Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The purpose of this study was to collect information about the aspirations, social background and examination performance of Kenyan secondary school pupils. Intended as the first stage of a panel survey, periodic follow-up studies were planned to monitor their subsequent employment status and rate of absorption.

Main Topics:

Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions: Form in which mathematics/science subjects 'dropped' and reasons, stage at which respondent would like education to end, how far expects to be able to reach, choice of A level subjects, preferred employment (reasons); anticipated monthly salary after one year, whether has sought information about job and how perceived chances of securing desired job, if low - why, most likely job; respondents' results in the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate examination. Background Variables: Age, sex, ethnic group, school type, subjects being taken for School Certificate, whether lives at home or away from home during school term, religion, whether parents living. Father's occupation and employment history, positions of authority held locally, ownership of businesses/land/cattle. Whether parents grow and sell crops, length of parents' education and whether English spoken, mother's occupation.

One-stage stratified or systematic random sample

by region, with three non-sample schools added because of their special importance

Self-completion