An investigation on the high dropout rate in public Secondary schools. A case study of Masinga Sub-County, Machakos County

The purpose of this study was to investigate on high dropout rate among learners in public secondary schools in Masinga sub-county, Machakos County. The study found out that, lack of employment, high cost of educating children and negative attitude towards education can lead to high dropout rate. It also found out that there is high prevalence of dropout rate which can negatively impact on academic achievement of learners in secondary schools. The researcher established the causes of high dropout rate, identified effects of high dropout rate in academic performance and established the intervention measures to curb school dropout rate among learners in secondary schools in Masinga sub-county, Machakos County. The study presented review of related literature and focused on the following sub-topics; poverty, diseases (HIV/AIDs), rural urban migration divorce and separation. The study targeted 10 public secondary schools in Masinga sub-county, Machakos County. A sample of 10 principals, 40 teachers and 80 students was obtained through questionnaires and random sampling method. The study was able to review causes of high dropout rate in Masinga sub-county, Machakos County. The study found out that; 50 learners were from poor background, 4 were sufferring from diseases (HIV/AIDS), 6 had migrated from rural areas to urban and 20 from single parents. These short comings were attributed to the cost of obtaining fees. Some teachers had negative attitude towards these learners who try to drop out of school and this made these learners to feel uncomfortable in school hence leading to school dropout. Few teachers had masters in education, thus the majority lacked professional techniques of handling such learners in an inclusive setting. For intervention, it was revealed that no early intervention was done so as to help in preventing the further damage and proper placement of these learners who try to drop out of school. The study therefore recommended that: Parents and guardians of learners who dropout of school especially the learners living with diseases should be enlightened on the availability of services and proper care in handling them. The government should step in and provide the necessary requirement to learners who drop out of school especially those learners who are from poor background by funding them through bursary to pay their school fees. Teachers and the related education officers should change their negative attitudes towards these learners, to enable these learners feel free and comfortable in school, so as to achieve their future goals just like other learners. School should set Guidance and counseling programs in order to help in reducing the high drop-out rate among learners in public secondary schools. The government through the ministry of education should provide proper policy guiding the teaching of learners including those who dropout or try to drop out of school. Other learners should be trained on how to assist the learners who try to dropout out of school by encouraging them especially ones who suffer from diseases (HIV/AIDS) and assist ones who come from poor background. Also they should be taught how to develop a positive attitude towards these learners. The general physical, social and learning environment should be adapted to suit the need of individual learner