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Article Title: Socio- Economic Factors Influencing Participation and Dropout of Students in Public Secondary Schools in Marakwet District, Kenya
by Mutwol Lawrence C.K., Cheserek Grace J. Boit John M. & Mining Pacifica J.

Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing participation and dropout of students in public secondary schools in Marakwet district. The target population comprised of twenty six secondary schools. A sample of fourteen schools was randomly selected based on streams, gender, and class. The research objectives were to establish the extent to which socio-cultural and economic factors contribute to students' participation and dropout in public secondary schools in Marakwet District. The questionnaire was used to collect data in this study with a sample population of 140 consisting of head teachers, teachers and students. Data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (version 13) whereas qualitative data was sorted out according to the research themes. Descriptive survey was employed and data presented in form of frequency distribution tables, graphs and pie charts. The study findings indicate that socio-economic factors had the highest effect in the participation of students in secondary school education. These factors include: poverty, low income level, inability of the parents to pay fees, cost sharing policies, provision of family labour and lack of basic needs. The results show that socio-cultural factors: early marriages, pregnancies and traditional culture were a major cause of low participation of secondary school students in education. The study concludes that the socio-economic and cultural factors that hinder student participation in secondary education should be addressed so as to improve the overall participation in Marakwet district. The study recommends the need to enhance the economic situation of parents to enable them cater for education needs of their children. This can be done by enabling parents' access low interest loans to develop income generating projects. Further we recommend free secondary education to be funded fully by the Kenya government.

Keywords: education access, secondary school dropout, arid lands education, school leavers

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