Assessement Of Challenges Facing The Girlchild Education A Case Study Of Marigat Zone Kenya

ABSTRACT

This study on the Challenges Facing the Girl Child Education was canied out in marigat

zone. Specifically the study aimed at finding out the economic factors affecting the girl child

education, identifying the socio-cultural factors that affect girl child education and to find to

establish whether there are existing strategies for uplifting girls' education.

In order to comprehend the problem of the study, a documentary review of Literature on the

economic and socio-cultural factors affecting the girl child education as well as on strategies

aimed at uplifting girl education was carried out.

The study employed a descriptive exploratory design in which both qualitative and

quantitative methods were applied where the researcher solicited data from parents, teachers

and children on the subject matter, all of whom constituted a sample of 50 respondents.

Research instruments included a Questionnaire and an interview guide.

The Study findings on economic factors revealed that, poverty in homes, economic value of

the girl child; high schooling costs and the country's low level of economic development

were factors responsible for the girl child dropout. Socio-cultural factor indicated that early

marriages. religious influences, premarital pregnancies, female biased home roles and poor

parental attitude challenged the girl child education. The study findings further revealed

strategies such as provision of bursaries, organizations to uplift girl child education among

others to be in existence.

The study concluded that, poverty in families and economic value of girls are the leading

economic challenges facing girl child in the country, while early maniage and premarital

pregnancies are leading social cultural factors facing girl child education in Kenya. The

major strategy identified is provision of bursaries.

The study recommended that in order to improve on girl child education and to overcome

the challenges facing girl child education in Kenya the govermnent sensitize parents and the

public on the importance of girl child education, make UPE compulsory for girls, supply

ti-ee scholastic materials and give out educational loans as well as providing sanitary pads

and towels to girls of adolescent age. Socially NGOs and educated people should campaign

against early man'iages of the girl child, parents and school authorities should on routine

basis offer sex education to girls to check possibilities of premarital pregnancies among

children, families and community should be encouraged and supported morally and

linancially by the government. Lastly, basing on strategies, a follow up should be made on

procedures taken to uplift the girl child education, upcountry and the local council authority

should lend a hand in education of girls through enforcing laws since they are nearer to

people, training of the staff that handles the girl child matters and government should improve on the bursaries in girl child education.