Influence of Culture on Girl Child Education in Central Pokot Sub County, Kenya
Abstract
Cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, early child marriages and patriarchy have been on the rise in West Pokot despite interventions by government and non-state actors over the years. These outdated cultural practices have hindered the progress of girls academically. It is vital to educate the girl-child in society. However, teenage pregnancy gets girls at the wrong time when they are still in schools and this affects their education very much and eventually ends up ruining their future. This paper looks at how various cultural practices have affected girl child education in West Pokot County, Kenya. The study was conducted in Central Pokot Sub County primary schools targeting 12 headteachers and 120 teachers. The respondents were selected through purposive and simple random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. Data collected were analysed using percentages and frequencies. The results of the study showed that the status of girl-child education was low. Cultural factors like; early marriages, female genital mutilation, child labour, widowhood practices and taboos influenced girl-child education. The study found out those cultural factors in the study area affected girl-child education negatively as it slowed down their transition, academic performance and also the acquisition of knowledge required at the basic education level. The study recommends that the government should take legal action against parents who take their girl-children for FGM and early marriages; there is a need for awareness on the importance of girl child education, provision of scholarships for girls at basic and tertiary level and introduction of guidance and counselling sessions in schools.
Downloads
References
ActionAid International Kenya. (2018). Tackling Barriers to Girls Education in Kenya: Analysis of Violence against Girls’ in Education. Nairobi: ActionAid International Kenya
Andiema, N. C. & Kitainge, K. (2016). Application of child-centred approaches on teaching and learning of Mathematics activities in public ECDE centres in West Pokot County, Kenya. IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSR-JRME), 6(3), 26 – 32.
Andiema, N. C. (2020). Child-centred methods used in teaching and learning of psychomotor and creative activities in public pre-primary centres in West Pokot County, Kenya. European Journal of Education Studies, 7(4), 54-68.
Atieno, M. A., Role, E., & Ndiku, L. M. (2013). Girl Child Dropout: Experiential Teacher and Student Perceptions. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 3(5), 124-131.
Boosey, R., Prestwich, G. & Deave, T. (2014). Menstrual hygiene management amongst schoolgirls in the Rukungiri district of Uganda and the impact on their education: a cross-sectional study. Pan African Medical Journal, 19, 253.
Chebitwey, D. H. (2013). Participation in primary education curriculum in north Pokot District, West Pokot County. Master’s Thesis, University of Nairobi.
Chege, F., & Sifuna, D. N. (2006). Girls’ and women’s education in Kenya. Nairobi: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
Chepleting, S., Chepkemei, A. Yano, K. L. & Chebet, L.L. (2013). Factors influencing Girls’ Participation in Free Primary Education: A Survey of Schools in Kapenguria Division-West Pokot District-Kenya. International Journal of Business and Commerce, 2(6), 20-35.
County Government of West Pokot (2018). West Pokot county integrated development plan (2018-2022). Kapenguria: County Government of West Pokot
Jackson, C. & Pearson R. (eds.) (2002). Feminist visions of development: Gender analysis and policy. London Routledge.
Krop, A. L. (2013). Parents Balancing Between Insecurity and Schooling Needs of Children with Disabilities in Pokot North District, West Pokot County, Kenya. Master’s Thesis, Kenyatta University.
Krop, L. O. A. (2017). Influence of Institutional Factors on Girls’ Completion Rates in Primary Education in Central Pokot Sub County, Kenya. MED Project, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Mabeya, T. M., Gikuhi, M. & Anyona, J. N. (2019). Effect of teacher attrition on academic performance of students in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Journal of Education and Research, 4(8), 1 – 13.
Maichuhie, K. (2020). West Pokot records dramatic rise in FGM cases. Retrieved from https://nation.africa/kenya/gender/west-pokot-records-dramatic-rise-in-fgm-cases--653240
Mohamed, A. M., Mberia, H. K., & Muturi, W. (2017). Influence of socio-cultural practices on girl child participation in secondary schools in Garowe, Puntland. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), 22(5), 78-85.
Mwakio, N. (2017). Overcoming Obstacles to Educational Access for Kenyan Girls: A Qualitative Study. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 18(2), 260-274.
Mwanahamisi, G. K. (2014). Challenges facing the education of the girl child in Kenya: A case study on experiences and views of girls in Galole Constituency of Tana River County, Kenya. Master’s Thesis. University of Nairobi.
Ochieng, A. G. M. (2015). Factors Influencing Retention Rate of Girls in Secondary Schools in Ndhiwa Sub-county, Homa-bay County, Kenya. Master of Education Project, Kenyatta University.
Ouma, O. G. (2013). Factors affecting participation of the girl–child in secondary school education in Migori District, Migori County, Kenya. Master’s Thesis, University of Nairobi,).
Ragnarsdottir, K. R. (2016). Empowering Pokot Girls for Their Future Context and Content of Icelandic Support to Propoi Girls Secondary School in North Western Kenya. MA in Development Studies, University of Iceland.
Raymond, A. (2014). Girls’ Education in Pastoral Communities: An Ethnographic Study of Monduli District, Tanzania. Research Report. London: CfBT Education Trust.
Rotich, S. K., Kipkirui, J. R. & Mutisya, S. M. (2014). University Education of the Maasai Girls in Kenya at Crossroad: A Viewpoint of the Role of local leaders and Socio-Cultural factors. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention, 1(1), 51-61.
UN. (2007). The Millennium Development Goals Report. New York, NY: United nations. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/mdg2007.pdf
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). (2010). Global education digest 2010: Comparing education statistics across the world. Montreal, Canada: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
UNESCO, (2009). Women’s Education: Girls’ and Women Education. http://unesdoc.unesco.org
UNESCO. (2012). World Atlas of Gender Equality of Education. Paris, France: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
UNESCO. (2015). Education for all 2000-2015: Achievements and challenges. EFA global monitoring report, 2015. France: United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved on January 21 http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002322/232205e.pdf
UNICEF (2014). The state of the world’s children. Girls’ education and development 434-35. Paris: UNICEF
UNICEF. (2005). Scaling up good practices in girls’ education. Paris: UNICEF.
UNICEF. (2010). Early marriage. A harmful traditional practice; a statistical exploration. New York, NY: UNICEF.
Waswa, A. W. (2015). Factors affecting girl-child progression rates in primary schools in ASAL areas: A survey of West Pokot Sub County in West Pokot County, Kenya. M.Phil Thesis, Moi University.
Copyright (c) 2021 Nelly C Andiema, PhD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.