Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to examine academic performance of female students in primary
schools of harshin woreda, fafan zone, somali regional state. To conduct this study, descriptive
survey research design was employed. A total of 370 respondents (360 female students, 3
principals, 3 vice principals, 2 teacher representative and 2 parents teacher students association
heads was included in the study. school leaders were selected using purposive sampling while the
female students’ respondents were selected using simple random sampling techniques. The data
were gathered through questionnaire and interview. Data gathered through questionnaire were
analyzed using percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation and one sample t-test. Data
obtained through interview and open-ended was qualitatively analyzed. Findings from the data
analysis revealed that female students’ respondents were decided agree score with regards to
society attitudes effects on female academic performance. The study clearly indicated that family
socioeconomic background, parental low income, economic status of parents was not helping
female students to motivated on their academic performance. In addition, female student’s teacher
relationship, level of parental education, absence of family support are some of the factors affecting
female students’ academic performance. Based on the investigated challenges in this study it can
be summarized that poor educational background of parents, female students self-stem, and
attitude for themselves was rated the most dominant challenges. Schools in collaboration with
woreda education office should create awareness among the community with regards to educating
female is all about educating citizen. Improving the female students‟ academic performance in the
primary school is not only the responsibility of parents, students, thus large community should
work on improving their academic performance
