Description
Over the years, Kenya like many other nations of the world has struggled to provide its
citizens with education and particularly basic education. Provision of basic education and
achievement of Education for All by the year 2015 has been a global concern. The
government of Kenya has committed substantial amount of resources and applied a number
of strategies such as provision of FPE in 2003 and FSE in the year 2008. However, gender
disparity in enrolment in secondary schools is still persistent. This study attempted to
establish the relationship between economic factors and gender disparity in enrolment in
mixed day secondary schools in Kericho County, Kenya. The objective of this study was to
determine the relationship between economic factors and gender disparity in enrolment in
public mixed day secondary schools in Kericho. The study was guided by Social
Demand Theory which perceives education as a social good rather than investment good and,
therefore, children have a right to education. The study adopted descriptive survey
research design. The study targeted 124 mixed day secondary schools. The target population
consisted of 124 principals and 9,418 students. Sample size of the principals was
determined by applying Kerlinger rule whereas for students Cochran formula was
used. The sample size consisted of 38 principals and 384 students. Data for the study was
collected by use of questionnaires. The study revealed that there exists a statistically
significant relationship between Economic Factors and Gender Disparity.
It was also found that child labour is related to gender disparity in enrollment. Parent’s
reluctance to pay fees for their children due to false notion of free education has a
relationship with gender disparity in enrolment. The findings of the study would help educational administrators and policy
makers to eradicate gender disparity in enrolment in secondary schools, in Kericho County,
Kenya.
