Browsing by Author "Minde,Josephine Joseph"

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Factors causing low response of Maasai parents and girls’ students towards secondary school education in Monduli District- Arusha Region
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2008) Minde,Josephine Joseph
Provision of equality in education at all levels is central in achieving development in any society. However, in Maasai land this situation is limited due to low response of Maasai parents and girls students towards secondary school education. The problem burdens this community and the nation at large in provisions of girls’ access to Secondary Education (SE). Inspitc of government and NGOs efforts to address the issue, the problem is still persisting throughout pastoralist areas. If factors that cause low response of Maasai parents and girls towards secondary education are not examined there is a danger of gender inequality in terms of access to education. The overall objective of this study was to determine factors causing low response of Maasai parents and girls students towards secondary education in Monduli district aiming to generate empirical information on strategies to address the problem. A sample size of 125 respondents was used. Interview with key informants and individual in-depth interview were also employed. The data analysis involved use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Study findings show that low response towards SE was influenced by parents’ education, occupation and marital status. Socio-cultural factors such as norms, values and nomadic life also limit access of girls' SE. Parents support and communication to their daughters was low in education issues. Large number of children residing in a Boma was recognised as a ’ factor for the low response in educating girls although girls students attitude towards SE was noted to be positive. The study recommends creating awareness to Maasai parents in order to increase girls’ enrolment in SE. This could be done through sensitization programmes that promote girls’ access to education and adult education, cross sectional research design using open and close ended questionnaires from a bound by cultural beliefs that restrict girls education. The government should develop special policies, programmes and strategies (raising awareness on the importance of girls education to both parents and local leaders) to address the shortfall through current findings.