Exploring factors affecting enrollment in primary Schools in katagum local government area of Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Enrollment into school is the compulsory right of every child to access primary education through six-year programme of schooling which provides children with basic literacy and numeracy as well as skills for their lives. This builds a solid foundation and open avenues for future success on both the individual and society. However, despite this, Nigeria has the highest number of children not enrolled in school even globally. This study explores factors affecting enrollment in primary schools in Nigeria. The study sought to achieve the following objectives; to examine the perceptions of stakeholders on the socio-economic factors affecting enrollment in primary schools, to examine the opinions of stakeholders on the school factors affecting enrollment in primary schools, to find out the stakeholders understandings on the policies regulating enrollment in Primary Schools and to explore the perceptions of stakeholders on how the enrollment could be improved and sustained in primary schools in Katagum Local Government Area. The Human Capital Theory by economists Gary Becker and Theodore Schultz (1961) guided this research. A qualitative study, framed within an interpretivism paradigm, drawn on a phenomenology design was used. 29 participants were purposively sampled from the study’s population who are stakeholders of primary education including parents, teachers, head teachers and Education Secretary while the data were generated using interviews and focus group discussions and thematically analysed. Trustworthiness was ensured and ethical principles were adhered to. Findings revealed that the stakeholders perceived socio-economic factors affecting enrollment in primary schools as poverty, child labour, distance norms and location of the school, influx of Internally Displaced Persons, belief system and unemployment. However, school factors perceived to be affecting enrollment are inadequate classrooms structures, inadequate teaching and learning facilities, lack of water and toilet facilities in schools, unavailability of qualified teachers and negative attitude of some teachers. It was understood that policies regulating enrollment such as Free and Compulsory Education Policy, School Feeding programme, Almajiri Integrated Model School and Better Education Service Delivery for All requires effective implementation. It was envisioned that, strategies like abolishing of school fees, shifting socio-cultural norms, introduction of skills acquisition, schools improvement projects and offering financial incentives to poor families would improve and sustain enrollment in primary schools. The policy makers should communicate the policies more clearly and more meaningfully by providing adequate finances to reduce the cost of schooling within the range of affordability to parents as well as provide necessary facilities and technical assistance that would motivate and encourage quality teaching and increase enrollment in primary schools.