EFFECTS OF PARENT’S FINANCIAL STATUS ON STUDENTS’ DROP OUT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RONGO SUB-COUNTY, MIGORI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of parent’s financial status on public secondary school

students’ dropout in Rongo sub-county, in Migori County, Kenya. Descriptive survey was employed as

the research design. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used to identify

various respondents fit for the study. With a population of 636 students, 50 class teachers and 20

principals, a sample size of 235 respondents was arrived at as follows: 30% of the total number of

students and 30% class teachers were calculated, 200 students and 15 class teachers were sampled

through random sampling, and then the 20 principals were sampled through purposive sampling.

Geographical position and the nature of the schools were also considered. Data was collected using

questionnaires and interview guide through qualitative strategies. Validity was administered by the

supervisors and experts in Department after carrying out a pilot survey and reliability was determined

through test retest technique, Pearson Product Moment formula was used to calculate the correlation of

the research instruments. Data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages presented on tables then

discussed. The study established that learners from families in low financial strata ended up dropping

out of school as they are not able to pay all the school levies with a percentage rate of 81.25%.

The findings of the study may be of help to the government and other sponsors who will prioritize

the neediest learners to be sponsored in secondary education.