Influence of sponsorship on completion of post primary education among orphans and vulnerable children: a case of Ngaremara location in Isiolo county, Kenya.

Abstract

Attention is increasingly turned to post primary education in the Millennium Development Goals and education for all. The transition to secondary education and colleges is one of the main challenges for primary school leavers especially among OVCs. Therefore, this research was aimed at determining the influence of sponsorship on completion of post primary education among OVCs, a case of Ngaremara location in Isiolo County, Kenya. This research was guided by the following objectives: To assess the influence of accessibility of sponsorship; To determine the influence of adequacy of sponsorship; To determine the influence of consistency of sponsorship to completion of post primary education. This research was guided by the theory of justice and fairness as propounded by John Rawls. This theory emphasis that every citizen should be given through education an opportunity to exercise freedom and improve their social status. By making post primary education available to OVCs from under privileged social status, it is hoped that one removes the handicap that are inherited in being born poor on the level of education policy. This research adopted descriptive and correlation research design with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Questionnaires and scheduled interviews were administered in data collection from the respondents. The researcher used strata sampling procedure in sampling the target population since the target population was not homogenous Purposive sampling was used in selection of Ngaremara teachers to obtain in depth information, simple random sampling was used to sample OVCs in post primary education and OVCs caregivers/guardians. Convenient sampling technique was used to sample OVCs out of school. The research administered questionnaire to 92 caregivers, 92 OVCs in post primary schools and 24 teachers both in secondary school and vocational college. The research administered interview schedule to 28 OVCs out of school. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics; frequency tables and percentage table. Statistical package of Social Sciences and MS- Excel software aided in analysing quantities data for the research. The target population for this study was 295 out which 208 was sampled (92 caregivers,92 OVCs in post primary school and 24 teachers). The questionnaire return rate was 94.7%. Spearman‟s correlation was used to measure statistical dependence between variables for each objective. Spearman coefficient correlation showed strong positive correlation on accessibility of sponsorship (0.556) and adequacy of sponsorship (0.568) on completion of post primary education. Spearman coefficient correlation showed weak positive correlation on consistency of sponsorship (0.399) and family socio-economic status (0.312) on completion of post primary education among OVCs. According to this study finding it is evidenced that OVCs in post primary education have not been adequately and consistently funded. It was also a clear indication that OVCs from low income families are likely to face a lot of challenges in completion of post primary education due to lack of school fees payment. The researcher came up with various recommendation one of which is that affirmative action is required in allocation of adequate funds for OVCs in post primary education especially among the unprivileged societies. Therefore this study brought into limelight the need to adequately and consistently fund OVCs in post primary education to help them become productive and self-reliable citizens in future. Consequently, a research could be carried out on sustainability and rate of transition of OVCs in post primary education.