Early Marriage And School Dropout Among Students In Secondary Schools: A Case Study Of Chamwino District In Dodoma Region

ABSTRACT

This study intended to assess the contribution of early marriage to school dropout among students in secondary schools in Chamwino District. The objectives of the study were to investigate the community awareness on contribution of early marriage among students‟ dropout in secondary schools, find out the extent to which dropout from schools is contributed by early marriage and examine the strategies undertaken in order to control the problem.

The study employed mixed research approach and case study design, using a sample of 36 students, 32 parents, 28 teachers and 08 village leaders (WEO and VEO). In addition, the study used questionnaire and unstructured interviews to collect data.

The findings showed that there were students who dropped out school for marriage. Early marriage was contributed by poverty and lack of community awareness among other reasons. It was observed that early pregnancy, diseases, complication during delivery, and death, psychological problems were the problems facing children who married at early age.

The study concludes that early marriage is still a practice because of lack of community awareness among community members, lack of civic education, lack of strong leadership in the community and lack of meetings and discussion in the community. The study recommends that education should be provided to raise community awareness so as to reduce the practice of early marriage and school dropout among students. Establishment of strict by-laws, there should be meetings and discussion on early marriage, also the establishment of different programs. All these will be effectively done if parent, government, schools and other stakeholders work together.