FACTORS INFLUENCING RURAL FEMALE STUDENT’S DROPOUT FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF NENSABO DISTRICT, WEST ARSI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

This study was conducted at Nensabo Woreda, West Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional state with general objective of investigating factors influencing rural female students’ dropout in rural secondary schools of the Woreda to dig out the reason and solution. In order achieve the stated objectives of the research, a Mixed Method research approach with a convergent Parallel design were employed in order to collect and analysis the relevant data from respondents. For this purpose four rural secondary schools were purposively selected from remote areas of the Woreda. The population of the study was female students dropout who were dropped out and returned back to school. In addition parents, teachers, educational officers and school principals were also included in the study. The total sample of study was 68. Purposive sampling was employed to select parents and principals and stratified sampling was employed to female students and teachers. Moreover, available sampling was employed to include Woreda education officers in the study. The required data was gathered through questionnaire, interview, and focused group discussion. The quantitative data obtained through questionnaire was analyzed using frequencies, and percentage. On the other hand, qualitative data gathered through interview method and focused group discussion was interpreted and described to supplement the findings of quantitative data analysis. Furthermore, the major findings were school related factors, socio-cultural, economic and environmental factors orderly influenced rural female in rural secondary schools in Nensabo Woreda as follows, Gender bias in curriculum material, cover school distance on foot, lack of guidance and counseling, parents give less value to the education of girls’ compared to the boys. Low parental economic status, payment for accommodation cost, payment for purchasing of school materials, payment for transportation. Early marriage and abduction and female genital mutilation. Female students workload at home, ministration cycle, less individual motivation were played a great role in contributing female dropout from rural secondary schools. To forward some recommendation. have decrease the average rates of female dropout specially from rural secondary schools by participating all stake holders, have to work on logistic incentives to reduce socio- economic problem, Awareness creation to the communities, Establishing Guidance and Counseling Club at Secondary School Level and Reducing the Number of Female Students Repeating Class by motivating them in malty dimension on their education should be designed.