Factors influencing access to secondary education in Uganda: a case study of Kikoni and Kikumi Kikumi, Makerere

Abstract

The study assessed factors that influence access to secondary education in Uganda taking a case study of Kikoni and Kikumikikumi, Makerere specifically looking at demographic and socio-economic factors. The study employed a cross-sectional research design where a sample of 96 children/youth aged 13 to 20 years participated in the study. Data analysis was done at both univariate and bivariate using SPSS version 25. Majority were females (56%), aged 16 to 18 years (51%), enrolled/completed secondary school (52%) and were either protestant (40%) or catholic (31%). Most of the children did not have any form of disability (84%) and their households had over 4 members (93%). Over 70% the respondents had only one sibling or none that were either in secondary school or that had complete secondary school. A higher percentage of respondents their household heads had at least finished secondary education (67%) and were business (31%) or civil servant (22%). A slightly higher percentage (47%) of the respondents reported that their nearby secondary schools were affordable. At bivariate analysis, chi-square results showed that household size, household`s education level and occupation and the rate of school fees charged by nearby secondary school significantly influenced children`s completion of secondary school in that respondents from large families, whose family heads were less educated and less paying occupation like peasants and children whose nearby schools charged high school fees were less likely to complete secondary school. Whereas sex, age, region and disability status of the children did not significantly influence one`s completion of secondary school. The researcher recommends government and other stake holders to sanitize the public especially less educated household heads/parents/guardians of children about the benefits of educating their children in order to increase on the completion rate of secondary school. More so, there is need for government to encourage household heads/parents/guardians earning less income to take their children to government schools especially those with Universal secondary education scheme where they can afford school fees such that their children can complete secondary education. She recommends further study and follows up on the children that do not enroll or complete secondary education especially on what they end up doing