Factors Affecting Females' Participation in Education: The Case of Tocha Woreda in Snnpr
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Date
2006-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Education is a tool to enable citizens to make all rounded participalion in developmenl
process. The parlicipalion of females in socio-economic programs especially depends on Iheir
educolional background. Educaling girls and women is critical to achieve the benefits as well as
Ihe improvement in the areas of health, fertility and nutrilion. Thus, females must be Ireated
equally with males to attain educational access, which is necessary to increase their
participation in different development programs. international treaties, conventions, laws &
policies set a legal commitment on Ihe right of education and gender equality. However, gross
and net enrollment differences in schooling of females prevail. Females remain under
represented at all levels of education. The females' participation gap in education is wide in
developing countries, one of which is Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is one of the developing countries with low females ' participation in educalion.
Statistics reveals that the number of female students in primary, secondary and higher education
is not equal to that of male students. This low participation is one of the causesfor females ' to be
underprivileged and underrepresented in development programs. If low females participalion in
education continues, the Country would probably have a problem in achieving MDGs Goal 3
Targel 4. These raise the issue that the role of education and female participation should be
analyzed and studied.
The aim of this research was to identify factors affecting females ' participation in education
in Dawuro Zone, Tocha woreda. To alta in this objective, information on school enrollment and
school age population was gathered ji-om documents of the Ministl), of Educalion and
SNNPREB. Further more, formal questionnaires were distributed to 260 female students, school
principals and teachers. On the other hand, focused-gr()up discussion was held with 56 female
studenls ' parents and with six woreda educational officials to gather information on factors that
have contributed to low female participation in educalion. Percentages were predominanlly used
to indicate the magnitude of respondents ' opinion and assumptions against each statement.
The results of the study showed that factors that affected females participation in education
are: qualification o/teachers, parents demand of female child labor, school cost such as house
rent, food supply cost, long distance to school, parents ' poverty, fear of male harassment, lack of
role models, dropout, abduction or "telefa ", parents' religion Iype, early marriage, parents '
illileracy and won)' of Ullwanted pregnancy. These are the major reasons for low female
participalion in education in the study area.
According to the study, the following have been recommended to improve females'
participalion in Tocha Woreda. Recruiting qualified teachers, conducting workshops and
seminars with parents and religious leaders to make sociely and parents aware on Ihe benefils of
female education. Building 2nd cycle primary and secondary schools at reasonable distances,
building boarding houses for distanl female sludenls, improving home technologies 10 lI1inimize
Ihe incidence of female child labor are also recommended. Furthermore recruiling more female
leachers 10 be role models, school principals and concerned governmenl bodies offering especial
support to female students, take serious measures on abduction and early marriage would help to
increase females' participation in education.
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Keywords
Affecting Females'