Abstract:
The study aimed at Effects of Early Girl Child Marriage on Education in Narok South Constituency. The study comprised of the following specific objectives; To establish the cause of early girl child marriage in Ololulunga Division, to determine the effects of early girl child marriage on education in Olulunga Division and to suggest ways to curb early girl child marriages in Ololulunga Division. The research used the survey design in finding out the answers to the research questions of the study. The research had a target population of 46870 of Ololulunga Division who were residents and who were administered with questionnaires to provide primary data while the secondary data were collected from the Schools records and Divisional Education Office, journals, magazines and the internet. The research employed a sample size of 99 respondents all were drawn from the various strata since the study took stratified sampling technique. The research also involved the use of questionnaires, observation and photography as tools of collecting primary data. The collected data was then analyzed using SPSS tool of analysis and excel to obtain frequencies and percentages of the responses and thereafter presented in the form of tables, bar charts and pie charts. The study engaged 62% of males and 38% of the females in Ololulunga Division. 47% of the residents of Ololulunga Division are pastoralist while 34% of them are farmers. 73% of girls in Ololulunga Division left school at a tender age and got married. 51% of the respondents noted that tradition/ cultural values is the main cause of early child marriage. 30% of the said that most girls were forced into marriage to collect dowry, and 19% reported that it was for prestige. 67% of the respondents reported that the stakeholders in the education sector are doing good work in improving the standards of the girl child education. The study then concluded that early marriages were practiced within the division and affected girls from proceeding to secondary schools. It also led to most of the girls dropping out of school. The study also gave the following recommendations; The National and County Governments to reinforce the Children Act, parents should be sensitized about the provision of free secondary education, The Basic Education Act No. 14 of 2013 should be reinforced, role models should encourage creating awareness and The government should empower families and the youth.
