Government Subsidies And Their Influence On Student Access And Retention In Secondary Schools In Nandi North Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Subsidized secondary education was launched in Kenya with objectives of enhancing access to secondary school. The main purpose of this study was to establish the influence of government subsidies on student access and retention in secondary schools in Nandi North Sub-County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to; assess the relationship between the adequacy of government subsidies and access & retention of students, investigate the adherence to the established criteria for allocation of government subsidies, establish the challenges in the allocation of government subsidies and suggest intervention strategies in enhancing the access and retention. Mixed methodology was adopted in this study by use of descriptive survey design. The target population of this study included all the 5346 students and 248 class teachers. The sample size formula for this study was based on Krejcie and Morgan where a sample size of 358 students was selected by use of proportionate and simple random sampling techniques. The data collection instruments were questionnaires and interview schedules which allowed the research to be a mixed methodology. To test the validity of the instruments used in the study, the questionnaire was availed to supervisors together with a panel of experienced researchers at Kisii University to review the instruments. To determine the reliability of the instrument, student questionnaire was piloted using 30 public secondary school students in Nandi Central Sub- County. Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used to test on the reliability. Data obtained was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. Frequencies, percentages and Pearson correlation were used to analyze quantitative data. Pearson Correlation Coefficient was employed to determine relationship that exists between the independent variables and dependent variable. Qualitative data werre transcribed, thematically classified and arranged before they were reported in narrations and quotations. The study findings showed that a majority of the students believed beneficiaries of both CDF and County government bursaries were not needy students and the committees concerned with subsidy awards at county and CDF levels did not adhere to the set guidelines. In addition, majority of the students believed that government subsidies were not adequate to cater for students’ educational needs for the whole year. Majority of the students reported that late disbursement of funds by government agencies affected the effectiveness of government subsidies. It was therefore recommended that there was a need for the government subsidies to be run by professionals who adhere to the established criteria whether at county level or national level. This will allow the needy and genuine students to be awarded subsidies and therefore retained in school. Further, county and national governments need to increase allocations for bursaries in order to enable subsidy beneficiaries to meet their fee requirements. Findings of this study are expected to contribute to a greater understanding of costs that go into education and the measures that can be taken to lower the cost in secondary schools in Kenya. The findings of the study will enable the policy makers and other educational stakeholders in coming up with policy options for further relief of cost-burden to poor households.