Factors influencing implementation of free day secondary education program in Chepalungu sub county, Bomet County, Kenya

Abstract

Globally, education is regarded as a basic human right with everybody expected to have access. It should be cost free in elementary and fundamental stages. Kenya supports international advocacy for universal education for all school going children. In this Republic, there are 8592 public secondary schools ascribing to subsidized free day secondary education (FDSE) program. This program was put in place in the year 2010 to improve access to schools by children from poor backgrounds. The government put in place support for the post primary education program by providing funds for infrastructure, tuition materials and employment of support staff. Despite the huge financial support given to day schools through FDSE program, result analysis in KCSE show poor performance. This study therefore sought to establish the reason behind the poor performance in the day schools despite the heavy financial support given. The main objective of this study was to determine factors influencing effective implementation of Free Day Secondary Education Program (FDSE) in Chepalungu sub County; Bomet County. The specific objectives of the study were to: determine the influence of learning resources on implementation of FDSE; establish the effect of monitoring strategies on implementation of FDSE; evaluate human resource capacity on implementation of FDSE; determine the effect of funds on implementation of FDSE in Chepalungu Sub County. The population of day schools in the study area were 54. A cross sectional survey design was employed by the study whereby 48 day secondary schools were sampled by stratified random sampling. Questionnaires were administered to the principals, Education officers and KUPPET officials were identified as key informants and were interviewed through guided interview questions. Observation schedules were also employed in which actual visits to the sampled schools were made. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data was presented by using frequency tables, bar graphs, pie charts. Out of the study it was found that: learning resources in day schools were inadequate and students were learning in congested environments; the monitoring strategies in place in day schools were not structured and well designed; human resource capacity was not sufficient and skills were not continuously supported; funds provided for use in implementation of FDSE had more challenges which included inadequacy; delays in remission; insufficiency in supporting the much programs within the schools that promotes better performance. government should release the funds in time to enable execution of school financial plan; Human resource in day schools was found to be inadequate and therefore concluded that for better and effective implementation of FDSE the staff should be increased; education monitoring personnel be increased and these personnel be devolved to ward levels for ease in discharging the function.