The Impact of Students’ Peer Influence on Choice of Agriculture Subject among Boys and Girls in Public Secondary Schools in Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing the choice of agriculture subject among boys and girls in public secondary schools in Kajiado County, Kenya. This paper’s objective was to establish how students’ peers influenced the choice of agriculture subject among boys and girls in public secondary schools in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study reviewed related literature which highlighted an overview of agriculture education in secondary schools. Findings from previous studies on the factors influencing choice of agriculture subject among boys and girls in public secondary schools were reviewed. The study employed descriptive survey design. Additionally, the study embraced purposive sampling technique in selecting the sample size of agriculture students, principals and agriculture teachers in public schools in Kajiado County. The study mainly used questionnaire to collect data. Data was analyzed descriptively by use of descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. Data collected was presented using frequency distribution tables and percentages. From the findings of the study, it established that students’ peers greatly influence they way they choose optional subjects in secondary schools. Most of them followed the guidance of their peers in the choice of agriculture subject. The desire to acquire skills relevant for job market and self employment was a driving force in the students’ choice of agriculture subject among boys and girls in public secondary schools in Kajiado County. The study therefore recommended that agriculture subject should equip learners with the skill necessary to shape their future career and self reliance. In view of the findings of this study, agriculture subject should be made compulsory in primary and secondary levels of education so as to enable the learners to get adequate agricultural skills that would enable them to engage in agribusiness for self-reliance and self-employment.