Investigating the factors contributing to high dropout rate among girl children at Zona Secondary School. A case of a selected high school in Manicaland province
- Author
- Mollin, Mangena.
- Title
- Investigating the factors contributing to high dropout rate among girl children at Zona Secondary School. A case of a selected high school in Manicaland province
- Abstract
-
Dropout of girl students are influenced by many complex factors including socio cultural, psychological and personal attitude. Because of the diversity of such factors, it seems worthwhile to investigate the factors that are contributory towards the high dropout rate among girl students. The study intends to investigate what hinders girls from sitting 'O level examination since they have equal opportunity as boys. In order to investigate information regarding the causes and effects of school dropout at a selected school in Chipinge South, both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. At Zona Secondary School, a sample of 40 people—15 students, 10 teachers/head teachers, and 10 parents/guardians—participated during the piloting process. The researcher selected a descriptive survey design since it makes use of data that was gathered from the completed questionnaires, interviews and use of enrolment data. Descriptive analysis was used for assessing quantitative data obtained. Chi-Square analysis using version 21.0 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences was done to determine the association between various parameters and dropout. The statistical analysis of results obtained from the questionnaires showed that the calculated p value (0.03) is less than 0.05 significance level, then the results were considered statistically significant. There was unanimity (100%) among responders that females were more likely than boys to drop out of school in rural regions. Pregnancy, early marriage, and traditional and religious views that believe educating girls is a waste of resources were among the many explanations provided. The majority of respondents (97.5%) said that certain parents' traditional and religious ideas were to blame for the high rate of girl dropouts from rural secondary schools. According to the open ended questionnaires, pregnancies and early marriages were the causes of half of the girl child dropouts. This study has recommended that the problem of girl child dropout can only be tackled if swift and immediate measures are put in place. These measures must include the active involvement of the group/people directly affected including the rural girl child, secondary school teachers and parents/guardians. Overall, this study is a bold step towards important and overdue cultural and educational reforms in Zimbabwe’s education system.
- Date
- June 2023
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Zona Secondary School.
- High Dropout Rate.
- Supervisor
- Dr. Chinangure, F.
- Item sets
- Faculty of Science Education
- Media
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Mangena, Mollin..pdf