Dropout of Girls from Secondary Schools in Somaliland

Education is the tool for combating poverty, promoting peace, social justice, human rights, democracy, cultural diversity and environmental awareness. But girls' education has been characterized by low enrollment and high dropout. In 2011-2013 globally, 11% of girls dropped out of secondary school, 58% of girls dropped out in Africa and 37.9% dropped out in Somaliland. This study investigated the factors influencing dropout intention of girls from public secondary schools in Borama district, Somaliland, using cross-sectional survey design on a stratified random sample of 322 girls in November 2014. It established that SES, (F [1, 322] = 3.871, p = .003, R = -.631, R2 adj = .393), socio-cultural factors, (F [1, 322] = 3.871, p = .000, R= -213, R2 adj = .042), and community factors, (F [1, 322] = 3.871, R = -329, p = .000, R2 adj = .105) significantly influence dropout intention of the girls. The study concluded that SES is the main factor influencing dropout intention of the girls from public secondary schools. The MoEHS should provide scholarship or universal secondary education to girls; develop policies and alternative education programs to especially encourage girls' education.