Where are our Girls? Gender Disparity in Secondary Education in Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was aimed at identifying major barriers to females' secondary education enrolment in Dire Dawa Administration (DDA). The study employed a qualitative research method of phenomenological type. The respondents were 18 female students, five secondary school principals; four education officials selected using non-probability sampling techniques, and five parent-teacher association (PTA) members. Interview and document analysis were used to collect data. Analysis of the data indicated that parents' negligence and less attention to their daughters' education leads female students to develop less interest to their education and finally drop out from schools mainly after completing their primary education. Most family's low income and unable to cover their daughters educational and other costs forced secondary school age girls to quit their education and participate in different informal lower level life earning activities. Moreover, absence of secondary schools at rural areas and some teachers less motivation and frequent absenteeism from classes contribute to female students' repetition and dropping out from secondary schools.