ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the Dropout rate of female students in secondary schools and the impact on education in Remo North, Ogun state. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study: to identify the extent to which poverty influence the dropout rates of girls in Secondary schools, was to examine how domestic labour affected female students’ dropout rate in Secondary Schools, to examine the extent to which parents’ attitude influence female students’ dropout rate in secondary schools and lastly to investigate how the community’s perception of female education affect dropout rates in secondary schools. Descriptive research design was used to carry out the study. The sample consisted of 4 education officers, 40 students, 20 head teachers 10 teachers and 15 parents. The findings revealed that there were several factors that influenced the dropout rate of female students in secondary schools and the impact on education in Ogun state ranging from the early marriages, initiation rites, the attitudes of parents and domestic labour. These factors were found to be overwhelming for the girl child. The results also indicate that the school administrators use various methods in handling female students’ dropout rate; guidance and counseling, recommendations for bursary fund fees forms, punishments involving parents in matters of student disciplines and mobilization of the community members and well-wishers to pay for the disadvantaged girls in secondary schools. However the administrators also agreed that more funding and support from the government and well-wishers were needed for the dropout of the female students in secondary schools and the impact on education. It was found out that poverty was another factor in relation to paying school fees for female students in secondary schools and the impact on education. In the light of the research findings the researcher recommends that peer educators/counselors should be posted to schools to assist the returnees to schools to cope with the challenges. It is recommended that further research in secondary schools on other challenges facing the girl-child is done to identify viable strategies to assist the girl-child to remain in school and learn.
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Educational attainment represents an important goal for youth to gain the desired knowledge, skills and attitudes. This will help them to upgrade the standard of living and social advancement, especially for those from disadvantage backgrounds. For these reasons, youths should have equal opportunity in education, as they are the most expensive asset for development and building of better Nigeria.
Despite this fact, there is a problem of girls dropping out from school in Remo North- the capital of Nigeria where the research was conducted. The causes are related with the early traditional ways of thinking and accompanied by the financial groups of current Nigeria. In other words, the causes could also be classified into three segments, namely, Cultural factors, Social factors and Economical factors.
Culturally Somalis believed that a woman is only half of that man, i.e. she is weak and less intelligent. That backward idea do still prevail in the minds of some Somalis The word Remo North-comes from two words Maqcad-which means “Seat”- and Shah-which means “King” The seat of the king. In an interview Mr. X. Said “How can I say my wife is equal with me” “I bought from her father because I paid dowry” he added.
Socially Somalis are less flexible, and they admire to stick into the old traditional values often quoting that “Leaving a tradition will bring about God’s Wrath”. Economically most of the schools are in the hands of private people and student pay monthly fee of 10-15 USD. There are many parents who are unable to pay that money. Therefore many Somali children remain out of school due to poverty.
In Nigeria, the government spends a small percentage of the resources on education, despite this effort, however, female dropouts in secondary education is high. Thus it is worth here to mention that Nigeria is one of the countries in Africa where school enrolment for girls at primary school hardly reached 23% between 2005 and 2009 of the total admittance but the number seems to decrease further and now stands at below 12% as they transit from primary to secondary education (Somali Education Directory 2014)
Tawand and Gordon (2004) in their study established that gender disparity continues to persist in certain areas and this will cause a hindrance for girls to complete their education. Thus, they will eventually not compete with the boys not only in education but also for other socio-economic opportunities in their lives, as well. Besides, there is an irony of the situation here. Literacy remains a major impediment in the development and wellbeing of women, according to UNESCO Report (UNESCO, 2007).
There is also a wide diversity of literature on how low socio-economic status, race, and gender cultural differences contribute to this gap in educational outcomes. This is due to the fact that there have not been enough studies on gender differences within groups in Nigeria, (Auman, Johnson 2014). Furthermore, high population of dropouts often have increased social service costs, more crimes, less civic participation and higher levels of concentrated inter-generational poverty (Neild and Balfanz 2006). It is worth to state, the enrolment of students at secondary education has progressively increased from 800,000 in 2003 to 2,000,000 by the year 2013, i.e. an increase of nearly 49% (data from Union of educational Umbrellas, at Ogun state). In the spite of this expansion, in secondary school education, the gravity of the matter is that this has not reduced the Female dropouts. The issue of female dropout has remained priority number one throughout Nigeria in general, and particularly in Remo North, Ogun state. In conclusion this research study focused on the causes of female secondary school students’ dropouts in Ogun state with consideration to find reasons, result and remedies.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The School being the cradle of a child’s development provides the Child with emotional and educational support. In secondary education, a large number of students who enroll in form one do not complete the four years secondary cycle. This is the problem that Ogun state witnesses in Remo North Secondary Schools.
There are 18 administrative regions in Nigeria. The study was carried out in Ogun state which is where the capital city, Remo North, is located. It is the most densely populated region in the country it consists of 17 districts. It has the highest number of secondary schools in Nigeria. People from different clans and different socio-economic status reside there. Furthermore, the inhabitants of each of the other regions are from one or two clans. For these reasons, Ogun state was considered to be suitable for this study.
It is the problem of dropouts of mostly girls, who leave their secondary schooling for a number of reasons. First, Poverty could be one of reasons, because parents may be unable to find the school fees required, and other educational items needed. Second, sex and early marriage may be contributing to girl’s dropouts. Some may even be eloping with their lovers for adventure and sex satisfaction.
Despite the governments’ efforts through the Ministry of education to disburse bursaries and constituency development allocations every year, some of these efforts have not bored fruits. The Ministry of education launched in 2013 a huge project which is called “AADA DUGSIYADA” which means “GO TO SCHOOL” which is free. The primary education especially for girls has remained free in all regions of Nigeria. Some local and international NGOs make efforts to promote girl education. For example there is a project which is funded by Mercy Crop and implemented by Remo North University through the MoE to reach more than two hundred female Students by paying their fees and even transport to schools. This initiative is meant to increase the chance of the girls to remain in school to gain education and prevent from dropping out.
The Nigeria constitution does not have any policy outlawing early marriage because of the traditional believes. Therefore, no matter what happens when two parents agree to wed their children the government cannot do anything. On the other hand the MoE and other local women NGOs are campaigning to sensitize the society to stop the practice of early marriage but this is gaining grounds yet. The government has also come in with rehabilitation and reconstruction strategies. However there is no data on the progress being made on this initiative hence the study.
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of the study was to determine the causes of female students’ dropout rates in Secondary schools in Ogun state.
1.4 Objectives of the study
The following were the objectives of the study;
1. To examine the extent to which poverty influences the dropout rates of girls in Secondary schools in Ogun state Remo North Nigeria.
2. To examine the effects of domestic labour on female dropout rate in Secondary Schools
3. To assess the influence of parents’ attitudes towards female education on dropout rates in secondary education
4. To determine the influence of school punishments on dropout rates among female students in secondary schools and the impact on education
1.5 Research questions
The following were the research questions that guided the study;
1. To what extent does poverty influence the dropout rates of girls in Secondary schools?
2. How does a domestic labour effect of female dropout rate in Secondary Schools?
3. To what extent parental attitude influence of female education on dropout rates in secondary education?
4. How does community’s perception of female education on dropout rates in secondary schools determine?
1.6 Significance of the study
The study was intended to be of value to various groups in the following ways:
The study findings may be used impress upon political and community opinion leaders campaign for female education in Ogun state and the entire Nigeria. The findings guide educational officers currently operating in Remo North to initiate strategies targeting retention of female students in school. It is anticipated that the study findings may provide information to the policy makers on how to plan for enrollment of female students in secondary schools and the impact on education. The findings may also help policy makers through the documented level of female dropouts by regions to come up with policies to mitigate the challenges facing the students.
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