Enhancing Completion Rates in Public Day Secondary Schools in Kenya; the Role of Government Bursary Subsidy

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of Government Bursaries on completion rates in public day secondary schools in Kitui County, Kenya. The journal is based on findings of a study conducted in 2017. The objectives of the study were; to investigate the influence of government bursaries on retention rates in day secondary schools in Kitui County; to assess the influence of government bursaries on dropout rates in day secondary schools in Kitui County; to assess the role government bursaries on retention rates in day secondary schools in ASAL areas of Kitui County; to assess the relationship between government bursaries and completion rates in day secondary schools in Kitui County. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The study sample was 119 principals of public day secondary schools in Kitui County, 16 treasurers of Constituency Bursary Fund and one County Director of Education. Data was collected using a questionnaire, interview schedules and document review guide. Validity of the research instruments was ascertained through piloting and expert judgement. A test-re-test technique was used to assess reliability of the research instruments. The scores were correlated to get the co-efficient of stability using Spearman’s coefficient of correlation and an instrument reliability value of 0.823 was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyse data using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Chi-square (χ²) was used to analyse hypothesis. The study found that government bursaries given to day secondary schools were not adequate to finance education expenses of the learner; the study further found that government bursaries increase retention rates in day public secondary schools; The study also found that government bursaries ensures learners in public day secondary schools in ASALs benefit from education. The study recommended that government should allocate more funds for bursaries in public day secondary schools. The study concluded that there is no consistency in disbursement of government bursaries in public day secondary schools.