Factors Influencing Girl Child Drop-out in Primary Schools in Terekeka County, South Sudan

Abstract

This research project sought to investigate the effect of early marriage on girl child school drop-out in primary schools in Terekeka County of South Sudan. Early marriage is one of the leading causes of girl child school drop-out; it contributes to about 45.7% of the cases. The community of Terekeka value and widely practise early marriage which interrupts and denies girls education and prevents them to rise to their full potentials in order to participate in the development of their community in particular and the Country at large. Economic factor is the other major cause for girl‟s school drop-out where most parents cannot afford to pay school fees due to poverty. From the study poverty is one of the leading causes of girl child school drop-out. Most Parents and Guardians are poor and cannot afford to provide food to their families due to financial constraints not to talk about ability to pay school fees and provide other school necessities. Whereas, in accordance with basic rights, a child should not be deprived of learning simply because she lacks school fees. Due to poverty, early marriage has become rampant in the community through forceful practice so as to get bride price being viewed as one way to get out of poverty without minding about the education of their daughters. Furthermore, the prevalence of civil unrest and insecurity in the country has also destabilized learning in schools which has further caused school drop-outs. Due to insecurity in the County, school going children are at high risk of victimization, violence, abuse as they move long distances to their schools, this created fear in parents and forced them to restrict their daughters from going to school. Therefore if the aforementioned issues are not addressed, generations in the Terekeka community in particular and the Country at large will be deprived of learning and consequently not participate in the socio-economic and political development arena and the community will not be ready to break out of the hover of poverty. The data were analyzed into frequencies and percentages using simple statistical techniques. They were presented in tables and used to explain the influences, factors of early marriage, and economic factors such as poverty and civil strife which contributed to insecurity in the county. The study also used both library and study findings. A sample of 70 girls was randomly selected in Terekeka County where the study covers three localities of three areas of Lingkango, Wasat and Wehida. A number of Focus Group Discussions were conducted among the community; four key informant interviews were carried out and one narrative was conducted.