Causes of gender disparity in secondary school completion rate in Namtumbo district -Tanzania

This study explored the causes of gender disparity in secondary school completion rate in Namtumbo district in Ruvuma region involving 6 day secondary schools purposefully selected from 18 wards. It involved 101 respondents of whom 72 were secondary students, 22 family heads, 6 secondary school heads and 1 district education officials. Data were collected through questionnaires, documentary review and interviews. This approach allowed greater interaction between the researcher and informants. In this study, the case study design is good in dealing with causes of gender disparity of variables involved in such studies. The findings show that although the number of girls selected to join secondary school almost equals to that of boys, their enrolment and retention rate differ considerably. The data indicate that in 2010 the completion rate of boys 35 percent, while girls was 32 percent. In 2011, the completion rate for boys was 30 percent and girls were 28 percent. Similarly, in 2012, the completion rate for boys was 30 percent while for girls was 29 percent. The dropout rates of girls also remain higher than those of boys. Family poverty, early pregnancies and early marriages, economic status within families are the major causes for the prevalence of gender inequality. In addition, traditional practices and beliefs, poor parenting and low level of gender awareness are as well prominent causes. The study concludes that gender disparity continues to hinder girls’ completion of secondary school education in rural areas in the country. The study recommends that education policy should be reviewed so that it operates in the advantage of both girls and boys. This study recommends that future studies may examine the institutional challenges relating to the school environment that impede girls’ performance in secondary education in rural Tanzania at large.