Early Marriage and its Impacts on Girls’ Secondary School Dropout in Mufindi District, Tanzania

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the influence of early marriage on girls’ school dropout in Mufindi District, Tanzania. The research employed a qualitative research approachwhereby qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. However, the literature reveals gaps in the empirical evidence on the link between early marriage and the dropout of girls from secondary schools. The findings revealed that most girls were dropping out ofschool due to early marriages, and most of the students who are affected by this cultural practice are the ones in the lowest level of secondary school, Form I –II level. The researcher recommends that Community-Based Organizations and the government should form schedules of providing facilitations to the community members on the negative impacts of cultural activities by starting with early marriage so that they should be eliminated and never be obstacles to girls' education anymore. The right to education for both genders should be further elaborated followed by its importance to overall development.