gender responsive curriculum.
