FEMALE MIGRATION AND DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL IN PUBLIC BASIC SCHOOLS IN A LUMBERING COMMUNITY IN THE ASANTE AKIM SOUTH DISTRICT

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to explore female migration and drop out in the Ashanti Akim South district. The objectives of the study were to identify the perceived school factors that dominantly cause school dropouts, determine the perceived home factors that dominantly causes school dropouts and to find out the perceived effects of school dropouts in the district. The researcher used descriptive survey design with closed ended questionnaire as the research instrument for the study. The population for the study comprised two head teachers and 16 teachers of Breku District Assembly Primary, Breku District Assembly Junior High School, 12 drop out girls and 20 parents totaling 50 for the study. Purposive sampling was used to select 18 head teachers and teachers and 12 girl dropped outs. Simple random sampling was used to select 20 parents. The study found among others that among the school factors that causes of school dropout are, use of students for non-academic duties and school distance too far from home. Among the home factors are, lack of parental interest and parent’s inability to provide academic needs. Among the effects of dropout are early marriage and sexual promiscuity. It is recommended based on the findings that the Ghana Education Service should create an enabling school environment for students to promote effective teaching and learning to motivate student to have interest to attend school to avoid dropout.