A Preliminary Study on Causes of Non Retention of Masendu Ward Girls at Secondary School

This case study is a preliminary attempt to identify possible factors that might contribute to poor retention and progression of a girl-child in Secondary School education in Masendu Area. The study was conducted using school leavers from Masendu ward, in the Bulilima district of Zimbabwe. The results presented in this study were collected from a workshop attended by 13 female and 2 male school leavers from Masendu Ward and 10 female students from the National University of Science and Technology. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used as instruments for collecting data. The results serve as a preliminary to the pilot study conducted at the Mangwe district in Plumtree. A paper on the study is to follow. From the data collected in the workshop, twelve major problems were identified which most participants viewed as the key contributors to the poor retention and progression of a girl child in secondary school education. The problems identified included just to mention a few: early pregnancies, lack of finance, lack of moral support and protection from unruly characters on the way , after school sporting activities which cause the children to leave school late, leaving school to seek job in neighbouring countries. Some of the suggestions of improving the retention on a girl ?child at secondary school included the need to educate school girls on importance of abstinence, community to seek sponsorships, need for intervention from the community at large to safeguard the education of all children irrespective of gender, provision of cheap accommodation at school or at villages near school, sport activities could be scheduled one morning of a chosen day during the week to enable the students to leave school early and get home before it of dark. Lessons for that day could be covered by extending the other remain 4 days by a lesson or two, career guidance that emphases the need of education for a long lasting career