Enrolment and Retention of Students in German Language Classes: Influencing School Based Factors in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi Counties, Kenya

Abstract

German is a language spoken by more than 100 million people as a mother tongue in Europe. It is one of the foreign languages taught and examined in secondary schools in Kenya. German as an optional subject is characterized by low number of students at form four level. The purpose of this study was to investigate school based factors that influence enrolment and retention of students in German language classes in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi Counties in Kenya. The study adapted the descriptive survey research design. Both purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used. Data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The study found out that students’ career orientation, teachers’ teaching methods, teachers’ handling of students’ learning difficulties, students’ performance in German in form one and two, learning resources and prospects of German language influence enrolment and retention of students in German language classes. The findings of this study will provide knowledge in regard to enrolment and retention of students in German language classes and provide a foundation for future studies.

Keywords: Enrolment, Retention, School based, factors.