Low-Cost Boarding Facilities Provision and Academic Performance of Students among Pastoralist Communities: A Study of Pokot Central Sub County, Kenya

Nelly Andiema
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
University of Eldoret
Email: nellyandiema@gmail.com

Abstract: conflicts in pastoral areas have affected students’ learning resulting in high drop out rates and poor academic performance of in examinations. The research sought to investigate how provision of low-cost boarding facilities affected students’ performance in Pokot Central Sub County. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The researcher targeted public secondary schools in Pokot Central Sub County. In the schools the researcher targeted principals, teachers and Form III students. The study used purposive sampling technique in selecting principals and simple random sampling technique in selecting form III students. The sample size represented 30% of the target population. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used as data collection instruments. The data was analysed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The research results showed that boarding facilities had improved academic performance of students in that it provided a safe environment for learning and it increased students’ concentration in studies. Boarding facilities provide access to education for learners from poor backgrounds and those from disaster / insecurity prone areas. Low-cost boarding facilities exposed learners to experiences beyond their local communities, thereby fostering unity, cohesion and integration. Low-cost boarding schools provided access to education for students who could not be retained in schools as a result of their parents moving from one place to another (pastoralism) and those from far areas. Therefore, the incidents of dropouts, truancy, early marriages, or accidents / attacks along the way significantly reduced. The study recommends that the government should provide security to schools in order to protect students, teachers and school property.