Gate-keeping Manifest in Secondary Schools

The study undertook to investigate the manifestation of gate-keeping particularly in secondary schools. Phenomenological research design which emphasises the participants’ lived experiences was used. Face-to-face as well as focus group interviews were used to gather data. Forty-four (44) third year Bachelor of Education Sociology students constituted the population for this study. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 16 participants comprising two secondary school administrators, 12 secondary school teachers and two parents. It emerged from the study that gate-keeping in secondary schools manifests through enrolment cut off entry points, affordable fees, the cultural and sporting domains of the curriculum, learners’ connection to influential figures, religious affiliation of the learner, school pass rate and distance. It was recommended that the stakeholders in education can target dealing with gate-keepers to secondary education.