ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST THE ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION OF GIRL-CHILD STUDENTS IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1        Background to the Study

Education has long been seen as the most critical aspect in man’s conquest of his surroundings, having shaped his destiny. Education is a self-contained inherent value that requires no additional argument. Indeed, the Girl Child develops a greater capacity for dealing with adversity. Additionally, schooling gives a respite from the habits and society that stifle the maturation of the female kid. It creates new opportunities and possibilities, as well as fresh aspirations and a more promising future. Above all, schools give students with their own leisure, time, and space; therefore, they are no longer exploited, are not required to labor for others, are able to find themselves and their potential, and develop self-esteem and confidence while in school. This is their first move toward gender equality and the dismantling of prejudices; this is the start of their function as autonomous persons. However, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the goals and objectives of girl-child education: To ensure that they have the same chances as their male colleagues; Girls education increases their social and economic value to society’s development; it keeps them employed so they can engage in more meaningful development and thus improve public life; it increases literacy among their siblings when they finally settle for a family; it educates them on how to live a healthier life for themselves and their family; and it increases their ability to protect themselves from venereal diseases such as HSV.

It will assist them in developing a better awareness of how to prepare a balanced diet, women’s delivery concerns, and how to maintain excellent health and minimize mother and child mortality. It will strengthen their capacity to combat poverty, underdevelopment, and malnutrition.

The United Nations’ “strategic goals” for “girl-child” [Paragraphs 259-285]: Ratification of the child rights convention by all member nations is critical to accomplishing established goals. Efforts to increase girl child enrollment should be stepped up; this might be accomplished by doing a study investigation.

Lack of education or acquisition of information among women, who make up more than 80% of the population in Nigeria and most other nations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a bigger proportion of young girls still do not attend school. Globally, it is estimated that there are 121 million out-of-school children, 65 million of them are female (UNICEF, 2007).

In Nigeria, females’ access to basic education has remained limited, particularly in the north. As little as 20% of women in the country’s northwestern and northernmost regions are literate and have attended school. The 2006 National School Census (NSC) indicated an 80.6 percent net enrollment ratio (NER), indicating that a sizable percentage (19 percent ).

Despite the commencement of the Universal Basic Education Scheme in 1999 and the passage of the Universal Basic Education Act in 2004, progress in enrolling children in Junior Secondary Schools has been glacial. Total enrollment increased from 218,597.4 in 1999 to 368,464.4 in 2003 before declining to 282,680.0 in 2008. Female enrollment increased similarly slowly from 104,289.4 in 1999 to 163,977.6 in 2005 before falling to 127,086.5 in 2008. Gender parity ratios started to increase in 2003, rising to 0.77 in 2004 and reaching 0.82 in 2008.

1.2        Statement of the Problem

It is critical to ascertain why girls and/or their parents seem to be oblivious to the obvious advantages of education. As long as the majority of females do not continue their formal education beyond high school and as long as college education remains a primary prerequisite for obtaining well-compensated professions and leadership positions, they will remain marginalized.

They are often the primary caregivers at home, doing the majority of household chores, and in Africa, generate 70% of food while being the least educated. In times of crisis, the female child and indeed women suffer more, and yet there is a dearth of attitude support for the girl kid. Although there have been various historical developments on the child’s right, particularly the girl-child, as outlined in England’s Magna Carter. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1984), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (1979), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and the Beijing Conference on Human Rights (1994). Nigerian policymakers continue to struggle with institutionalizing and adopting legislation to safeguard and advance the education of girls. Due to obstacles, female children have not been able to avoid dropping out of school.

The research work is an attempt to find out factors militating against the enrolment and retention of girl-child education in Nigeria with particular reference to Kaduna state, in selected junior secondary school as case study. The essence of the research is to capture the extent to which enrolment, retention and dropout exist between the male and female children.

The contributing factors lead to the loss of the nation’s human capital in a global economy and national prosperity as well as the availability of ready hands for mischief such as deviant behaviour, violence within the society, stealing, prostitution and other social vices. Hence, these may require urgent attention so as to meet the national educational objectives and existence of peace within Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.

1.3        Objectives of the Study

The aim of the research is to examine the factors militating against the enrolment and retention of girl-child education in junior secondary school in Kaduna State. This study intends to achieve the following objectives:-

1. To determine the level of enrolment of the girl-child students in Junior Secondary Schools in Kaduna State.
2. To determine the rate of retention of the girl-child students in Junior Secondary Schools in Kaduna State.
3. To identify the strategies for enrolment of the girl-child students in Junior Secondary Schools in Kaduna State.
4. To identify the strategies for retention of the girl-child students in Kaduna State.
5. To identify the problems associated with the enrolment of girl-child students in Junior Secondary Schools in Kaduna State.
6. To identify the problems associated with the retention of girl-child students in Kaduna State.

1.4        Research Questions

1. What is the level of enrolment of girl-child students in JSS in Kaduna State?
2. What is the rate of retention of girl-child students in JSS in Kaduna State?
3. What are the strategies for enrolment of girl-child students in JSS in Kaduna State?
4. What are the strategies for retention of girl-child students in JSS in Kaduna State?
5. What are the problems associated with the enrolment of girl-child students in JSS in Kaduna State?
6. What are the problems associated with the retention of girl-child students in JSS in Kaduna State?

1.5        Hypotheses

1. There is no significant relationship/influence between the level of enrolment of girl-child student in JSS and the girl-child student education in Kaduna State.
2. There is no significant relationship/influence between the Rate of retention of girl-child student in JSS and girl-child student education in Kaduna State.
3. There is no significant relationship/influence between the Strategies for enrolment of girl-child student in JSS and the girl-child student education in Kaduna State.
4. There is no significant relationship/influence between the Strategies for retention of girl-child student in JSS and the girl-child student education in Kaduna State.
5. There is no significant relationship/influence between the problems associated with enrolment of girl-child student in JSS and the girl child education in Kaduna State.
6. There is no significant relationship/influence between the problems associated with rate of retention of girl-child student in JSS and the girl-child student education in Kaduna State.

1.6        Basic Assumptions

This research work is based on the following basic assumptions;

1. The research is based on the assumption that girl child education is a waste of resources.
2. That lack of appropriate legislation on girl child education leads to the problems of enrolment and retention.
3. That there is relationship between retention and enrolment of girl child students in JSS schools.
4. That parent needs to be empowered financially.

1.7        Significance of the Study

This study will inform policy makers on the need to take education of the girl-child student seriously in order to contribute to the development of the State. The finding will also inform curriculum planners to make their curriculum child-centred to ensure the gender and cultural sensitivity and to include life skills, HIV/AIDS education, citizenship and conflict resolution. Benefit of the study will assist stakeholders in encouraging girl-child student education by making provision of social amenities, e.g. adequate classrooms, laboratories, good water and healthy sanitation and focused at empowering the girl-child student. The study will create general awareness on the importance of girl child education which will enhance women capacity building, employment and general living standard of the women folk.

Parents and teachers will benefit from the outcome of this study because the intervention, strategies provides will create better awareness that will encourage the parents to send their girl child to schools while the teachers will encourage the retention of these girls in school.

1.8        Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The research is limited to Kaduna State with specific attention to selected Junior Secondary Schools. The study intends to find out Girl-child students enrolment and retention in Schools, and also identify factors affecting Girl-child student enrolment vis-à-vis that of the male child education and the best solutions to curtailing the factors inhibiting the girl child education in the state.