Triggers Of School Dropout Among Secondary School Girls In Cross River State, Nigeria
Effiom Bassey Ekeng Ph.D
Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Dr Mrs Stella Jacks
Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Keywords: Girl-child, dropout, causes, secondary school
Abstract
No nation can toy with the education of the girl-child because of the sayings that goes that educate a woman and you educate a nation. Yet girls are often dogged with challenges of access, equality, performance and retention/dropout in terms of schooling. The study sought to establish the factors of dropping among secondary school girls in Calabar metropolis in Cross River State, Nigeria. One research question was formulated to guide the study. Survey design was utilized to unveil the implications. A sample size of 240 was drawn from school dropout girls and their parents/guardians, teachers, students in schools, youth and women leaders using the stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaire/checklist was used to collect the data which was analyzed using percentages. Poverty, teen pregnancy, peer influence and quest for money were identified as the paramount factors of dropout. It is recommended that schools be made free, qualitative and engaging in order to motivate the girl-child towards completion of school