SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO GIRL CHILDDROP OUT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF MAGADI SUB COUNTY, KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Education equality is a key component of development. There is a growing concern on the
inequality of education despite it being a basic human right. Gender biasness in children
investment in education among households have demonstrated skewedness towards boys thereby
denying access to education for girls. The economic survey of 2012 indicates that 30 percent of
primary school pupils In Kenya fail to transit to secondary school. This study sought to establish
the socio-economic factors that contribute to girl child drop out in primary schools in Kenya. The
findings indicated that traditional cultural practices influenced the dropout rates among girls in
primary schools with girls in traditional communities tending to be negatively affected in terms
of dropout rates. Parental illiteracy, early pregnancy and poverty were also found to be major
causes of girl dropouts in Kenya. The study concluded that socio- cultural and economic factors
are major contributors of dropouts among girl child in primary schools. The study recommends
sensitization measures among traditional communities on the value of girl child education and
the rights of children be strengthened.