Factors associated with gumuz people female students’ education enrolment at school level in metekel zone manduraworeda

The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with education enrolment of Gumuz people female students at school level. The study was conducted at public primary and secondary schools in Madura Woreda. From 33 schools, 265 teachers and 10346 students of the public schools in the Woreda 7 schools, 270 students and 64 teachers were taken using purposive sampling techniques. In the study Quantitative research method was used in collecting information from the sample. The study used four categories of research instruments to collect data. These are questionnaires, semi structured interview, focus group discussions and a review of documents (rosters). Descriptive statistics mean and percentage were used to investigate factors that hinder equity of education enrolment of Gumuzfemale students at school level. The data obtained from semi- structured questionnaires and questionnaire was analysed by using percentage whereas data from focus group discussion was analysed by using percentage and direct matrix ranking. The key factors that associated with Gumuz female students education enrolment were Early marriage, abduction, exchange marriage, credit marriage, Cultural attitude of the society, far school distance from home, impact of boys in the family not to send their sisters to school for the sake of exchange marriage, low education background of the society and Female child labour. A series of discussions should be held with the community regarding the benefits of education and the rights of children. Particularly this is helpful in eliminating parental fears for the security of girls where such illegal actions as abduction, raping, etc. are common. Another action to be done is to remove early marriage of girls. This will reduce the impact of unnecessary pressures on Gumuz female students to drop out of schools for marriage.