Interview with Ayishetu Hassan (Drop Out, Laribanga)
Ayishetu Hassan is a girl of about 13 years. When she was invited for the interview, she refused and even started running away. When she was caught, I explained what I was doing and why I was doing it. Ayishetu agreed to have the interview. She was afraid but soon got over it when we started. On the tape she seemed to have spent about 30 minutes but in reality, the interview with Ayishetu was over an hour. I had to occasionally press my pause button in order not to waste the tape. She was pleased with herself, manifested in smiles when it was over. The interview was in Kamara, her mother tongue. This was conducted in July, 1995.
Q: Where were you born?
A Laribanga.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A Laribanga.
Q: Are you the eldest, youngest or somewhere in the middle among you mother's children?
A: I am not the eldest.
Q: How many are you?
A: We are eight.
Q: How many are older than you?
A: Four.
Q: Do they attend school?
A: No, they go for Islamic instructions.
Q: Are you the eldest among the girls?
A: No, we are two girls.
Q: What kind of work do you do at home?
A: Fetching of water, washing dishes and fetching firewood.
Q: What work do your parents do?
A: They are farmers.
Q: Do you have any other child staying with you?
A: Yes, we have an aunt's child staying with us.
Q: Who is older?
A: She is.
Q: Are there days that you felt very unhappy?
A: Yes.
Q: What made you unhappy on such days?
A: They blame me quite often saying I was not hardworking.
Q: What about happy moments?
A: When I was praised.
Q: Where did you start your schooling?
A: In Laribanga.
Q: What did you like about school?
A: I didn't like school at all.
Q: What were your thoughts when you were in school?
A: Nothing.
Q: What and how did you feel? Did you really not like school?
A: No.
Q: Were your school fees being paid?
A: No.
Q: Did you get any help from your parents?
A: No.
Q: Why did you drop out of school?
A: Nothing. I don't have any specified reasons.
Q: Were there other girls like you who dropped out of school while you were there?
A: Yes.
Q: Now, tell me why you stopped going to school.
A: I was asked to pay some money and when I told my parents about it, they told me they didn't have any money to pay so I stopped.
Q: Did the teachers worry you too much about the fees?
A: Yes.
Q: How did you feel about that?
A: I felt ashamed and that was why I left.
Q: What else worried you so much that you had to leave school?
A: Nothing.
Q: Do you feel you could make it in school?
A: No, I was not good in class.
Q: Was that another reason for leaving school?
A: Yes.
Q: Did you think of any career while you were in school? Did you feel like doing some job after school?
A: I never thought of that.
Q: Were there any drop outs when you were in school?
A: Yes.
Q: Why did they drop out?
A: Some of the good pupils teased the weaker ones in class.
Q: Will you go if we talk to you teacher to warn all who laugh at pupils like you?
A: Yes, I will go back to school.
Q: Considering your experience, what do you think should be done to help girls like you stay in school?
A: Pupils should be given school dresses and sandals for school.
Q: Suppose you have your dresses and your school fees paid, will you go to school even if you are laughed at?
A: Yes.
Q: What do you think you parents should do to help you stay in school?
A: They should give me money.
Q: What do you need money for?
A: To send to school (chop money).
Q: Do you imply that you need food?
A: Yes.
Q: Have you heard of the government?
A: No.
Q: What do you think school authorities should do to help you in school?
A: Nothing. I don't think they can do anything.
Q: Were your parents happy that you went to school?
A: They were happy about it.
Q: What support did they offer you when you were in school?
A: They gave me food when I return from school.
Q: So why did you then stop going to school?
A: Nothing.
N.B. Although the interview doesn't seem long, it took me over one hour to reach this point.
Q: Do you know any drop outs?
A: No.
Q: What about girls who stopped going to school at the same time with you? Do you know any?
A: Yes, she is Sadia.
Q: Do you know why she dropped out?
A: No, I know she was sent to Damongo.
Q: What work do you do now that you have stopped going to school?
A: Going for water, washing dishes, going to market and fetching firewood (*) as going to the farm.
Q: Could you not have been in school whilst doing what you do?
A: No.
Q: So it was not only because your parents couldn't pay the school fees that you stopped going to school?
A: Yes, that was the only reason.
Q: Suppose you had someone to pay you school fees would you continue education?
A: No.
Q: Why will you not go to school despite getting a sponsor?
A: I am not intelligent and that makes me feel shy, I think.
Q: You feel you are not intelligent but we feel you are, why will you not like to go back to school?
A: I feel my friends will laugh at me for not knowing anything.
Q: Do clever children laugh at the less brighter ones in your school?
A: No, not always.
Q: What makes you think like this?
A: Even if I get back my friends will have to help me.
Q: And don't you think they can help till you are also good?
A: I think so.
Q: So why won't you go?
A: It's because they will laugh at me.
Interview with Cynthia Alex - Drop Out
Cynthia is a young woman of about 20 years. She has a child though unmarried. She is an apprentice in hair dressing. The interview with Cynthia was in another drop out's house close to hers. She was very willing to talk to me about herself. The interview was conducted in May, 1995.
Q: Where were you born?
A: Navrongo.
Q: Did you grow up there?
A: No, I grew up here in Tamale.
Q: Are you the eldest of your family?
A: No, but the eldest girl.
Q: What kind of jobs did you do as a child?
A: I cooked, cleaned dishes, swept the compound and went for water.
Q: What work did your father and mother do?
A: My father worked with Rural Development. My mother was a house wife.
Q: Did you live with any relatives?
A: No, just our parents and us.
Q: Do you remember any experiences of your childhood days? They could either be good or bad circumstances.
A: I don't remember anything.
Q: Do you remember anything that made you sad or happy when you were a child?
A: I use to be always happy.
Q: Did you never become sad?
A: Only when I was beaten but that never lasted.
Q: Where did you start your schooling?
A: St Gabriel's in Tamale.
Q: What do you remember about your primary school? Did you find the primary school interesting?
A: Yes.
Q: Why was it interesting?
A: Usually after school during break, we played with our friends and this made us feel like going to school always.
Q: Was it only because of playing with your friends that you liked to go to school?
A: The teachers were also nice to us.
Q: Were your parents supportive when you were in school?
A: Yes.
Q: What did they do?
A: They bought my school uniforms, sandals, books and everything that I needed to make me happy.
Q: Did they do anything other than buying things for you? Did they advise you?
A: Yes, anytime I didn't feel like going to school, they would advise me and encourage me to go to school.
Q: Were there girls in your class?
A: Yes, the girls were even more than the boys.
Q: Do you remember all the girls finishing primary six?
A: I remember 4 dropped.
Q: Do you know why they dropped?
A: The complained of school fees.
Q: Was paying school fees a problem? I guess it was not too much.
A: No, it was not such a big problem but I don't' know why. Some too were not just interested in school.
Q: What are they doing now?
A: They have learnt hair dressing and sewing. They have their own workshops. Some are married and selling in the market.
Q: Which school did you go to after the primary school?
A: Anglican Middle.
Q: What kind of job were you thinking of when you were in the middle school?
A: I first wanted to go to the secondary school but my father advised me rather to finish form four (10 years of basic education) and get into the Training College so I dropped that idea.
Q: Why then didn't you go to college.
A: We were the last batch of the old system of form four and somehow our final year exam results was never released.
Q: Did you find out?
A: Yes, I was told they were cancelled.
Q: What, while in form four, did you intend doing in future?
A: I thought of being a teacher as my father advised but because I had no certificate for my basic education, I had not admission into the college so I decided to do hairdressing.
Q: What about your younger brothers and sister?
A: She started day nursery when I left form four.
Q: What did you do while in the house?
A: Nothing special. Just the house chores.
Interview with Cynthia Gabriel - Drop Out
Q: Would you say your responsibilities at home interfered a lot with your school work?
A: No.
Q: How did your parents feel when you wanted to continue your studies after form four? (Basic 10 years of school)
A: My father was very interested and even wanted me to go to secondary school but I refused.
Q: And why did you not want to go to the secondary school?
A: I can't explain that, I just felt like being a teacher and wanted to do my training after form four.
Q: Did you have friends when you were in form school?
A: Yes.
Q: Did they all get through to form four with you?
A: Some dropped out.
Q: What urged you on?
A: I liked to go to school and all that I liked to be was a teacher. Even now I still think of school.
Q: Would you want to go back to school if you got some help?
A: Yes.
Q: Where will you start if you go back to school?
A: At the J.S.S.
Q: How old are you?
A: 20 years.
Q: Will you be willing despite your age to go back to J.S.S.?
A: Certainly.
Q: Are you married?
A: No.
Q: Do you have a child?
A: Yes.
Q: Don't you think it will be difficult to care for the child and at the same time attend school?
A My mother will take care of my child.
Q: What work do you do?
A: I am a hairdressing apprentice.
Q: How long have you been doing that?
A: 2 years.
Q: After leaving form four, what were you doing till you started learning to do your hairdressing?
A: I was doing nothing because my father had travelled and there was no one to cater for me at school. On his arrival I left for a vocational school hoping I would be a needlework teacher, but it didn't turn out this was because by the time I left that vacancy did not exist anywhere. Anyway I couldn't even finish the vocational school for fear that I was wasting time.
Q: Don't you think you could have established a small business if you finished?
A: No, because I did weaving and there is no demand for our woven cloth. Some of my friends who tried doing that have closed down their shops.
Q: Is that why you left do to hairdressing?
A: Yes.
Q: Who pays for you?
A: My father.
Q: What do you plan doing after completing your course?
A: I intend establishing a hair dressing salon.
Q: How do you cope to finance that?
A: I am counting on my father and if he isn't in the position to help I would have to get a loan.
Q: Have you heard of any association that helps women?
A: No.
Q: Haven't you heard of any association that gives loans to women?
A: I heard of one some time ago, tried to get a loan from them but it hasn't been successful. Not one of those I know who applied got it.
Q: Have you stopped following them for the loan?
A: My father has taken up the issue.
Q: Why do girls drop out of school according to you?
A: Some drop out because there is no one to take care of them, some find husbands, others get pregnant. Some even are forced to marry, many of us didn't foresee that the trend of things in the country would change and thought life would remain as it was - easy and simple.
Q: You talked about your friend stopping school and leaving for Nigeria. Why did she do that?
A: She was forced into marriage and her husband lived in Nigeria. She couldn't make it there. She is back to Ghana.
Q: What work does she do now?
A: She is learning to sew, dressmaking.
Q: Do you know of any policy that is meant to help girls in school?
A: No.
Q: Do you still like to go to school?
A: Formerly no, but now I would say yes.
Q: Why do you think they like to go to school now and yet they are dropping out of school?
A It is the problem of getting married early.
Q: Do you think female drop out is a nationwide problem?
A: Nationwide.
Q: Do you know anybody who has dropped out from the south?
A: No.
Q: How do you then know it is nationwide?
A: I've heard interviews of such people on the television.
Q: What were some of their reasons for dropping out?
A: Because their parents were unable to take care of them in school.
Q: Did you hear what their plans were?
A: Yes, to do some work, get some money and get back to school.
Q: Suppose you were offered some assistance of a sort, what would you want to do?
A: I would open a hairdressing salon since I've almost completed my apprenticeship.
Q: If it was a loan, would you accept it?
A: Yes.
Q: Is there anything that you would want to add? Are there any other reasons why girls drop out of school or that could be done to help girls stay in school that we haven't talked about?
A: Nothing in particular but parents should be encouraged to look after their children and stop forcing the girls into marriage. If girls want to invest in business, they should be encouraged.
Q: So, would you, if you had the assistance use if for business instead of school?
A: No because school is so important. Other people can't cheat you if you are educated. Even to be an apprentice now they require a bit of schooling so that people are able to read and know the kind of cream to use.
Q: How do you see your progress in such a job?
A: Once can be very efficient by doing her work well and giving a good reception to clients. It has a good future.
Q: Do you think you will still be a hairdresser in the next ten years?
A: I don't intend changing a job but I will try to do something in addition (like doing petty trading).
Q: Do you have anything to add?
A: No, that's all I have to say.
