Beyond the Classroom Divide: Gender Discrepancies in Nigeria's Educational Landscape
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Date
2024
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Obafemi Awolowo University Press, Ile-Ife
Abstract
Education plays an important role in fostering a gender-equitable future for the nation. However, there exists gender disparities within Nigeria's educational landscape thereby exacerbating the various challenges of women and girls. Through a thorough examination of the successes and challenges of the educational sector, this paper explores the complexities inherent in achieving gender equality within this sector. Highlighting the various efforts and success stories, this paper showcases instances where targeted interventions and advocacy efforts have resulted in tangible improvements in narrowing the gender gap in enrollment and retention rates, particularly for girls. These successes include the transformative power of initiatives such as scholarship programs and policy frameworks aimed at dismantling discriminatory practices. However, amid these triumphs lie persistent challenges among which are societal norms and stereotypes, entrenched economic disparities, and pervasive cultural biases which have continuously stood as barriers to the achievement of gender parity in education. Factors such as early marriage, limited access to quality schooling, and gender-based violence underscore the urgent need for concerted action. The paper therefore recommends the elimination of gender bias and the promotion of collaboration between stakeholders to ensure education for all. Conclusively, the paper emphasizes a call to action, stressing the imperative for collaborative efforts from policymakers, community members, and educators to address the root causes of the gender gap in Nigeria's educational system. It advocates for the prioritization of gender-responsive policies, the promotion of inclusive learning environments, and the cultivation of a societal ethos that values and supports the education of all children, irrespective of gender.
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Ilesanmi, O.O., Adenugba, A. & Adefisoye, I.D. (2024) Beyond the Classroom Divide: Gender Discrepancies in Nigeria’s Educational Landscape in Shifting Sands: Nigeria’s Evolving Gender Landscape. Ed. Aina, O.I. Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University Press. ISBN 978-978-136-199-9. 125-153