CHALLENGES OF ATTENDING SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN SHEBELLE ZONE OF SOMALI REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

The major objective of this Study was to investigate the challenges of attending secondary school education in Shebelle zone of Somali regional state. To achieve this study, the descriptive survey research design was used. Secondary schools (three in number) of the zone were selected using simple random sampling technique. Questionnaires were distributed for teachers and students where as structured interviews were forwarded to principals, PTA,’ supervisors,’ Bureau of education office heads and community clan heads were used as data collection instruments. Focus group discussion was conducted with students’ council in order to collect additional data. The sample included 175 students, 70 teachers, 6 principals, 3 community clan heads, 8 students’ council, 3 supervisors, 3 Bureau of education office heads and 10 PTA with the total of (278) participants. The data was collected through questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis were employed to analysis the data. The data collected through interviews and focus group discussions from selected areas were analyzed qualitatively and frequencies, percentage, mean and t-test were used for quantitative data. The major findings revealed that distance from home to school, drought, poverty, parents background of education, economic problems, parents lack of awareness regarding education, low participations in school management, peer pressure, shortage of secondary schools in the study area are the major challenges of attending secondary school education. These resulted backwardness, drug addiction, abusing, migration and the decline of communities economy. The involvement of parents was very stumpy since the majority of the pastoralist communities are illiterate. Thus, it is recommended that bureau of education office heads, supervisors, community clan heads, parent teacher associations, principals, teachers, students’ council, government and non- governmental institutions should be involved and contributed in awareness creation, monitoring and follow up the progress of students attendance, motivation and schedule arrangements for the pastoralist societies in order to address problems which challenge the students’ attendance in secondary school education. Moreover, the school managements should work collaboratively with communities, governments and NGOs’ in order to look up funds to support the children especially in poor societies.