Influence of Learner Capitation Grants on Retention Rates of Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Kenya A Case Study of Suba West and Mbita Sub-Counties

Abstract

Primary education is the foundation for secondary and tertiary education. Quality of education is critical to socio-economic growth and productivity of a country. Countries all over the world have invested heavily in Education. The Kenyan government through its commitment in education introduced Free Primary Education in the year 2003 to help provide quality, relevant, accessible and inclusive education for all children of school going age with an aim of improving retention rates, completion rates and pupil academic performance in schools. Despite the heavy investment, completion rates, retention rates and pupil’s academic performance in schools was still a challenge. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of capitation grant on retention rates of Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Suba West and Mbita Sub-Counties. The study was guided by the Resource Dependency Theory by Salancik (1978) which postulate that human organizations are not self-sufficient and must acquire essential resources from external bodies to achieve the set objectives. In this case, the resource is learner capitation grant; and liberal Classical theory of equal opportunity by Rousseau which postulates that the natural statesmen are born equal and personal qualities should not jeopardize social equality so long as society rewards people according to their status. The study established that government capitation grant had high influence on retention rates of pupils in the school with overall mean rating of 4.00 and accounted for 13.5% of retention rates with an adjusted R square coefficient 0.135. The study recommended that learner capitation grants should be increased to enhance retention rates further. The Findings of this study are useful to stakeholders in education for policy formulation with regards to retention rates.