GENDER BALANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA – NIGERIA

Authors: Dii, Christian Tsaro & Ebenezer, Osayekemwen Ojo

ABSTRACT

The notion of gender inequality and discrimination against the female gender in education motivated this research. The study sought to investigate the gender structure in respect to secondary school enrolment and graduation in the FCT to verify the claims of discrimination against women in education. It adopted a qualitative and descriptive research approach using primary and secondary sources of data. The study hinged on the post-structuralist theory for its theoretical framework. It found out that although available statistics showed clear gender discrimination against women, the results obtained from the selected schools did not support that claim. Rather, it disclosed that more females were on enrolment and graduation statistics than their male counterparts. The study recommended amongst others that the FCT Administration and the Federal Government of Nigeria should sustain the current efforts that have achieved positive results for girl child education as well as begin the campaign for boy child education in order to reverse the sliding trend and reduce the literacy gap in the FCT and the country.

Keywords: Balance, Discrimination, Education, Gender, Inequality, Literacy

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