TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ........................................................................................................ 1
APPROVAL .............................................................................................................. ii
DEDICATION ........................................................................................................ Ill
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................ iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................... V
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................... ix
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................. X
CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................ I
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... I
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ..................................................................... 1
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .................................................................... 3
1.3. I PURPOSE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................ 4
1.3.2. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ................................................................................ 4
1.3.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................... 4
l.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ..................................................................... 4
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY .................................................................................... 5
CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................... 6
LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................... 6
2.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 6
2.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION ................................... 6
2.2 QUALITY OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION ................................................. 9
2.3 OUTCOMES OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION ........................................... 11
V
2.3.1 CHALLENGES FACING FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION PROGRAM ....... 13
CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................. 15
METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................. 15
3.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 15
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN ....................................................................................... 15
3.2 POPULATION OF THE STUDY ...................................................................... 15
3.3 STUDY SAMPLE ............................................................................................. 15
3.4 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS .......................................................................... 15
3.5 RESEARCH PROCEDURE .............................................................................. 16
3.6 DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ................................................. 16
3.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ..................................................................... 16
CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................... 17
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION, AND ANALYSIS ................. 17
4.1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................... 17
4.1.1 Data analysis and processing ........................................................................... 17
4. 1.2 Teachers .......................................................................................................... 18
4.1.3 STAFF EXPERIENCE ................................................................................... 19
4.2.0 PUPILS ........................................................................................................... 20
4. 2.1 CATEGORY .................................................................................................. 20
4.2.3 GENDER ........................................................................................................ 20
4.2.4 AGE OF RESPONDENTS .............................................................................. 21
4.2 RESPONSES TO WHETHER FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION EFFECTIVE .. 21
Vl
4.3 RESPONSE ON WHETHER PUPILS APPRECIATE FREE PRIMARY
EDUCATION .......................................................................................................... 22
4.4 RESPONSE ON WHETHER MORE BOYS ARE ENROLLING TO SCHOOL
THAN GIRLS ......................................................................................................... 22
4.5 RESPONSE ON WHETHER TUITION FEES ARE A HINDRANCE TO
PUPIL'S ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL. ................................................................. 23
4.2 RESPONSES TO WHETHER PUPILS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE
QUALITY OF EDUCATION UNDER FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION ............... 24
4.3 RESPONSE ON WHETHER THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS DOING
ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION ON QUALITY EDUCATION ....... 25
CHAPTER FIVE ..................................................................................................... 27
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................... 27
5.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 27
5.1 DISCUSSION .................................................................................................... 27
5.2 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................... 29
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 30
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 32
APPENDICES ......................................................................................................... 34
APPENDIX I ........................................................................................................... 34
LEARNERS' INTERVIEW GUIDE: ....................................................................... 34
DEAR RESPONDENT, ........................................................................................... 34
PUPILS' QUESTIONNAIRE .................................................................................. 34
ABSTRACT This research study was intended to determine the effectiveness of free primary education in Kenya with Gatanga zone, Thika district serving as an illustrative example. In the gathering of secondary source information, all other scholars' works viewed relevant to the study were utilized. The study employed a descriptive design since much of this study was qualitative in nature. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data from the respondents. It was revealed from the findings of the study that although free education policy has enabled pupils who would have not otherwise joined school, a perceptible influx of pupils was noted on its introduction. The increased enrolment of new pupils has therefore brought with it challenges. Recommendations were made and these called for government intervention by endeavoring to give free and quality education that serves the needs of the citizenry through Ensuring that funds released for the free primary programme are well managed - which needs to continuously audit the financial reports even if it calls for employment of independent auditors, Increased to cater for emerging financial quagmires like the global credit crunch. In this regard, a trust fund should be established to cushion the program against hard financial times as this will ensure that the programme is sustainable.