The Effects of User-fee Policy on Attendance Rates among Kenyan Elementary Schoolchildren

Abstract

What happens when a government cannot meet its obligation to provide universal primary education and enhance the quality of education for all of its citizens? The present study examines the interactions among stakeholders in the user-fee policy in primary education in Kenya. It seeks to show how this policy has affected attendance rates and drop-out rates among elementary schoolchildren. It reveals that, in addition to limiting access and contributing to attrition, user-fees significantly contribute to absenteeism. The study also exposes the dire situation of economically vulnerable citizens who do not have the resources which they need to ensure private education for their children. It concludes that together the government and household-level economic weaknesses have made it virtually impossible to attain the goal of education for all in Kenya. Zusammenfassung -DIE WIRKUNG\ VON SCHULGEB €UHREN AUF DEN SCHULBESUCH KENIANISCHER GRUNDSCHULKINDER -Was geschieht, wenn eine Regierung ihrer Pflicht nicht nachkommen kann, eine universelle Grundschulbildung zu ermo¨glichen und die Bildungsqualita¨t aller Bu¨rger zu verbessern? Die vorliegende Studie untersucht, welchen Einfluss die an der Gebu¨hrenpolitik beteiligten Faktoren in der kenianischen Grundschulbildung aufeinander ausu¨ben. Sie sucht zu zeigen, wie sich diese Politik auf den Schulbesuch und die Abbrecherquote bei Grundschulkindern ausgewirkt hat. Sie macht deutlich, dass Schulgebu¨hren den Zugang beschra¨nken und zu Frustration sowie zu ha¨ufiger Abwesenheit einen signifikanten Beitrag leisten. Die Studie legt auch die desolate Lage o¨konomisch benachteiligter Bu¨rger dar, die nicht die notwendigen Mittel besitzen, um die private Bildung ihrer Kinder sicherzustellen. Sie zieht den Schluss, dass die o¨konomische Schwa¨che auf Regierungs-und Privathaushaltsebene es nahezu unmo¨glich gemacht hat, das Ziel der Bildung fu¨r alle in Kenia zu erreichen. Re´sume´-LES EFFETS DES DROITS D'INSCRIPTION SUR LES TAUX DE PRÉ SENCE PARMI LES É LÈ VES KENYANS DE L'É COLE PRIMAIRE -Qu'arrive-t-il quand un gouvernement ne peut respecter son obligation a`pourvoir al 'e´ducation primaire ge´ne´rale et a`augmenter la qualite´de l'e´ducation pour ses citoyens? La pre´sente e´tude examine les interactions chez les inte´resse´s de la politique du droit d'inscription au sein de l'e´ducation primaire au Kenya. Elle cherche a`montrer comment cette politique a affecte´les taux de pre´sence et d'interruption parmi les e´co-liers du cours e´le´mentaire. Elle re´ve`le que, ajoute´s a`l'acce`s limite´et contribuant al 'e´puisement, les droits d'inscription contribuent de fac¸on significative a`l'absente´isme. L'e´tude expose e´galement la terrible situation des citoyens vulne´rables e´conomique-ment, qui ne disposent pas des ressources dont ils ont besoin pour assurer une e´duca-tion prive´e à leurs enfants. Partant de la`, elle conclue que, pris ensemble, le gouvernement et la faiblesse du niveau e´conomique des budgets ont rendu pratiquement impossible d'atteindre le but de l'e´ducation po...

Relative‐change theory: examining the impact of patriarchy, paternalism, and poverty on the education of women in Kenya

“…Over the years the Kenyan government has struggled to meet the challenges of expanding access to primary education and improving access to secondary education. Sporadic exceptional gains in enrolment have often been undermined by constraints in public and private financing (Mukudi 2004). The history of primary education in Kenya has been punctuated by a series of presidential decrees proclaiming the elimination of fees for schooling, which are later reintroduced through the back door.…”

“…The history of primary education in Kenya has been punctuated by a series of presidential decrees proclaiming the elimination of fees for schooling, which are later reintroduced through the back door. As an indicator of the extent of exclusion, a surge in enrolment always follows proclamations of free education, whereas a decline in participation inevitably occurs once the public begins to feel the pinch of new fees (Amutabi 2003;Eisemon and Schwille 1991;Mukudi 2004;Sifuna 2005Sifuna , 2007. Government and development agency interventions continue to focus on access to basic education, even though such an investment's potential for economic empowerment and according women social space in their communities is limited.…”

Determinants of Primary School Non-Enrollment and Absenteeism: Results from a Retrospective, Convergent Mixed Methods, Cohort Study in Rural Western Kenya

“…The cost of primary school figured prominently as a determinant for dropout and absenteeism. Enforcement of fee policies leads to long absences, occasionally resulting in dropout [ 48 ]. Therefore, reducing the primary school costs may improve the issues of dropout and absenteeism.…”

Perceptions and implications of no-fee school policy: School-based management perspectives

“…Amongst numerous factors, research has identified in whether children enrol in and attend school, direct and indirect schooling costs featured prominently (for example, Dachi & Garret, 2003:16;Fentiman, Hall & Bundy, 1999;Rose & Al Samarrai, 2001). Hunter (2008:09) maintains that while research on this often relates to access per se, there is also some research which indicates that the costs of schooling, including fees, is a central reason for dropping out (Brock & Cammish, 1997:27;Brown & Park, 2002;Colclough, Rose & Tembon, 2000;Hunter & May, 2003;Liu, 2004;May et al, 1998cited in Hunter & May, 2003Mukudi, 2004;Rose & Al Samarrai, 2001).…”

“…Not only do school fees lead to under-enrolment and drop out, they also limit attendance at school (Mukudi, 2004) and lead to temporary withdrawals. Research indicates children may be locked out of schools if they cannot pay schooling fees (Obasi, 2000;Ackers et al, 2001cited in Mukudi, 2004.…”