STUDIES ON CHALLENGES OF FEMALE STUDENTS IN SECONDARY LEVEL EDUCATION IN RURAL DIRE DAWA

Abstract

The Ethiopian government works to achieve one of the targets of millennium development goal, that is promote gender equality and empower women. As part of the millennium development target, the government of Ethiopia incorporated the gender issue in different national polices including the education sector. Rural girls are important element in the rural development of the country and there is a growing realization that the participation of girls is vital for the progress of a nation. Surely, the development of a nation depends on the educational status of the rural girls. Education and empowerment of girls and women are the crucial factors contributing to social and economic development. Unfortunately, girls and women have less than an equal opportunity to participate in education. This research was conducted in Dire Dawa Administration focusing on the challenges of rural female students in secondary level education. Until very recently, the secondary level education institutions were found only in the city of Dire Dawa. Hence, rural students in general and females in particular were forced to travel long distances in order to reach secondary schools. Accessibility of secondary level education facilities and affordability of staying in the city were remaining the challenges of rural female students. Majority of parents in rural Dire Dawa were engaged in subsistence farming and they were mainly food insecure. The poor economic back ground of rural parents has direct implication in the number of children they will be able to send to schools. The study was based in three secondary schools and one rural female student’s hostel purposely selected out of nine secondary schools found in the Administration. It involved 115 respondents (96 rural female students and 19 Education bureau experts, school principals and teachers). The aim of the research is therefore, to explore the challenges of female student’s participation in secondary level education in rural areas of Dire Dawa. Descriptive research methodology has been employed. Interviews, focus group discussion and secondary data source pertinent to the study were used to collect data. Analysis was made using both primary and secondary data. The findings of the research indicated that the challenges of female students in the rural areas are highly associated with the low income of parents. Majority of the parents depend on subsistence farming which is less productive. Apart from the economic problem, distance from secondary schools, early marriage and less value given to female education are factors that are found to be associated with low level of participation. In addition, the low level of academic performance of female students from rural areas is caused by heavy work at home, low self-esteem and lack of parental support due to economic problems. The research, hence, recommended that the livelihoods strengthening programs of parents, creation of access to secondary education in rural areas and creating better awareness about the importance of female education to the rural community should be given due attention. Besides, the rural girl’s hostel built by the Administration should be given adequate courtesy for optimum utilization of the facility.