Girls’ Primary Education and Transition to Secondary School in Nairobi: Perceptions of Community Members at the Onset of an Education Intervention

Abstract

The objective of the paper is to examine the challenges of girls’ education in a poor urban context in Nairobi. This paper is motivated by the need to identify challenges affecting girls’ education in poor urban context in Nairobi. These challenges are identified from the lens of the community gatekeepers and the parents, who are key stakeholders in education at the local level. Data come from a qualitative component of the baseline study conducted in Korogocho and Viwandani, in Nairobi, collected in June and July 2013 using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). One of the most striking finding was role modelling to their daughters. This was evident from those households that had single parents. The study emphasizes that children should be better raised with the support of the whole community. This would enable parents to provide effective support to girls’ education and hence realize their full potential.