Factors Influencing Female Students’ Dropout Rate in Secondary Schools in Mogadishu, Somalia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the Dropout rate of female students in secondary schools in Mogadishu, Benadir Region. 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 in Benadir Region 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. It was found out that poverty was another factor in relation to paying school fees for female students in secondary schools. 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.