EFFECTS OF ETHNIC CONFLICT ON ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN IN PRIMARY EDUCATION

Purpose: Lowering the risk of dropout requires a broad set of policies aimed at reducing underlying vulnerabilities, including poverty-related factors and problems linked to education quality. Increasing the income of poor families through cash transfers can help enhance education prospects. The general objective of the study was to evaluate effects of ethnic conflict on access and participation of children in primary education. Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps. Findings: The study concludes that ethnic conflicts are caused by competition over scarce and shrinking resources, favoritism, discrimination; tribal animosity, historical land injustices, voting along ethnic lines, during general elections, politics of exclusion, and biased resource allocation among communities. The causes of ethnic conflicts disrupted education activities and programs; impoverished communities, caused school dropout by children, closure of schools, absenteeism and poor enrolments and attendance levels in schools Recommendations: There is need for trauma counselling to be offered to victims of the post-election violence. The relevant governments needs to seriously address the problem of land and put policies in place for citizens regarding owning land and property anywhere to avoid recurrence of ethnic violence in various parts of the country. On the effects of ethnic conflict on access and participation of children in primary education the researcher recommended that the relevant stakeholders should seriously address the issues related with distribution of resources, marginalization, favoritism and discrimination