Female drop out in basic schools in the Bibiani Anwiaso Bekwai District

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate female dropout and migration in basic schools in the Bibiani Anwiaso Bekwai District of the Western Region. The objectives of the study were to find out school factors that causes female dropouts, ascertain home factors that causes female dropouts and to determine the effects of female dropouts on schooling decisions in the Bibiani Anwiaso Bekwai District. A descriptive research design with quantitative approach was used for the study. The target population sums up to 174 comprising 12 heads teachers, 102 teachers and 60 dropped out girls. Purposive sampling was used to select seven head teachers, 84 teachers and 5 dropped out girls. A total of 96 respondents consisting of 7 head teachers, 84 teachers, and 5 dropped out girls were used for the study. The study found among others that school factors that cause female drop out of school are the use of students for non-academic duties and school distance too far from home. Home factors that cause female drop out of school are lack of parental interest and parent’s inability to provide academic needs. Some of the effects of female dropout of school are involvement in armed robbery, early marriage, sexual promiscuity, teenage, pregnancy, child labor and female migration. It is recommended based on the findings that the Ghana Education Service should direct heads of educational institutions not to allow their teachers to use abusive language on students but rather establish good rapport with students to enable them to have interest in schooling.