To investigate girls drop out of schools. The case of Mombasa County

Abstract

Education is a tool to enable citizens to make all rounded participation in development process. The participation of females in social- economic programs especially depends on their education background. Educating girls is critical to achieve the benefits as well as they improvement in the areas of health, fertility and nutrition. Girls should be treated equally with boys to attain education access, which is necessity to increase their participation in different development programs. International treaty, conventions, law and policies set a legal commitment on the right of education and gender quality, gross and net enrolment difference in schooling of girls prevail. Kenya is one of the developing countries with low girl participation in education. statistics reveals that the number of girls in primary schools is not equal to that of male students. This low participation is one of the causes for females to be under privileged and under presented in development programs. If low female participation in education continues, the country would probably have a problem in achieving MDG goal 3 targets 4.The role of education and female participation should be analyzed and studied. The aim of this research was to identify factors influencing girls drop-out of schools. The case of Mombasa district. To attain this objective, information on school age, population was gathered from documents of the ministry of education and head teachers. Formal questionnaires were distributed to 260 girls, school heads and teachers. Focused group discussion was held with 56 girl’s parents and with six education officials to gather information on factors that have contributed to girls drop out from schools. Percentages were predominantly used to indicate the magnitude of respondent’s opinion and assumption against each statement.The results of the study showed that social economic factors that affected girls drop out in schools are qualification of girl child labor, cost of rent, food supply cost, long distance to school, parents poverty, fear of male harassments, lack of role models, dropout, parents religion, early marriage, parents illiteracy, worry of unwanted pregnancy, current trends, cultural practices, social practices, peer influence, absenteeism , parents death, repetition of classes, drugs, bullying, diseases, divorce of parents. These are the major reasons for girls drop out in schools in Mombasa district. The following have been recommended to stop girls drop out in Mombasa district. Recruiting qualified teachers, conducting work shops and seminars with parents and religion leaders and to make society and parents aware on the benefits of girls’ education. NGO and organization should help girls. A K.C.P.E record, class registers and an admission record were used to supplement the data collected by use of the questionnaire, intensified guidance and counseling. School feeding programs should cover all schools. government grants for F P E should be increased and reimbursed on time. The TV, radio, internet, call in radio shows should articulate benefits of girls education, improving home technologies to minimize the incidence of child labor.More female teachers to be recruited as role models, headmistress and concerned government bodies offering special support to girls participation in education.