Educational challenges facing female students in secondary schools: a case of Morogoro rural district
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Date
2007
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study investigated the educational challenges facing female students in
secondary schools in Morogoro Rural District. The specific objectives were: (i) to
examine female enrolment status, (ii) to assess problems facing female students, and
(iii) evaluate how educational programmes address the shortfall. The study design
was a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected using a checklist ?n<.'
questionnaires supported by personal observation and formal discussion with key
informants. Descriptive statistics and multiple responses were used in this study. The
study was based in four schools randomly selected out of 13 secondary schools in
the district namely: Nelson Mandela, Kiroka, Mkuyuni and Matombo. It involved
116 respondents (80 students, 32 teachers and four school administrators). The
findings show that many female students enrolled in secondary level at the
recommended age (14 - 17 years) compared to boys. Participation of girls in
leadership; freedom of expression was high in the surveyed schools. A positive
response of younger female teachers’ employees of 21 - 25 years age group was
observed. Many girls are enrolled in secondary schools but are more likely to
dropout from school compared to boys. The major problems observed in the study
schools contributing to this high dropout rate were pregnancy, early marriage and
truancy. Again girls were mostly engaged in domestic chores thus eroding their
study time. In addition, lack of food provision programmes, hostels, distance and
transport status were noted to be major problems facing girls and boys as well. One
of the strongest cause of problems in the study area was more socio-cultural and is
due to different beliefs including that a woman is limited to being a wife and a mother.
The study also found that the influence of women in Luguru society
(matrilineal system) in educating female students was slight. The study recommends
the introduction of programmes that promote education to both boys and girls in the
curriculum since pre-primary school to enable students understand their right to be
educated. Homework policy should be shared to parents by school administrators
especially in day schools. Parents might know how much time >s appropriate to
spend on homework and enable girls to also work on homework. For the Luguru
society respect to all parents should be insisted since pre-primary school.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Female students-educational challenges, Secondary schools, Morogoro rural district