Dropout Syndrome among Girls in Secondary Schools and Human Resources Development in Nigeria

Abstract

No Nation can toy with the education of the girl-child because the saying goes that educate a woman and you educate a nation. Yet girls are often dogged with challenges of access, equity, performance and retention/dropout in terms of schooling. The study sought to establish the factors of dropout among secondary school girls in Nembe Local Government (LGA) of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. One research question was formulated to guide the study.  Survey design was utilized; sample of 240 was drawn from dropout girls and their parent/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 percentage.  Poverty, teen pregnancy, peer influence and quest for money were identified as the paramount factors of dropout. It is recommended that schools be made truly free, qualitative and engaging, in order to motivate the girls toward completion.

Key words: Dropout, poverty, girl-child