A. Gathua Kanyi

School Drop-out and Retention Rates, Kenya: a Study on Boys Drop-out Rates in Secondary Schools, Njiiri District, Kenya A. Gathua Kanyi

Students are important in any education system. They are the basic component for any school to be registered by the Ministry of Education. However the retention of these students within the education system is a great challenge. Male students face a lot of challenges within the school and outside the school such as lack of school fees, examination pass marks and discrimination at home and in school, which lead to drop out from school. The study therefore sought to establish the factors leading to drop out among male students in Mihang?o division, Njiru District. The objectives of the study were to estimate the independent and dependent factors leading to students drop out of school. Stratified random sampling was used to select the 6 schools where the boys sample came from. The reasons for being absent from school was as follows; school fees 40%, sickness 20%, helping at home 20%, caring for sick relatives 10% and engaging in casual work 5%. The study recommends enhancing of guidance and counseling in schools, provision of bursaries to boys and community sensitization on the importance of boy child education