TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declarati_on ...................................................... ,, ......... .

Dedication ................................................................. .

.. 11

Approval ................................................................... . lll

Acknowledgement. ....................................................... . IV

Table of contents .......................................................... . v

List of Tables .............................................................. . VI

Abstract .................... ; ............................................... . Vll

INTRODUCTION ......................................................... .

Rationale of he Study ..................................................... .

Theory........................................................................ 3

Review of related literature................................................ 5

School dropout.............................................................. 5

Causes of school dropout................................................. 5

How to prevent dropout from school. ................ ·:................ 11

Significance of the study................................................ 12

Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Research Questions......................................................... 13

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY......................................... 14

Design........................................................................ 14

Environn1ent..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Respondents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Instruments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Data collection procedures................................................. 15

Statistical treatment of data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Definition of terms........................................................... 16

IV

Data presentation, analysis and interpretation........................... 17

Profile of the respondents.................................................. 17

Causes of school drop out................................................ 20

Child labour and school dropout......................................... 22

Student attitude and school dropout...................................... 25

Uncondusive school environment and school dropout............... 27

Pre-marital sex, early pregnancies, marriages and school dropout.... 31

Solutions to school dropout................................................. 33

Summary, recommendations and conclusions........................... 35

Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7

Conclusion................................................................... 38

Appendices ................................................................. .

Appendix A : Transmittal letter ......................................... .

Appendix B : Questionnaires ............................................ .

Appendix C : Interview Guides and FGD ............................. .

Appendix D: Map of research environment ............................. .

urriculum vitae ............................................................ .

ABSTRACT

This study examines the causes of school dropouts in Secondary schools. The study was carried out in Ruiru Secondary School in Thika District in Kenya. The researcher used two sources of data namely; primary secondary data. Primary data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, administered to purposively selected sample of 20 students of Ruiru Secondary School. Its structured interview schedule was administered to 10 key informants including head teachers. Teachers and ministry of education Officials. Focus group discussions were held with school dropouts and community members. In total there were 50 respondents. Secondary data was collected by reviewing related literature from books, reports, newspapers and the internet. Quantitative data was analyzed using frequency counts and percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed based on them as derived from the objectives of the study followed consistently. In order for school drop outs to be reduced, this study recommended that:!. The internal management system of the school should be geared to provide quality of teaching and make the school environment conclusive to the enjoyment and benefit from education. That curriculum should be revised to target more aspects in students rather than aiming at academics only. 2. There is need for politics that will make schooling more affordable for all by eliminating unnecessary expenditure and strengthening financial planning most students drop out because they cannot afford fees.