Perception of Parents on the Socio-Cultural, Religious and Economic Factors Affecting Girl-Child Education in the Northern Parts of Nigeria

Abstract

Girl – Child education has been a subject of serious concern in Nigeria. This is because this aspect of education has been bedevilled with problems especially in the Northern parts of the country. Researchers (Usman, 2007) and Daiyabu, 2008) have expressed concern about it and about the various forms of discriminations and sharp practices against the girl-child. Thus, this study investigated the perception of parents on the socio-cultural, religious and economic factors affecting the girl-child education in the Northern parts of Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The sample consisted of 1,200 parents and adults purposefully selected from the states in Northern Nigeria. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were raised and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Ordinary percentage and t-test statistical methods were used for the analysis of data. The results revealed that parents favoured boy‟s education more and regard girls‟ education as a waste since they will end up in the kitchen. Lack of religious knowledge and issues of poverty also constitute other influences. The test of hypotheses also showed that participants, educated and non-educated, rural and urban, expressed similar opinions regarding socio-cultural and religious factors. However, opinions of male and female subjects differ on the issues relating to economic factors. Based on these findings, it was recommended that girls should be given equal chance as boys in education; there should be a legal support for girl-child education and government should empower parents.

Keywords: Socio-cultural factors, religious factors, economic factors, girl-child education.