SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES AND LEARNERS’ ENROLMENT RATES IN HOME SCIENCE EDUCATION: CASE OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN POKOT CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Home Science education is an interdisciplinary field of study which applies science and arts towards achieving better, healthier and happy homes. This study sought to establish the extent to which socio-cultural practices affect learners’ enrolment rates in home science education using a case of public secondary schools in Pokot Central Sub-County. Specifically, the study assessed the extent to which gender roles affect learners’ enrolment rates in Home Science education in public secondary schools of Pokot Central Sub-County. The researcher utilized socio-cultural theories which suggest that social norms and interactions of people living in a given area affect those peoples’ individual behavior and choices. The study adopted descriptive survey design which was used to answer the research questions. The target population for this study comprised of 5079 respondents consisting of 24 public secondary schools, 1 Sub-County Director of Education, 72 local leaders and 4,982 secondary school learners. Stratified, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used in the selection of the respondents. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data from teachers and learners, focused group discussions for local administrators and document analysis for enrolment rates in 24 secondary schools. The researcher used interview schedule for Pokot Central Sub- Director of Education. The collected data was analysed using SPSS computer program version 22 and presented as frequency. The study revealed that gender roles are a major contributor to low enrolment rates in home science in public secondary schools in Pokot Central. The researcher recommended that concerted efforts by local leaders, Ministry of Education, parents and other stakeholders of education should make efforts to stamp out retrogressive socio-cultural practices to boost enrolments in not only home science but also other subjects in schools. The results of this study should be beneficial to education policy formulators, managers and planners in coming up with policies and management strategies that can boost enrolment rates in Home Science.