Title:
EXTENT FAMILY'S SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCE PUPILS TRANSITION FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LAIKIPIA WEST SUB-COUNTY KENYA.

Authors:
Mr. Peter Murage Mwangi, Prof. Kanjogu, J. (PH.D). and Dr. Ngunjiri, M. (PH.D)

Abstract:
The key government priority on basic education in Kenya is attaining 100 percent transition rate from primary to secondary schools. In Laikipia West Sub-County for instance where the study was carried out, transition to secondary schools averaged at 54.9% from 2008 to 2015. Family's socio-economic factors are highlighted in literature as to undermine transition of pupils from primary to secondary schools. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which families' socio-economic factors influence pupils' transition from primary to secondary schools in Laikipia West Sub-county in Kenya. The study was carried out using ex-post facto research design. Data was collected using self-delivered questionnaire from a target population of 1064 respondents. The sample for the study was 411 respondents (280 teachers and 131 PTA chairpersons) in public primary schools in the area of study, selected through stratified random sampling and simple random techniques. Data was analyzed through simple regression at .05 alpha level using SPSS version 21.0. Findings from the study revealed that family's socioeconomic factors were significantly influencing transition of pupils from primary to secondary schools (?= - .505) at 0.5 significance level. The study recommended that the government should encourage and support income generating activities in the rural areas to improve their income.