Persistence of higher education aspirations of females in prevailing constraints of unemployment in Cameroon

Abstract

Higher education participation can raise output and growth of females. Thus, student aspirations can precipitate higher  education access and participation thereby guaranteeing sustainable development. However, research has focused on  the employability of higher education graduates with little emphasis on aspirations that can allow for more engagement  and sustainable participation of females in higher education. This paper focuses on the persistence of  higher education aspirations of females in prevailing constraints of unemployment. In so doing, a correlation study was  designed that collected data from 977 upper sixth (final class at the secondary school level) female students aged 15-18  using a semi-structured questionnaire. Frequencies, correlations and logistic regression analysis indicated that even though a majority (92.1%) of female students believed that higher education was a pathway to acquiring their dream  jobs, there was a positive and significant correlation (R=0.000) between high unemployment rates and higher education  aspirations. This indicated that high employment rates did not significantly reduce the higher education aspirations of  females as aspirations for higher education remained high and untampered when high unemployment rates were  considered revealing the persistence of female aspirations. This points to the need for higher education institutions to  sustain aspirations beyond access and stresses a focus on the intrinsic value of learning beyond the boundaries of  employment.