A Preliminary Study on Causes of Non Retention of Masendu Ward Girls at Secondary School
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Zimbabwe Journal of science and technology
Abstract
This case study is a preliminary attempt to identify possible factors that might contribute to
poor retention and progression of a girl-child in Secondary School education in Masendu
Area. The study was conducted using school leavers from Masendu ward, in the Bulilima
district of Zimbabwe. The results presented in this study were collected from a workshop
attended by 13 female and 2 male school leavers from Masendu Ward and 10 female
students from the National University of Science and Technology. Questionnaires and focus
group discussions were used as instruments for collecting data. The results serve as a
preliminary to the pilot study conducted at the Mangwe district in Plumtree. A paper on the
study is to follow.
From the data collected in the workshop, twelve major problems were identified which
most participants viewed as the key contributors to the poor retention and progression of a
girl child in secondary school education. The problems identified included just to mention a
few: early pregnancies, lack of finance, lack of moral support and protection from unruly
characters on the way , after school sporting activities which cause the children to leave
school late, leaving school to seek job in neighbouring countries.
Some of the suggestions of improving the retention on a girl –child at secondary school
included the need to educate school girls on importance of abstinence, community to seek
sponsorships, need for intervention from the community at large to safeguard the education
of all children irrespective of gender, provision of cheap accommodation at school or at
villages near school, sport activities could be scheduled one morning of a chosen day
during the week to enable the students to leave school early and get home before it of dark.
Lessons for that day could be covered by extending the other remain 4 days by a lesson or
two, career guidance that emphases the need of education for a long lasting career.
Description
Keywords
Girl child, School leavers, School retention