INFLUENCE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING ON LEARNER COMPLETION RATE IN MIXED DAY PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN CHESUMEI SUB COUNTY, NANDI , KENYA

Abstract

Students‟ completion rate varies in various states worldwide. High students‟ drop-out still exists in public schools in Kenya which negatively impacts students‟ completion rate. This is despite government funding of day public secondary schools. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of government funding on learner completion rate in mixed day public secondary schools in Chesumei Sub County, Nandi County, Kenya. The objectives of this study included: to determine the extent to which government funding in form of government scholarships influence completion rate in public secondary schools in Chesumei sub county, to examine the extent to which government funding in tuition provision has influenced completion rate in public secondary schools in Chesumei sub county and to establish the extent to which government funding in providing infrastructure influences completion rate in public secondary schools in Chesumei sub county. The study was anchored on the Education Production Function (EPF) theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Target population was 343 respondents who comprised of 24 principals, 270 heads of department, and 48 members of board of management and 1 sub county director of education. The sample size was 227 respondents who comprised of 22 principals, 162 heads of department 42 members of the board of management assistant and 1 sub county director of education. The study adopted stratified random sampling, simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques to select the respondents. Primary data was collected using close-ended questionnaires and interview guide. The study adopted content validity where experts‟ opinion was sought to validate the contents of the questionnaire. The study adopted internal consistency reliability which was tested using Cronbach‟s alpha co-efficient. Data that was collected in the study was analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and content analysis. Findings revealed that government scholarships had a positive and significant effect on completion rate ((β=0.778, p<0.05), government funding in tuition provision had a positive and significant effect on completion rate ((β=0.248, p<0.05) and government funding in tuition provision had a positive and significant effect on completion rate ((β=0.248, p<0.05). The study concluded that government scholarships, government funding in tuition provision and government funding in providing infrastructure enhance students‟ completion rate in public secondary schools in Chesumei sub county. The study recommends that government scholarships should continue being provided to students to enhance students‟ completion rate in public secondary schools. Government funds in tuition provision should cater for all teaching needs of students. No parent should be asked to contribute towards classroom construction in the schools. The study recommends that a future study should be conducted on other determinants of students‟ completion rate in mixed day public secondary schools in Chesumei Sub County, Nandi County, Kenya besides government funding.