Assessing The Effects of Coronavirus Pandemicon The Girl child in Selected Public Schools in Athi-River Sub-County, Machakos County, Kenya.
Loading...
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Daystar University, School of Applied Human Sciences
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the girl child in selected public schools in Athi-River Sub- County. The study was guided by four specific objectives namely; to investigate the influence of coronavirus pandemic on the education of girl child in select public schools in Athi-River Sub- County; to find out influence of coronavirus pandemic on gender-based violence against girls in select public schools in Athi-River Sub-County; to determine the influence of coronavirus pandemic on the health of girls in select public schools in Athi-River Sub- County and to evaluate the measures put in place by Government of Kenya and NGOs to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on education, gender-based violence, and health of girls in selected public schools in Athi River Sub County. The study applied descriptive design to accomplish the study. The Study Population comprised 322,485 people of Athi River Subcounty.Out of this population, the study targeted target 1,800 girls aged 10-17 years old who schooled in public primary and secondary schools, 1,440 of parents to these girls, 66class teachers, 7 guidance and counselling teachers, 7 head teachers/deputy headteachers,3 chief/sub-chief in Athi-river Sub County and one county children officer. The study sampled 28 girls, 28 class teachers, 7 guidance and counseling teachers and 7 head teachers, 28 parents, 3 chief/sub-chiefs and 1 county children officer. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. The study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the of school going girls by causing drop out while also positively introducing the homeschooling approach to learning. The pandemic also increased cases of GBV against girls including child labour, child marriage and physical abuse among others. Health wise, the girls who contracted the virus, were affected mentally due to social isolation. The study recommends that government develop guidelines for virtual learning to ensure education remains accessible in terms of crises. Government and NGOs should collaborate with other stakeholders in instituting bottom-up approach to combat GBV. The findings of this study will be useful to the national and county governments in coming up with appropriate policies for protecting the girl-child in line with SDG 1, 2, 3, and 5. From the study, the community will learn of the things to do to protect the girl-child. Researchers will use the findings of this study to advance research in the field of pandemics and the protection of girls specifically.
Description
MASTERS OF ARTS in Monitoring and Evaluation
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, Education of girl child, Gender-based violence
Citation
Chichi, N. E. (2024). Assessing The Effects of Coronavirus Pandemicon The Girl child in Selected Public Schools in Athi-River Sub-County, Machakos County, Kenya. Daystar University, School of Applied Human Sciences.