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The primary aim of this study was to investigate the kind of care that is given to
orphans in Iwawa Ward, in Makete district, and how that care affects the orphans'
primary schooling. The study was guided by the following research questions: Who are
the caregivers of the orphaned pupils? What kind of care is given to the orphans?, How
that care affects the orphans' primary schooling? What should be done to improve
orphans' primary schooling? The study employed a case study design. The location of
the study was Iwawa Ward in Makete District and the target population was the
orphans in primary schools in this ward. The two sample schools selected for this study
were school A and school B representing schools situated in urban and rural areas
respectively. The study involved 12 orphaned pupils, 6 caregivers and 4 primary school
teachers. The study employed interview as the main method of collecting data. The
findings of the study revealed that 87% of caregivers are close relatives. Others are
distant relatives, and non relatives. The kind of care that is given to orphans includes
provision of financial support, security, food, a place to live, medical care, clothing,
teaching and learning materials. The findings also revealed that provision of enough
care to the orphaned pupils enables them to be enrolled in schools, to have regular
school attendance, and to build confidence and good behaviour. But inadequate
provision of care leads to orphans' late or no enrolment in schools, having strong
emotions, poor academic performance, truancy, dropping out of schools, delinquency,
failure to join secondary schools, and becoming street children. From these findings,
suggestions are made to family members and the community in general, to select
caregivers basing on their ability to give proper care. The government is advised to
make Secondary Education free and for all. This will enable orphaned pupils and other
pupils from poor families to access it. |
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