Influence of Orphanhood on Pupils' Life in Kenyan Primary Schools

Orphanhood in this book is a state of losing a parent (s) by a child. There are many orphans in the world today who are affected academically, socially and discipline wise. Many of these orphans are taken care of by their relatives and especially elderly grandparents. In primary schools the number of orphans has risen especially in Meru, Kenya. The gender disparity has been noted since boys in primary schools are more affected when their parents die than girls. In Academic performance, orphans perform poorer than non-orphaned pupils generally. However, those with caring relatives may outshine their colleagues in class. Since girls take up the role of parenting, their interpersonal relationships are highly affected unlike boys. This book therefore provides a new way of looking at orphans in schools and especially in primary schools. Teachers should be more vigilant in identifying these orphans and provide them with special care and counseling. All educational managers should strengthen counseling programmes in schools. The caregivers of orphaned children should be concerned with wholistic growth of orphans. It is my prayer that this book will be useful to you as a reader.