pregnancy. Poverty (34.5%), fear of failure (19%) and teasing by boys (12.8%) were other reasons for disliking and dropping out of school. On the contrary, when the girls were asked why they liked school, the majority (69.3%) said they wanted to have a successful future. Medicine (49.4%) and Banking (16%) were top choices for the girls. What could be done to make girls become more interested in school? The data showed parental involvement (79%) as a catalyst. To become more successful in life the girls felt they needed to acquire university education with 90.8% saying they would want to finish high school and go to university. Comparison between Muslims and Christians In comparing responses between the Muslim and Christian girls, the data showed that 58.8% of Christian and 47.5% of Muslim girls went to school because they wanted to. Parents’ involvement was a slightly more important issue for Muslim girls (42.6%) than for Christian girls (32.7%). Both groups enjoyed going to school with 93.8% of Christian versus 85.5% of Muslim girls. Why do girls drop out
from school? 47.3% of Christian and 55% of Muslim girls said finance was a major reason why they dropped out of school. Analysis of pregnancy rates revealed a significant difference between Muslim (23.6%) and Christian girls (39.7%) dropping out of school. Dropping out of school due to poverty was almost even for the two groups: 36.8% for Christians and 38.4% for Muslim girls. Both Muslim (60.7%) and Christian (77.4%) girls like school as a means to better their future. On the professional choice, the data showed 44% of Christian and 60.3% of Muslim girls wanted to be in the medical profession. What would make girls become more interested in going to school? The data showed 84.4% of Christian and 73.6% of Muslim girls said parental support would be a major factor for liking school. Both Christian and Muslim girls expressed a deep desire to finish high school and go to university (91.4% for Christian and 90.1% Muslim girls). Comparing the states in the north, the data showed that in Kaduna State, 61.6% went to school because they wanted to while 31.8% did so because of their parents. In Katsina State,
39.3% went to school because they wanted to while 44.3% did so because of their parents. In Kano State, 52.6% said they went to school because they wanted to while 42.1% said they did so because of their parents. Why did they enjoy school? The data showed 78.9% in Kano State, 80% in Katsina State and 96% in Kaduna State said they went to school because they enjoyed learning. On why they dropped out of school, 52.5% from Kaduna State dropped out because of financial reasons while 34.8% dropped out because of pregnancy. In Katsina State, 42.1% dropped out due to financial reasons while 35% due to pregnancy. The situation was no different in Kano State where 52.6% dropped out due to financial reasons while only 5.3% dropped out due to pregnancy. Recommendations To improve female education and give girls equal opportunity to compete in tomorrow’s world the following must be given prompt attention. • Governments at the local, state and federal levels must make every effort to bridge the educational gaps between men and women by providing scholarships to indigent female students. • There is an urgent need to address the inhibiting cultural beliefs that discriminate against women. • All constitutional constraints that affect basic legal, political, social and economic rights for women must be addressed in the constitution. • The present school curricula must be reviewed to remove gender-biases. • More women should be involved in planning and policy making, especially policies relating to women’s education. • Special programs such as networking and mentoring should be provided to encourage girls to remain in school. • Laws should be enacted to protect girls against early marriages and protect young girls from sexual predators. Conclusion This study found that formal education is in crises in Northern Nigeria and needs an urgent attention. Nigeria cannot afford to be unserious about the education of her womenfolk. There can be no significant, sustainable transformation of