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Influence of Peer Pressure on Secondary School Students Drop out in Rongo Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to establish the influence of peer pressure on secondary school students’ drop out in Rongo Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya. The statement of the problem showed that the sub-county had a dropout rate of 43 percent as compared to the neighboring sub counties like Uriri, Awendo, Nyatike, Kuria and Migori which had 25, 9, 27, 23 and 28 percent respectively despite the similar government’s strategies availed to all the public secondary schools and the coverage of the same syllabus throughout the country. The study involved forms 3 and 4 students as they have been in school long enough to understand the schooling process.
The descriptive design which involved qualitative strategies to data collection was employed. 755 students, teachers and head teachers were targeted for the study. A sample of 235 respondents was identified as follows, 200 students, 20 principals and 15 class teachers. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used for various respondents. Data collection was done using questionnaires and interview schedules as the main research instruments. The data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages presented in tables and discussed. A cross sectional research design was used the findings revealed that peer pressure influenced student drop out was at 43.75%. High dropout was as a result of parent/ guardian financial status and family headship which lead to inadequate guidance/ mentorship to the students. The study concluded that in most cases where students are most often sent home there are high chances that some never returned to school and most schools did not support the learners who were coming from poor background. It can therefore be concluded that socio-economic factors highly influence the retention of students in secondary school. Recommendations called for the collaborative efforts by the government and other education stakeholders to support and provide for the learners who cannot afford the rising financial challenges of learning. Guidance and counseling, close interactions with the teachers
by the students, proper syllabus content delivery are other measures to be upheld. The government should employ more teachers to help curb the discrepancies of teacher students’ ratio. The research considered confidentiality and avoided plagiarism of any kind
Community Media 4 Kenya: a partnership approach to building collective intelligence
Get PDFCollective intelligence for the common good is considered here in terms of its contribution to social
transformation at the micro level of community. A critical evaluation of the knowledge limitations of research programmes currently focussing on collective intelligence is presented before the case is made to widen collective intelligence research efforts and understanding. The application of a ‘common good’ focus to collective intelligence research and practice provides a contextualising
space for community practice in the digital age to be considered through a philosophy of community technologies. Community media is presented as providing tools, spaces and processes for such critical considerations to be made. Community learning and community-based learning
theories are discussed and drawn together to illustrate how community–university partnerships can be developed to facilitate and promote collective intelligence for the common good. The paper concludes with an introductory discussion of the Community Media 4 Kenya (CM4K)
community–university partnership as an exemplar of collective intelligence for the common good
Influence Of Principals’ Autocratic Leadership Style On Students’academic Achievement In Kenya Certificate Of Public Secondary Education Examinations In Awendo Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya
Get PDFOrdinarily, every educational institutional leaders, especially the principals are called upon to exercise strong instructional leadership in their schools. They are faced with the task of increasing student achievement while maintaining order through acceptable student behaviour which may require changing school performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of principals’ autocratic leadership styles on students’ academic achievement in KCSE in Awendo Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya. This study was anchored on the contingency theory of leadership suitable for assessing the leader according to underlying traits; situations faced by the leader and construct a proper match between the two. This model was used to determine principals’ styles effectiveness in schools. The study was conducted using a descriptive survey research design. The population for this study consisted of 42 principals and 547 teachers, in public secondary schools in Awendo Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya. The researcher used purposive sampling technique to get 42 principals and 5 Zonal Quality Assurance and Standard Officers (ZQASOs) because they are the only ones who existed in the study area. The target population of teachers was 547 and 30 percent of this was 164 teachers sampled. Questionnaires were used as the tools for collecting the data from both the teachers and principals. The researcher used the test retest method to enhance instrument reliability which yielded .078. The results of data analysis were presented in mainly tables, and pie-charts. The study found out that 69.9 percent often drive hard when there is a job to be done and easily get recognized as the leader of the group. Another 83.3 percent often act without consultations. The study recommended that Principals need to involve all stakeholders in decision making and running of the schools. The researchers endeavored to adhere to all ethical requirements including plagiarism and confidentiality among others.
Keywords: Kenya, principals, autocratic, leadership, styles, students, achievement
Efficacy of nutrition counselling on energy and micronutrient intake of pregnant women in Migori County, Kenya
Get PDFA large number of pregnant women in many parts of the world enter pregnancy at sub-optimal weight. More than 60% of Kenyan population suffers from food insecurity. The result is malnutrition which primarily affects pregnant women and children and significantly contributes to their morbidity and mortality. Maternal nutrition is critical for both mother and child as it lays fundamental foundation for the successful outcome of pregnancy. This study sought to assess changes in energy and selected micronutrient intakes after nutrition counselling among pregnant women in
Migori County. A Prospective Cohort study design was used and simple random sampling was used to recruit a sample of 150 pregnant women who were enrolled into a nutrition counselling programme. Data was collected by 24 hour recall and food frequency and analyzed by Nutri-Survey computer package and SPSS Analysis Software. Relationships between variables were tested by t-tests. Generally, there was improved dietary intake of all nutrients after counselling
although some did not meet the RDA even after counselling. 4.4% and 20.9% of the women had intakes above RDA for energy, at baseline and after counselling respectively, 62.5% and 84.3% had intakes above RDA for protein at baseline and after counselling respectively. Carbohydrate intake had 93.9% within or above RDA at baseline while all met the RDA after counselling. 61.2% and 77.4% were able to meet the RDA for vitamin A at baseline and after counselling respectively. Only 13.5% met the RDA for folic acid and iron each at baseline but after counselling all had intakes below RDA. The finding is important to central and local governments, civil society, intergovernmental agencies, research groups, business enterprises and community under study. The study fills the knowledge gap and therefore contributes to the advancement of knowledge
Impact of Principals’ Recognition on Retention of Secondary School Teachers’ in Homa Bay County of Kenya
Get PDFThe present study investigated the impact of principals’ recognition on retention of secondary school teachers’ in Homa Bay County of Kenya.The study adopted an ex-post facto research design.For a population of one thousand eight hundred and one (1801) teachers, according to the table, three hundred and twenty (320) teachers were recommended to be appropriate and for a population of 295 principals, one hundred and sixty-nine (169) were appropriate.The researcher interviewed eighteen (18) principals picked from the six sub-counties including the two purposefully picked national schools in Homa Bay County. This study used questionnaires and interview schedule as the instrument of data collection. The researcher developed questionnaires and interview schedule to collect the data. Two sets of questionnaires were used; one for the school principals and another for the teachers.To enhance validity of the instrument, a pilot study was conducted in twenty selected schools in the neighboring Migori County. This involved the ten principals and two teachers from each school.In this study, internal consistency reliability of
the instruments was obtained by computing Cronbach’s alpha (α) using SPSS and a Cronbach’s alpha of α = .793 was reported. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. The study reported that there was a significant plausible positive correlation between the two variables [r = .604, n = 422, p<.05], with more teacher recognition by the principal associated with high teacher retention rate. The study recommended that the School principals should avoid the use of autocratic style of leadership in the management of schools as it does not allow teachers to give off their best and discourages teachers from working with principals who displays this kind of
leadership behavior
Carpet characteristics of eichhornia crassipes [mart.] solms (water hyacinth) in the Winam gulf (lake victoria, Kenya)
Get PDFThe occurrence and spread of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms), in the Winam gulf has created numerous attributes to the human population that live around the lake, thereby making its control a priority. Navigation within the lake is a major economic activity that has been greatly affected. Before this study, little was known about the characteristics of these weed carpets, and specifically the weight that a healthy inter-connected or entangled carpet can support before it was able to sink or even get submerged. Can a light herbivore or human stranded in the lake walk on a healthy carpet to safety?. In order to better understand these unknown, a study was
initiated at five locations (i.e; Dunga beach, Kisumu pier, Kusa, Kobala and Kendu bay) within the lake that appeared to contain healthy dense carpets. Carpet connectivity, mat buoyancy, distribution of mass, biomass density, rhizome length and population density were calculated. Carpet connectivity was determined as the difference in pressure when weights were added on a mesh wire measuring 0.434m2 until the carpet submerged and the pressure on the same carpet that was required to submerge it after a complete disconnection. Standing population density was determined by counting the number of plants found within quadrants measuring 1 m2; while biomass density was determined when oven dried plant materials collected from quadrants measuring 1 m2 was weighed. Plant mass and rhizome length measurements were correlated, while population density was correlated to biomass density. These observations show that
water hyacinth distribution in the Winam gulf is seasonal and adopts residence in secluded bays, carpets measuring 0,434m2 in size that have a connectivity of 288.4 Pa (pascals) are able to support a weight of only 12.6 kg, with any additional weight causing them to submerge. Distribution of mass was normal except in locations that are subjected to external factors
Care Giver’s Knowledge: A Stimulus for Advocated Alternative Family Care for Children in Kenya
Get PDFPublic campaigns augment caregiver’s knowledge base on advocated alternative family care arrangement for children. Awareness campaigns through public barazas and community dialogues complement milestones in implementing government social policies in child protection. Pointers on caregiver’s knowledge of alternative family care however expose a dreary stimulus to the practice of the advocated care arrangements among care givers. This paper examined care giver’s
knowledge as stimulus for advocated alternative family care for children practice in Migori County, Kenya. Specifically the paper examined care givers knowledge and perception of advocated alternative family care arrangements in Kenya. The study was guided by the social theory of action systems by Talcott Parsons and theory of structuration by Antony Giddens
premised on the fact that actions of individuals regulate social order. Descriptive cross sectional survey design was used and data collection involved mixed methods, where both quantitative and qualitative data were collected by use of semi structured questionnaires from a sample size of 399 and guiding questions for focus groups. Data from quantitative methods were analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics with the aid of (SPSS) version 23 and, both correlation statistics and mean were used to organize and summarize the data for meaningful interpretations. Analysis of qualitative data adopted methodologies that drew from both a framework analysis and content analysis. The paper revealed that care givers were knowledgeable of the advocated alternative family care arrangements with 58% of the respondents pointing that they were
best for child protection but pointed to the complications 11% and non practicability 8% in acquisition and use. Computation of the Karl Pearson correlation coefficient statistics revealed a moderate negative correlation of sociodemographic characteristics on knowledge of alternative family care at -0.568. The paper recommends that the Government of Kenya formalize all alternative family care arrangements for enhanced child protection intervention
Influence of School Environmental Characteristics on Retention of Secondary School Teachers in Homa Bay County, Kenya
Get PDFThe present study investigated the influence of school environmental characteristics on retention of secondary schoolteachers in Homa Bay County of Kenya.The study adopted an ex-post facto research design.For a population of one thousand eight hundred and one (1801) teachers, according to Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table of specification, three hundred and twenty (320) teachers were recommended to be appropriate and for a population of 295 principals, one hundred and sixty-nine (169) were appropriate.This study used questionnaires as the instrument
of data collection. Two sets of questionnaires were used; one for the school principals and another for the teachers.To enhance validity of the instrument, a pilot study was conducted in twenty selected schools in the neighboring Migori County. This involved the ten principals and two teachers from each school.In this study, internal consistency reliability of the instruments was obtained by computing Cronbach’s alpha (α) using SPSS and a Cronbach’s Alpha of α= .705 was reported.Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. The findings indicated that there was a significant fairly moderate, positive correlation between the two variables [r = .463, n=422, p<.05], with high levels of conducive school environment associated with high teacher retention
rate.The study recommends that the Teachers Service Commission should develop a strict policy governing teachers transfers that incorporates a term limit of 5-6 year
Effect of Investors and Local Communities Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes on Performance of Style Industries Limited in Nairobi County
Get PDFCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is about how a business entity gives back to its stakeholders in a sustainable and acceptable manner. It is therefore imperative that businesses run their operations within the precepts of the law of the land in which they operate and other regulations prescribed by authorities like business associations and government agencies. However, Darling Kenya limited have not fully implemented the CSR operations. There is need to quantify the exact benefits that accrue from every CSR activity in order to justify the performance of style industries limited in Nairobi, Kenya. The study focused on the effect of investors and local communities corporate social responsibility on the performance of style industries limited in Nairobi, Kenya. The target population for the study was 540 employees of the style industries in all the four areas of Mwingi, Rongo, Muranga and Nairobi. The sample size selected was 162 employees. Questionnaires were used to collect data that was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A multiple linear regression analysis model was used to test the relationship between the investors and local communities CSR Programmes and performance. The study found that Investors CSR and Local Communities CSR had a significant and positive relationship with Performance of manufacturing companies in Nairobi. The study recommended that industries
should cultivate investors and local communities CSR for performance improvement
Identification of Main Verbal Indicators of Mental Status of University Students’ at Onset of Unrest.
Get PDFMany factors which includes biological or environmental, influence variation in the mental status of an individual if he/she is exposed to them. Negative factors are the root cause of mental status at the onset of unrest and this can have specific manifestations. During social unrest, people’s entire way of life is torn apart. These problems may exhibit themselves verbally since the body’s verbal dispensation is a reliable sign of internal state of affairs. Several research findings show that University students’ unrest is a common phenomenon all over the world and that most
Universities are focused on the aftermath of students’ unrest. However, studies have not been done on identifying verbal indicators of mental status of University students’ at the onset of students’ unrest and then implementing appropriate preventive measures to forestall University students’ unrest. The objective of the study was to identify the main verbal indicators of mental status of University students’ at onset of unrest. It was a survey research design which used mixed research method approaches. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. The research
population included Security officers, secretaries, of selected public Universities in Kenya. Simple random sampling was used which gave a total sample size of 145 which was obtained from a target population of 177. The quantitative data collected was analyzed using SPSS programme into frequency counts, percentages, means and independent ttest analysis. From the findings, the main verbal indicators of mental status of University students’ at the onset of unrest were identified as:the use of the word ‘comrade’ in speech being the most common, followed by a ‘threatful
speech’, the use of the word ‘power’ in speech, increased talkativeness in speech, loud speech tone, very fast speechrate and hurtful speech, in that order