Factors Contributing to the Effectiveness of Presidential Secondary School Bursary as a Social Assistance Programme: A Case of Borabu Constituency Nyamira County, Kenya

Abstract

Since the financial year 2013/2014 to date, the Presidential secondary school bursary fund (PBSS) in Kenya which aims at enhancing secondary school enrolment, attendance and completion by the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) has continued to identify and support these categories of students. However, despite this support system, there are cases of absenteeism and dropout cases among such children. This study therefore aimed at establishing the factors contributing to the effectiveness of this fund as a social assistance programme in Borabu Constituency. The objectives were: to examine the influence of distribution logistics on the effectiveness of the Presidential secondary school bursary fund; to assess the influence of the legal frame work on the effectiveness of the Presidential secondary school bursary fund; to evaluate the influence of household socio-economic status on the effectiveness of the Presidential secondary school bursary fund. The study was guided by John Rawls' theory of social justice and the human capital theory and applied the descriptive research design. The target population for the study was the PSSB beneficiaries for the 2019/2020 FY and the bursary committee members. The sample size was 74 comprising of 70 PSSB beneficiaries and 4 sub-committee members. A pilot test was carried out in Masaba North Sub-county in order to determine the reliability of the instrument. Data collection and data analysis applied both qualitative and quantitative approaches.  The study found out that Presidential secondary school bursary publicity was high within Borabu Constituency and it reached out to the target population of orphans and vulnerable children. The timely release of funds from the national treasury had a great bearing in enhancing effectiveness of Presidential secondary school bursary (PSSB) in terms of reducing absenteeism. The study concluded that this fund has supported parents/guardians taking care of orphans and vulnerable children by catering for their school fees needs and thus fulfilling their right to education. The study attributes this fund to the reduction of dropout cases among these children. The study recommends that the National treasury should prioritize timely release of funds to facilitate timely bursary distribution to beneficiaries to avoid being sent home.