Female Students Low Enrolment in Science Subjects and Its Menace in Some Selected Secondary Schools in Fagge Zonal Education Office of Kano State-Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the Female Low Enrolment in Science Subjects and its Menace in some Selected Secondary Schools in Fagge Zonal Education of Kano State. The survey was conducted among science-based Senior Secondary School two (SSS2) female students in five randomly selected senior secondary schools in the zone to ascertain the causes and improvements of low females’ students’ enrolment in science subjects. Twenty-five test item questionnaires based on six (6) factors of socio-cultural, parental, teachers, self, school environment and marital suspected to be capable of causing low enrolment in science subjects were formulated and used for the study. Two hundred and twenty (220) questionnaires were administered and one hundred and eighty (180) were returned. The data was analyzed with the aid of simple percentages as a statistical method. Results showed that of all the factors investigated, only parental, school environment and marital factors were implicated as the major factors for low female students’ enrolment in science subjects in the selected schools. The socio-economic status of parents, time allotment to household chores by married students, gender insensitivity, illustrations in science textbooks have also contributed to low enrolment of female students in science subjects. Contrary to expectations, socio-cultural, self and teacher factors were not major contributing factors to low female students’ enrolment in science subjects in schools in the zonal education office. In spite of the identified factors causing low enrolment of female students in science subjects in the study area, improvements in the enrolment can be achieved by payment of allowances to female science students to serve as motivation, enlightenment of both the parents and their female students on the importance of science to national development and provision of good science laboratories and facilities.