Cultural practices and academic performance in girl’s secondary schools in Kajiado east sub county, Kajiado county, Kenya.

Abstract

Cultural issues and academic performance has been a subject of concern for educationists for a very long time. Most of these cultural adherences have in many cases disadvantaged girls living in pastoralist communities. The main purpose of this study was to look at the influence of cultural practices on the girl’s academic performance in secondary school in Kajiado East Sub County. This research was guided by four specific objectives namely: To establish the influence of Nomadism on the academic performance of girls in Kajiado East Sub County, To determine the influence of female genital mutilation practice on the academic performance of girls in Kajiado East Sub County, To examine the influence of gender preference constraints on the performance of girls in Kajiado East Sub County and To determining the influence of early marriages on the performance of girls in Kajiado East Sub County. The research was anchored on Gender Schemata theory and the Talcott Persons’ Structural Functionalism Theory. The study adopted descriptive research design; the target population was 1600 female students in the four Girls Schools in Kajiado east sub -county. Yamane’s formula was used to settle at a sample size of 320 respondents. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Multiple linear regression models was used for data analysis using statistical tool for social sciences (SPSS) Descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequencies and mean were generated for the quantitative data analysis and information presented in form of tables. Inferential data analysis was done using multiple regression analysis to establish the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable. Based on the study findings the research concluded that there is a significant influence of Nomadism practices, Female genital mutilation practice and early marriage practices on the academic performance of girls in Kajiado east subcounty. The study further concludes that there is no significant influence of gender preference on the academic performance of girls in Kajiado east sub-county. Given these conclusions the study recommends that: the government of Kenya in collaboration with the county governments where Nomadism is practiced should come up with policy measures to provide permanent water points like sinking of community boreholes to conveniently provide water for these communities to help them minimize regular movements that are in turn affecting the performance of girls in schools, the government should also take measures to train a special category of people from these communities on dispute resolutions to help mediate any issue that could potentially trigger clan wars within the community. The government of Kenya should seriously enforce the anti- FGM law which was passed in the year 2011 but has not been fully enforced thus allowing the practice to continue. The government should also step up measures to provide civic education on the dangers and shortcomings associated with FGM within the affected communities in the bid to help curb the practice. Women from these communities who did not undergo the cut and are successful in their careers should come out and offer mentorship to the young girls and prove to them that one can be successful in life without going through the cut. The government of Kenya should put measures in place to outlaw early marriage practice and enforcement of government policies like compulsory basic education to all should be accelerated within these communities to help slow down the practice.