ANALYSIS OF FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO GIRLS’ DROPOUT FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RURAL SINDH, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Even though girls’ education ensures socio-economic development, it is not accessible to many girls living in less privileged areas. A significant number of girls in South Asia reportedly discontinue their secondary level education due to several cultural and economic factors. This study was carried out to investigate the factors that cause hurdles in the way of girls’ secondary education. A total of 200 households were randomly surveyed from district Khairpur, Sindh to record men’s opinions about social, cultural, economic and geographical dimensions influencing girls’ secondary education. The findings of this study indicate that girls’ secondary education is not favoured in rural communities in a bid that the primary responsibility of girls is to look after the household. Parents want to see their daughters as good wives and mothers, and this has a consequential impact on their education. Results highlight that early marriage, patriarchy, cultural values and school distance deter girls’ secondary level schooling in rural Sindh. We suggest to address socio-economic, cultural and geographical barriers to ensure girls’ participation in secondary schools otherwise girls’ limited access to education and gender-based discrimination will persist, which is likely to result in socio-economic retardation