EVALUATION OF COUNTY SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN ENHANCING ACCESS AND RETENTION OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN VIHIGA COUNTY, KENYA
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Date
2024-09
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Publisher
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN AFRICA
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the County Scholarship Fund's effectiveness in improving students' access and retention in public secondary schools in Vihiga County, Kenya. The research focused on scholarship fund application and vetting process on student access and retention, the influence of scholarship fund allocation and disbursement on student access and retention, the contribution of education scholarship funds, the challenges faced by scholarship funds and
strategies to enhance the current scholarship fund's impact on student access and retention. The study used a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and included county fund managers, ward administrators, county director of education, principals, bursars, and class instructors as target audiences. Data was collected using a questionnaire and interview guide, and Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate questionnaire
reliability. The study also employed descriptive and inferential techniques to analyze the data. Additionally, it employed qualitative techniques to distill the data into themes, present it in a narrative format, and incorporate snippets of raw data. The study adhered to ethical considerations to prevent plagiarism, duly acknowledged all sources and information cited, and maintained a high level of integrity in the study. The study's findings revealed that the R2 value
for teachers was 0.581, while the R-value was 0.762. According to the R-squared value of 0.581, the screening procedure can account for approximately 58.1% of the variability in equitable student access and retention rates. The R2 values for principals are 0.739 and 0.860. Cash allocated and disbursed, as indicated by the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.739, accounts for 73.9% of the variability in student equity access and retention rates. The scholarship fund
has enhanced student enrolment and bolstered retention rates in secondary schools. Nevertheless, there were deficiencies in the vetting procedure and insufficient finances to adequately support the recipients. Consequently, it is imperative to have efficient communication, openness, and accountability in the administration of funds. The study found that CSF had a beneficial impact on the fair and transparent vetting process, cash distribution, and disbursement, resulting in
improved equal access and retention rates among secondary school students. The study suggests that it would be beneficial for the government to augment the financial resources allotted to counties while also emphasizing the necessity of improving efficiency and equity in the administration of the bursary fund.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Educational equity, Financial support, School enrollment, Student persistence, Education access