Online ISSN: 2325-7466
2006
Triannual
National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)
United States

Articles

An Analysis of Factors Influencing Low Enrolment and Retention of Girls with Disabilities in Integrated Primary Schools in Embu County, Kenya

  • Njeru Idah Muthoni (Author) Department of Special Needs Education, Kenyatta University image/svg+xml
    Mrs. Idah Muthoni Njeru is a Special Needs Education Teacher. She obtained her Bachelor of Special Needs Education from Kenyatta University (Kenya), Master of Education (Special Needs Education) from Kenyatta University (Kenya). Her research interest are in the education of girls with disabilities, access and retention of students with disabilities and schools and influence of policy on disability mainstreaming. As a teacher in the area of Special Needs, she is interested in bridging theory with practice in special education and also in seeing that teachers use the current methodologies to meet the needs of all learners with disabilities.
  • Dr. Nelly Otube (Author) Department of Special Needs Education, Kenyatta University
    Dr. Nelly Were Otube is a Lecturer Department of Special Needs Education and is a specialist in physical disabilities and Other Health Impairments. He was trained in Kenyatta University (B.Ed), Kurukshetra University (India) M.ed in Special Needs Education and Hambur g University (Germany) Doctor of Philosophy in Special Needs Education. Research interests include education of learners with disabilities, gender disability and development and empowerment of persons with disabilities. Dr. Otube has published extensively on issues of special needs education teacher motivation, assistive technology and female headed households in the slums of Nairobi. As a scholar in the area of Special Needs, Dr. Otube believes that education, training and equal opportunity can help bridge the gap between persons with and without disabilities.
  • Dr. Samson Rosana Ondigi (Author) Department of Educational Communication Technology, Kenyatta University image/svg+xml
    Dr. Samson Ondigi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Communication & Technology and is a specialist in Social Studies Education with an emphasis in Geography Education. Dr. Ondigi was trained at the University of Minnesota, USA in comparative International Development Education and a minor in vocational education. Research interest are in Teacher Education and Professional Development of teachers in the field. Dr. Ondigi has published extensively on issues of teacher education and professional growth, education for socio-economic, actual and potential development. As an academician, Dr. Ondigi believes education is not a race and each child has a chance to succeed in life if guided well.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.311
Abstract
This study investigated the factors that influenced low enrolment and retention rates of girls with disabilities in integrated primary schools. It further explored possible intervention measures that may be employed to mitigate the situation. The study was conducted in selected schools in Runyenjes (Embu East) and Manyatta (Embu North) sub-counties in Embu County. The location was purposely chosen in order to enable the researcher easy access to the respondents. Factors that limit enrollment and retention of girls with disabilities were worth investigating because the government of Kenya provides free primary education for all school going age children although the program does not address fully the education of children with special needs. Questionnaires, interview schedule and focus group discussion (FGD) were the tools adopted for data collection. The data collected were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed; that is, thematically and frequencies and percentages. Poverty, long distances to school, negative attitude, time wasted by teachers, drug and substance abuse, security, household chores, boy preference, pregnancies and early marriages were the factors established to influence enrollment and retention of girls with disabilities in school.
Keywords
Academic Persistence, Barriers, Disabilities, Educational Policy, Elementary School Students, Enrollment Trends
References

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Hertz, B. et al. (1991). Letting girls learn: Promising approaches in primary and secondary education. Washington, D. C., World Bank. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/0-8213-1937-X

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Task Force Report, (2003). Implementation of free primary education. Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation. Children’s Bill, (2001). Rights of Children. Government Printer, Kenya.

There are 15 references in total.
How to Cite
Muthoni, N. I., Otube, N., & Ondigi, S. R. (2016). An Analysis of Factors Influencing Low Enrolment and Retention of Girls with Disabilities in Integrated Primary Schools in Embu County, Kenya. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 11(2), 115-136. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.311

Spring/Summer 2016

Article Information

  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted May 23, 2016
  • Published June 15, 2016
  • Issue Spring/Summer 2016
  • Section Articles
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