Factors causing low response of Maasai parents and girls’ students towards secondary school education in Monduli District- Arusha Region
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Date
2008
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Provision of equality in education at all levels is central in achieving development in
any society. However, in Maasai land this situation is limited due to low response of
Maasai parents and girls students towards secondary school education. The problem
burdens this community and the nation at large in provisions of girls’ access to
Secondary Education (SE). Inspitc of government and NGOs efforts to address the
issue, the problem is still persisting throughout pastoralist areas. If factors that cause
low response of Maasai parents and girls towards secondary education are not
examined there is a danger of gender inequality in terms of access to education. The
overall objective of this study was to determine factors causing low response of
Maasai parents and girls students towards secondary education in Monduli district
aiming to generate empirical information on strategies to address the problem. A
sample size of 125 respondents was used. Interview with key informants and
individual in-depth interview were also employed. The data analysis involved use of
Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Study findings show that low response
towards SE was influenced by parents’ education, occupation and marital status.
Socio-cultural factors such as norms, values and nomadic life also limit access of
girls' SE. Parents support and communication to their daughters was low in
education issues. Large number of children residing in a Boma was recognised as a ’
factor for the low response in educating girls although girls students attitude towards
SE was noted to be positive. The study recommends creating awareness to Maasai
parents in order to increase girls’ enrolment in SE. This could be done through
sensitization programmes that promote girls’ access to education and adult education,
cross sectional research design using open and close ended questionnaires from a
bound by cultural beliefs that restrict girls education. The government should
develop special policies, programmes and strategies (raising awareness on the
importance of girls education to both parents and local leaders) to address the
shortfall through current findings.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Maasai parents, Secondary school, NGOs, Equality in education