AN INVESTIGATION ON GIRL CHILD MARRIAGE AND ITS CAUSES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, CASE STUDY OF MALERA SUB COUNTY, BUKEDEA DISTRICT

ABSTRACT
This study was guided by the topic an investigation on girl child marriage and its effects in primary schools, case study on Malera Sub County Bukedea district. The objectives used are:- (i) To find out the role of policy makers and implementers in handling issues of early marriages. (ii) To identify the causes of early marriages. (iii) To identify the intervention strategies for reducing early child marriages. The design used is both quantitative and qualitative research designs. Quantitative method presented the results in a mathematical form while qualitative method involved a human based judgment. The sample size was 80 respondents selected from the respondents (mainly from class teachers, head teacher, local councilors, parents, early marriage victims, chairperson SMC, PTA and DCDO. A well designed questionnaire was used to collect data in the simplest language favoring all the parties in Malera Sub County in order to obtain other rele,ant information and data collection mdhods like inter ie\' guide. The study findings rcycalcd that the issue or early marriages 1s very common in fvlalcrn Sub County because or orphanage. po, erty. famine. h:.!r atlcndants. Conclusion: In cnnclusion the study re, ca led that early marriages in tvlalcra Sub Cnunty is a product of school based factors, social economic issues, student and parents· negative attitude towards girl child education. Recommendation: One of the recommendations is, (i) to the stake holders, all should participate in sensitization of girl child to take up education seriously, parents should provide basic needs for girl child education.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ........................................................................................ i
APPROVAL .............................................................................. ii
DEDICATION ..................................................................... iii

LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................. .iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................. v
LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................. vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................ vii
ABSTRACT ........................................................................ xi

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................... !
1.0 Introduction .............................................................................. I
1.1 Background to the study ..................................................... I
1.1.1 Historical perspective ., ............................................. 3
1.1.2 Theoretical perspective ................................................... 6
1.1.3 Conceptual perspective .................................................... 6
1.1.4 Contextual perspective .......................................................... 6
1.2 Statement of the problem .......................................................... ?
1.3 Objectives of the study ........................................................ 7
1.3.1 Main Objectives .......................................................................... 7
1.3.2 Specific objectives ........................................................... 7
1.4 Research questions .................................................................................................................... 8
1.5 Scope of the study ..................................................................................................................... 8
1.5.1 Geographical scope ................................................................................................................. 8 vii
1.5 .2 Content scope ......................................................................................................................... 9
1.5.3 Time Scope ............................................................................................................................. 9
1.5.4 Theoretical perspective ........................................................................................................... 9
1.6 Conceptual framework ........................................................................................................... 10
1.7 Justification of the study .......................................................................................................... I I
1.8 Definition of key concepts ....................................................................................................... 11

CHAPTER TWO ......................................................................................................................... 14
LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 14
2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 14
2.1 Factors leading to early marriages among primary school pupils ........................................... 14
2.1.1 Poverty as cause of early marriage ....................................................................................... 14
2.1.2 Child labor as a cause or early marriage ............................................................................... I 5
2.1.3 Parental perception towards education as a cause of early marriages .................................. 16
2.1.4 The size of the family ........................................................................................................... 16
2.1.5 Academic achievement of parents ........................................................................................ 17
2.1.6 Pupils attitude towards education as a factor ........................................................................ 17
2.1. 7 Distance to school.. ............................................................................................................... l 8
2.2 Measures for reducing early marriages in Primary schools .................................................... 18
2.3 Gaps in Research ..................................................................................................................... 19

CHAPTER THREE ..................................................................................................................... 21
METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 21
3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 21 viii
3. I Area and population of the study ............................................................................................ 21
3.2 Study Population ...................................................................................................................... 21
3.3 Sampling Procedure ................................................................................................................ 21
3.3.1 Sample size ........................................................................................................................... 22
3.3.2 Sampling techniques ............................................................................................................. 22
3.4 Data collection methods and instruments ................................................................................ 22
3.5 Quality Control Methods ......................................................................................................... 22
3.6 Data Management and Processing ........................................................................................... 23
3.7 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 23
3.7. l Data collection method ......................................................................................................... 23
3.7.2 Validity ................................................................................................................................. 24
3.7.3 Reliability ............................................................................................................................. 24
3.8 Ethical Consideration .............................................................................................................. 2-1-
3.9 Limitations and anticipated solution ........................................................................................ 24

CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................... 26
PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS ............................................................................................. 26
4.0 SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS .............................. 26
4.1 Interpretation of the data .......................................................................................................... 28
4.2 The role of policy makers and implementers in handling issues of early marriages ............... 30
4.3 Causal factors for early marriages ........................................................................................... 34
4.4 The intervention strategies for reducing early marriages ........................................................ 38