Abstract

The study investigated access of female students to secondary education and the completion rate of those that were enrolled in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It also determined the factors responsible for the attrition of female students with a view to promoting the education of the girl child in the FCT. Twenty two public secondary schools were randomly selected from three area councils of the FCT. Documentary information on enrolment and attrition of female students was obtained, and oral interviews were conducted with 44 school principals, 20 school counselors and 50 teachers. The results showed that 70 percent of the principals and teachers interviewed opined that poverty and culture of early marriage were the two major factors that were responsible for female students' attrition.

Key words: Access to education, female students’ attrition, girl-child education, nation building.