ABSTRACT

This study assessed the effects of ethnic conflict on access and participation of pupils in primary education. The initiative was to examine the relationship between ethnic conflict on access and participation of pupils in learning activities to enable amend the underachievement challenges through curbing the effects of ethnic conflict in Nakuru County. The study was based on assessing the effects of ethnic conflict on access and participation of children in primary school education in Nakuru County. The objectives of the study were; to assess the causes of ethnic conflict and effects on access and participation of children in primary school education, to determine whether physical displacement affects access and participation of children in primary school education, to assess if property destruction affects access and participation of children in primary school education, to ascertain whether ethnic politics affect access and participation of children in primary school education and to find out the level at which ethnic inequalities affect access and participation of children in primary school education in Nakuru County. The study was carried out in public primary schools in Nakuru County. Nakuru County was appropriate for this study because the researcher was concerned with assessing the effects of ethnic conflict on access and participation of pupils in primary education. The target population of the study comprised of 3,335 respondents. This target population includes primary school pupils, head teachers, teachers, parents, chiefs, opinion leaders and religious leaders. The study employed the human needs theory by Burton (1990).He argues that conflict is deeply rooted in unmet or inadequately fulfilled basic human needs of the parties and their individual members. Both purposive and stratified random sampling were adopted to select a sample size of 138 respondents (100 standard eight pupils, 13 head teachers, 13 class teachers, 3 parents, 3 opinion leaders, 3 religious leaders and 3 chiefs). The study further used semi-structured questionnaires and interview schedules to collect data for analysis using the statistical package for social sciences (version 23). The data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Nakuru County has the highest incidents of ethnic conflicts and the area has people from different ethnic mixtures and hence the reason for choosing the area for this study. The study found in part that there was discernible effect for ethnic conflicts on access and participation of pupils in primary education. The study recommends that there is need to enhance capacity building programs in primary schools through organizing workshops, seminars and inviting guest speakers on related issues among learners.