Factors Influencing the Re-engagement of School Dropout Adolescent Girls into the Education System Following the Enactment of the Re-entry Policy in Zambia: A Qualitative Study

Globally, adolescent pregnancy and marriage contribute to high school dropout rates. Girls who drop out of school early tend to have poorer health indicators than those who continue their education. In 1997, the government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Education, introduced the Re-entry Policy to facilitate adolescent girls who had dropped out of school to continue their education. However, since this policy enactment, there has not been any formal study to explore the facilitators and challenges of its implementation. This study explored factors influencing the re-engagement of school dropout girls into the education system following the enactment of the Re-entry Policy in Zambia.