ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS AFFECTING FEMALE ENROLLMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOL (The case of Hidase Secondary School Lideta sub city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Abstract

The study focused on female participation in Senior High School education. The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of the factors which affect female access to and participation in Senior High School or Secondary education in Addis Ababa, Lideta sub-city, Hidase secondary school of Ethiopia. The study showed that female access to and participation in Senior High School education are influenced by many factors such as negative attitudes and perceptions, poverty, poor academic performance, absence of specific access policies for girls and weak institutional female education support programmes. These things have become major hindrances to girls’ participation in Senior High School education. One way girls fail to gain access to Senior High School education is through the failure of parents to provide adequate care for their school needs. Without support for girls to complete their education, many of them will struggle with poverty and its effects and this will affect their participation in labour issues and decision making later in life (Stephen et al 1999 cited in Meena, 2001). It is suggested that for the society to have girls’ full participation in Senior High School education, parental support should be based on a clear philosophy so that Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations could make commitments to provide assistance for the education of girls in Senior High Schools. Provision of support for girls should include adequate financial care, reducing girls’ participation in family occupational activities, institution of scholarship, science and technology schemes, introduction of affirmative action in Senior High School admissions, establishment of special girls’ Senior High Schools and joint NGOs &NGO sinitiatives for supply of books, equipment and development of infrastructure. Above all, there is a need for parents and the society at large to wear positive attitude towards girls’ education. This will help the girl-child to build up a strong ego and confidence to go through school.