Socio-Cultural Practices and Girl Child Education in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia

ABSTRACT 

The is sought to investigate Socio-Cultural Practices and Girl Child Education in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia with the following objective’s the general object of the study was to examine socio-cultural practices and girl child education in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia and the Specific Objectives were (i) To examine the state of girl child education in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia, (ii) To examine the relationship between socio-cultural practices and girl child education in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia and (iii) To evaluate the relationship between government policy and girl child education in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia. The study employed cross-sectional research design however the sample size of the population in this study was made of 336 respondents and was selected basing on a formula for determining Sample size by Sloven. The researcher used the following tools and methods to collect data; questionnaires, key persons interviews and data sheets. From the study findings it was found out that the average mean of the state of girl child education is 2.69 which is high on the Likert Scale. This implies that generally the state of girl child education in Hodan needs to be improved. However the study results revealed that the average mean was 3.33 equivalent to very high implying that early marriages have severe impact on girl child education. This indicates that different socio-cultural practices affect and hinder girls from attaining education. From the study findings it was concluded that the state of girl child education in Hodan District needs to be improved since majority of the girls are not accessing education due to a number of socio-cultural practices such as early marriages, female genital mutilation. However the study concludes that in most parts of Hodan District, socio-cultural practices were still taking place which severely affected girl child education in the district. For instance, thousands of girls were married off at an early age so as to their families can acquire some wealth in form of camels. Lastly from the research findings and conclusion it was recommended that there is need to create more awareness on the dangers of socio-cultural practices such as FGM since they severely affect education of the girl child therefore by re-evaluating FGM and speeding up eradication campaign so that a multi-sectoral approach is adopted such as integrating FGM awareness with ante-natal and post-natal programs. Organizations working to eradicate FGM can do so through a range of initiatives at local level, including public education and workshops, drama and songs, training for health care providers and fostering community decisions to stop infibulating their girls. This will equally require dialogue with community chiefs or elders, as the attitude of senior males in the community are crucial to changing customs. Elders are the ones who ensure that the practice is fulfilled and followed to the letter.

TABLES OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION........................................................................................................ ii

APPROVAL .............................................................................................................iii

DEDICATION..........................................................................................................iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................. v

TABLES OF CONTENTS ...........................................................................................vi

LIST OF TABLES .....................................................................................................ix

CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................ 1

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1

1.0 Introduction...................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background of the Study ................................................................................... 1

1.1.1 Historical Perspective...................................................................................... 1

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective ................................................................................... 3

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective ................................................................................... 5

1.1.4 Contextual Perspective.................................................................................... 6

1.2 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................. 7

1.3 Purpose of the Study......................................................................................... 8

1.4 Objectives of Study ........................................................................................... 8

1.4.1 General Objective.............................................

1.4.2 Specific Objectives............................................

1.5 Research Questions............................................

1.6 Scope of the Study............................................................................................ 8

1.6.1 Geographical Scope ........................................................................................ 9

1.6.2 Content Scope ............................................................................................... 9

1.6.3 Time Scope.................................................................................................... 9

1.7 Significance of the Study ................................................................................... 9

1.8 Operational Definitions of key terms ................................................................. 10

CHAPTER TWO..................................................................................................... 12

LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................... 12

2.0 Introduction.................................................................................................... 12

2.1 Theoretical Review.......................................................................................... 12

2.2 Conceptual review showing the relationship between the variables...................... 13

Conceptual framework .......................................................................................... 13

2.3 Related literature ............................................................................................ 14

2.3.1 State of girl child education...............................

2.3.2 Relationship between socio-cultural practices and girl child education......... 

2.3.3 Relationship between government policy and girl child education ............... 

2.4 Related Studies............................................................................................... 20

2.5 Research gap.................................................................................................. 28

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................. 29

METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 29

3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................... 29

3.2 Research Design ............................................................................................. 29

3.3 Study Population............................................................................................. 30

3.4 Sample Size.................................................................................................... 30

3.5 Sampling Selection Techniques and Procedure................................................... 31

3.6 Data sources................................................................................................... 31

3.7 Data Collection instruments ............................................................................. 32

3.7.1 Questionnaires ............................................................................................. 32

3.7.2 Interview Guide............................................................................................ 33

3.8 Pre-testing Validity and Reliability of Instruments............................................... 33

3.8.1. Validity ....................................................................................................... 33

3.8.2 Reliability..................................................................................................... 34

3.9 Data Collection Procedures .............................................................................. 34

3.10 Data analysis ................................................................................................ 35

3.11 Ethical considerations .................................................................................... 35

CHAPTER FOUR.................................................................................................... 36

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ....................................... 36

4.0. Introduction................................................................................................... 36

4.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents ...................................................... 36

Source: Primary data (2019).................................................................................. 38

4.2 State of girl child education.............................................................................. 39

4.3 Relationship between socio-cultural practices and girl child education in Hodan

District, Mogadishu, Somalia.................................................................................. 41

4.4 Relationship between government policy and girl child education in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia ............................. 43

CHAPTER FIVE ..................................................................................................... 47

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................... 47

5.0 Introduction.................................................................................................... 47

5.1 Discussion of Findings ..................................................................................... 47

5.1.1 Demographic profiles of the respondents........................................................ 47

5.1.2 State of girl child education........................................................................... 48

5.1.3 Relationship between socio-cultural practices and girl child education in Hodan

District, Mogadishu, Somalia.................................................................................. 49

5.1.4 Relationship between government policy and girl child education in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia ................................................ 49

5.2 Conclusion...................................................................................................... 50

5.2.1 State of girl child education........................................................................... 50

5.2.2 Relationship between socio-cultural practices and girl child education............... 51

5.2.3 Relationship between government policy and girl child education ..................... 51

5.3 Recommendations........................................................................................... 51

5.4 Contribution to the body of existing knowledge ................................................. 52

5.5 Areas for further research................................................................................ 52

REFERENCES........................................................................................................ 54

APPENDICES ........................................................................................................ 57

APPENDIX I- QUESTIONNAIRE .............................................................................. 57

APPENDIX II: INTERVIEW GUIDE .......................................................................... 61