FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST THE ENROLMENT AND RETENTION OF GIRL-CHILD STUDENTS
Abstract
The study investigated the factors militating against the enrolment and retention of girl-child students in Junior Secondary Schools in Kaduna State. Six research objectives were postulated and six null research hypotheses were tested. The study population included all the Junior Secondary Schools in the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State totalling 58,836. Using Krejcie and Morgan Table, 375 respondents were sampled from six Local Government Area; two each from the three (3) senatorial zones in the State. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Cronbcah method of reliability was used to determine the reliability of the instrument which was found to be . 815. Descriptive statistics involving item frequencies, mean, standard deviation and standard error were used to answer the research questions. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test all the six null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Significant relationships were found between the dependent variable and each of the six independent variables. It was recommended that government should keep updated records of enrolment and retention of the girl-child in all schools, and schools should be built in all localities for easy access, government should enact laws against removal of girl-child from schools for marriage or any reason before completion of school and parents should consider their economic capability in planning their family size. It was concluded that religious leaders and traditional leaders have big responsibility of directing and encouraging their subjects on the importance of girl-child education.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Education has been recognised as the most important factor used by man to conquer his environment and it has charted his destiny. Education is an intrinsic value in itself needing no further justification. In fact the Girl Child becomes better equipped to deal with adverse situations. Schooling also provides a break in the habits and culture which stultifies the growth of the girl child. It opens up options and possibilities new dreams and a newer future. More than anything schools provide leisure, time and space of their own; thus when in school they are no longer exploited, no longer have to work for others, will discover themselves and their potentialities, will acquire self esteem and confidence. This is their first step towards gender equality and breakdown of stereotypes; this is the beginning of their role as individuals in their own right. However, there is the need to fully understand the aims and objectives of girl-child education:
i. To equalize same opportunities accorded to their male counterparts.
ii. Girls education enhances their social and economic value for the development of the society;
iii. It keeps them fully employed so that they can engage into more meaningful development hence improve the public life.