Effects of Poverty on School Enrolment and Retention in Rural Communities in Kebbi State

This study examines the effects of poverty on school enrolment and retention in rural communities in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. Kebbi State consistently records some of Nigeria's lowest primary school net enrolment ratios, with poverty identified as a primary driver of both non-enrolment and early school dropout. Children from poor families face competing pressures including farm labour, domestic chores, and early marriage that pull them away from schooling, while the direct and indirect costs of education remain prohibitive for many households. A mixed-method design was employed, combining a survey of 200 households in rural Kebbi with focus group discussions involving parents, community leaders, and school teachers in Argungu, Yauri, and Bagudo local government areas. Poverty indicators assessed include household income below the poverty line, food insecurity frequency, and parental occupation. Enrolment and retention data were sourced from school registers supplemented by local government education authority records. Chi-square analysis and thematic analysis of qualitative data were applied. Results confirm that poverty is significantly associated with lower enrolment rates and higher dropout probabilities, particularly for girls. School feeding programmes and conditional cash transfers were identified by community members as the most effective interventions. The study concludes that poverty is the dominant structural barrier to educational participation in rural Kebbi State. It recommends expansion of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme and introduction of community-based conditional bursary schemes targeting the poorest quintile of households.

Keywords: poverty, school enrolment, school retention, rural education, Kebbi State.