Factors Contributing to Primary School Girl Drop out in Public Upper Primary Schools in Kagaari South Sub-County, Embu County in Kenya

According to the World Education Forum held in Dakar in 2000, all upper primary school girls, irrespective of gender, were to have access to and complete education of good quality by the year 2015. This was largely achieved, but the only drawback to this was its sustainability. This was highly affected by the rising cases of girl dropouts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to girl dropout rates in public upper primary schools in Kagaari South Sub-County, Embu County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to determine how cultural beliefs affected the girl dropout rate in public schools, to investigate the influence of the learning environment on the girl dropout rate in public upper primary schools, and to determine how distance from home to school influenced girls’ school dropout rate in public upper primary schools in Kagaari South Sub-County. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The study was carried out in Kagaari South Sub-County, Embu County, Kenya. The researcher targeted public upper primary schools in Kagaari South Sub-County. A stratified sampling technique was used to group public upper primary schools in Kagaari South Sub-County into County schools and Sub-County schools. The researcher used simple random sampling to select the schools. Questionnaires and documentary analysis were used to collect the data. The quantitative data were coded and entered using SPSS version 24 computer software. Descriptive statistics, specifically percentage and frequency, were used for analysis, and the data were presented in tables and graphs. Majority revealed that early marriage, circumcision of girls, early pregnancy abortion led to high girl’s school dropout rate. There was unsafe leaning environment in school since classes were congested and poor administrative style led to increased drop out of school by girls. Learning facilities, latrines and playground   were not available. There was Inadequate classrooms, there were no enough separate latrine for teachers and learners and playing fields were not enough. Majority of the respondent revealed they had challenges getting to school due to long distance from home. Majority of the girls went to school by foot which led to high dropout and longer distances from home discourage girls from perusing their education to high level and finally make them drop out.