EFFECTIVENESS OF BURSARY PROVISION IN ENHANCING ACCESS TO SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION AMONG THE NEEDY STUDENTS IN KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA
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Abstract
Bursary schemes are essential in improving access to secondary school education for financially disadvantaged students in Kenya. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of bursary provision in enhancing access to secondary school education among the needy students in Kisumu County. The study was anchored on John Rawls’ Distributive Justice Theory. The study employed a convergent mixed-methods design, combining cross-sectional surveys for quantitative data and phenomenology for qualitative insights, allowing for data triangulation and a comprehensive understanding of the research problem. The study targeted the poor and vulnerable students who require bursary to be distributed to them to access secondary school education. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 601 respondents, including principals, class teachers, students, parents, bursary managers and Sub-County Directors of Education, who were selected through probability and non-probability sampling methods. Data was gathered via questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions, which were piloted and tested to determine their validity and reliability. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and regression models with SPSS Version 26. Ethical considerations were observed throughout the period of study. The study found that bursary provision plays a crucial role in enhancing access to secondary school education among needy students in Kisumu County. Factors influencing bursary provision included high poverty levels (77.7%) and an increasing number of orphans (82.9%). However, 57.1% of students were unaware of bursary providers, limiting their access. Regression analysis showed that bursary provision accounted for 24% of the variance in access to secondary education (R² = .240), with a significant impact (p<.05). Despite this, inefficiencies in bursary targeting, consistency and adequacy were noted as barriers to full access. The study concluded that bursary administration has enabled some students to access secondary school education, while its overall effectiveness is hampered by insufficient, inconsistent and untimely disbursement of funds, particularly from public providers. Private bursary providers offer more reliable and timely support, but overall bursary funds remain inadequate to meet the growing demand. To improve access, increasing bursary funding through public-private partnerships and establishing clear disbursement guidelines and procedures remain essential.
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