Senior Secondary School Biology Teachers’ Perspectives on Factors Affecting Girl-Child Education in Kwara North Senatorial District, Nigeria
Keywords:
Girl Child, Social-Cultural Background, Socio-Economic StatusAbstract
The low enrollment of girls in secondary schools across the Kwara North senatorial district has become a significant challenge to educational progress in the region. Some educators attribute this issue to parental restrictions that prevent girls from pursuing secondary education. This study investigated the perspectives of senior secondary school biology teachers on the factors affecting girl-child education in Kwara North, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with a target population of 270 biology teachers from Edu, Moro, and Patigi Local Government Areas of Kwara State. Using a convenience sampling method, participants were selected for the study. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire titled "Senior Secondary School Biology Teachers’ Views on Factors Affecting Girl-Child Education." Descriptive statistics, including frequency counts and percentages, were used to analyze the research questions, while chi-square tests were applied to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The results indicated that parental perceptions of girls as financial contributors to their households significantly impact their educational opportunities. The study concluded that socio-cultural factors play a fundamental role in shaping girl-child education in Kwara North, Nigeria. To address this challenge, it was recommended that the government implement free education at all levels to ensure that children from low-income families have access to schooling. Furthermore, strong legal measures should be enacted to eradicate discrimination against girls in education, with strict penalties, including imprisonment, for those who deny them their right to quality education.
References
Abdulkarim, M., & Mamman, A. (2014). Non-formal education and the girl-child in northern Nigeria: issues and strategies. Journal of Education and Practice, 5(37), 222-258. CC
Adebola H., Anyachebolu, F. & Madu, C. (2012). Towards empowerment of the Nigerian girl-child, the socio-cultural diagnosis. Journal of Educational and Social Reasearch, 2(3), 29-34.
Ahmad, K., & Najeemah, Y. (2013). Cultural traditions and practices of the parents as barriers to girl-child education in Zamfara State Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 3(11), 1-8.
Ahmed, M.A (2008). Influence of Personality Factors on Biology Lecturer's Assessment of Difficulty Levels of Genetic Concepts Nigeria Colleges of Education (Unpublished doctorial thesis). University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Ahmed, M.A., & Abimbola, I.O. (2011). Influence of Teaching Experience and School Location on Biology Teacher's Rating of the Difficult Levels of Nutrition Concepts in Ilorin, Nigeria. JOSTMED, 7(2), 52-61. Aja-Okorie, U. (2013). Women education in Nigeria: Problems and implications for family role and stability. European Scientific Journal, 9(28).
Asiegbu, C. E., Okorji P. N., & Bosah I. P. (2015). Factors militating against females and rural dwellers’ access to, and participation in higher education in Nigeria. InternationalJournal of Education, Learning and Development,3(7), 1-8.
Bolaji, S. (2007). Child Marriage. Sunday Sketch Newspaper, Lagos.
Ibrahim, M.O. (2012). African Youths Fulfilling their Potentials. Retrieved from http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org.
Igbinedion, V. I. & Ojeaga, I. (2012). Use of career education and occupation information services in boosting enrollment into vocational and technical education programmes in Nigeria. International Education Studies, 5(4), 23-32.
Iwalaiye, E.M, Abah M.J, Johnson U.E, Iwalaiye C.Y & Ali A.Y (2016). The Challenges of Girl-Child Education in Government Secondary Schools of Abuja, Nigeria. International Journal Series in Multidisciplinary Research, 2(4), 26-37.
Nakopodia, E.D (2010). The Dependent Outcome of Teachers Performance in Secondary Schools in Delta State: An Emperical Assessment of Principal's Supervision Capacity. African Journal of Education and Technology, 1(1), 15-24. Nmadu, G., Avidime, S., Oguntunde, O., Dashe, V., Abdulkarim, B., & Mandara, M. (2010). Girl child education: Rising to the challenge. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 14(3), 107-112.
Ocho, L. O. (2005). Issues and concerns in education and life. Enugu:Institute of Development studies.
Odo, F. (2011). History of Education in Nigeria: Traditional, Islamic & Western-Type Perspectives. Lagos: Merit International Publications.
Offorma, G. (2009, July 16-19). Girl child education in Africa. Paper presented at the Conference of the Federation of the University Womwne of Africa, Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280554452. Okafor, I. P., Balogun, A. O., Abdulaziz, I., Oniye, R. K., & Iyekolo, O. A. (2018). Socio-cultural factors and girl education in Nupe Land, Nigeria: Challenges to access and completion rate. NIU Journal of Humanities, 2(2 (B)), 79-89.
Okebukola, P. (2012).Education, human security and entrepreneurship. 7th Convocation Lecture of Delta State University, Abraka. University Printing Press.
Oleribe, O (2007). Neglect of girl child education: Bridging the gap: A case study of a Nigerian Agrarian Northern Community. International NGO Journal 2(2) 030-035.
Onyeika, V. & Angela, O. (2011). An analytical evaluation of the trend of primary school enrolment in Ebonyi State: the case study of the challenges facing female children. African Journal of Education and Technology, 1(3), 45-52.
Orji, R (2010). Impact of gender and nationality on acceptance of a digital library. An empirical validation of Nationality Based UTAUT using SEM. Journal of Emerging Trend in Computing and Information Sciences, 1, 68-79.
Schacter, D. (2010). Psychology (2nd ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.
Stronquist, J. A., (2000). Education: A catalyst for Women Empowerment in Nigeria Ethiopian Journal of Education andScience, 4(1), 93-108.
Umar, A.A (2011). Effects of biological practical activities on students process skill acquisition in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. JOSTMED, 7(2), 118-126.
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). At a glance: Nigeria Diary; Nigeria Street Children Tell Their Stories of Life Without Security. http://www.unicef.org/people/nigeria_42282.html.
West African Examinations Council, WAEC (2011). West African Examinations Council Chief Examiners’ Report
