Engaging in Formal Education and Vocational Training Programs for Rehabilitation of Children in Conflict with the Law at Shimo La Tewa Borstal Institution, Mombasa County, Kenya

The study aimed to assess the relationship between children's participation in education and vocational programs and their rehabilitation outcomes.Despite efforts to enhance Borstal programs, their effectiveness remains a concern.Guided by Social Disorganization Theory by Shaw and McKay, the study adopted a convergent parallel research design, analyzing qualitative data through thematic analysis and quantitative data using SPSS for descriptive and inferential statistics.The target population was 200 children and eight Key Informants at the Shimo La Tewa Borstal Institution.The study used census sampling for the children, out of which 186 participated, and purposive sampling key informants, out of which five participated. Data collection involved questionnaires for the children and interview schedules for key informants. A pilot study at Shanzu Probation Hostel using 20 children in conflict with the law and 3 key informants confirmed the reliability of the tools, and ethical approvals were obtained. Findings revealed a positive relationship between participation in formal education and vocational training and the rehabilitation of the children, indicating a significant contribution of these programs to reform.The study recommended that Shimo La Tewa Borstal strengthen its education and vocational programs.It also recommended that the Ministry of Interior should establish a standard rehabilitation framework and fund pre-release and aftercare programs.In addition, the Ministry of Education needs to deploy qualified teachers and instructors to Shimo La Tewa Borstal Institution.Additionally, researchers were encouraged to conduct longitudinal studies to evaluate post-release outcomes.