To Establish Strategic Initiatives For Access, Participation And Performance Of Girl Child Education In Togdher Somalia

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to investigate the strategic initiatives for access,

participation and performance of girl child education in Togdher, Somalia. Five research

questions were formulated to guide the study. The study employed the descriptive survey

research design. The sample was therefore 66 teachers. Data was collected by use of

questionnaires for the head teachers, deputy teachers and senior teachers. Findings

revealed that influence of the variables that affected the performance of the girl child in

Togdher region of Somaliland which included; community mobilization and awareness in

the implementation of the policies because it has to auger well with norms and the

cultural practices in the area, conflict and fragility has adverse effect on the girl child

education, with existence of the facilities, the girl child education is improving. The

findings also revealed that staffing levels was another challenge faced by head teachers in

promoting girl child education. The findings also revealed that lack of physical facilities

was a factor that influenced access to girls’ education. Findings also revealed that lack of

female teachers affected girl’s education. Girls therefore did not have role models; they

did not have teachers to go for in matters that were particular to them. Based on the

findings of the study it was recommended that there is need for the government through

the teachers service commission (TSC) to post more female teachers to the area to act as

role models for the girls. There is need for the government through the CDF and NGOs to

give more bursaries for the girls in the area to encourage them. Taking into consideration

the limitations and delimitations of the study suggested that an investigation on the

influence of gender policy on girls’ participation in schools should be conducted. The

other important support that should be provided by the government and the Non-

Governmental Organizations are the rescue centres in the schools that are located deep in

the interior. Rescue centres would go a long way in providing a learning environment,

where the girl is not threatened by the cultural practices leading to drop out from school.

Therefore, the head teachers should be actively involved in sourcing the assistance for the

poor girls who cannot afford school fees. In the same breathe, enough learning facilities

and physical structures such as teachers staff houses, should be provided. It was also

suggested that a study on an investigation in the impact of CDF in enhancing girls’

participation in schools should be conducted. There is also need to conduct a study on the

effects of boarding schools on girls’ participation in secondary schools in the district.