Factors Responsible For Frequent Withdrawal of Girls from Schools and Their New Enthusiasm for Re-Joining Formal Education after Years of Break

Abstract

Despite many calls from both the government and non governmental agencies, there was still low enrolment level of the female students, poor participation and their frequent withdrawal in schools in Sokoto state. This research was conducted to identify the reasons why they withdrew from schools and the motivating factor for their re-joining schools after a long break. The sample consisted of 300 students who were all females in categories of single, married, divorced and widows, selected randomly from Women Centre for Continuing Education, Sokoto. Fifty other respondents that consisted of teachers of the school, civil servants, NGO's and self employed people. A 24 item self designed questionnaire was administered to the respondents. The study found out that the establishment of the Women Centre for Continuing Education, and the conducive learning environment in the school helped motivate the re-joining of the school by the dropouts. Also that the students both single, married, divorced and widowed have almost the same views of re-joining the school. It was recommended that more of these schools should be established in all the local governments in the state. Also education should be made totally free for women, and more enlightenment campaigns on laws prohibiting withdrawal of females from school should be carried out by the government.