The violation of the right to education for the girl child in selected mission secondary schools in Mongu district of Western province.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the violation of the ‘Right to Education’ for the girl child in some selected Mission Secondary Schools in Mongu District of Western Province. This involved three Mission Secondary Schools and the communities. A qualitative research approach and a case study design was employed to conduct this study. The research methods utilized in the study were: Semi-structured Interviews/discussions and Focus-group discussions. These were used to obtain in-depth information from the selected Mission Secondary Schools in Mongu District which involved; head teachers, teachers, learners and parents. The resultant qualitative data were analysed thematically and descriptively, using a social constructivist lens. The study findings indicated that the ‘Right to Education’ for the girl child was granted in selected Mission Secondary Schools of Mongu District. The study findings also revealed that, the ‘Right to Education’ for the girl child was also violated by the selected Mission Secondary Schools in Mongu District. The study findings further revealed that, there were a number of negative effects as a result of the violation of the ‘Right to Education’ for girl child in the selected Mission Secondary Schools and the Community. The study recommended that the Ministry of General Education through the local authority must ensure that the ‘Right to Education’ is granted in all schools in the country and also to investigate this violation of the ‘Right to Education’ for the girl child. Furthermore, the Ministry of General Education should incorporate the community as well as the Church in Mongu District in finding possible ways of implementing the Re-Entry Policy in schools in general and Mission Secondary Schools in particular.