ABSTRACT

This study examined the socio-cultural factors and challenges affecting girl-child education in Sabon-gari and Zaria Local Government Areas of Kaduna State(2009-2013). The problem investigated revolved aroundearly marriage, purdah system, government policies and programmes. The study aimed to determine the extent to which early marriage and purdah hinders or affects the education of the girl-child and to examine how government policies and programmes may have promoted girl-child education in Sabon-gari and Zaria Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.Data was collected using structured questionnaire and structured interview. Quantitative data was analysed using frequency counts and percentages while the Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation was used to test the hypotheses with SPSS version 20.0. The study established that the parents in Sabon-gari and Zaria Local Government Areas give unequal educational opportunity to their children (boys & girls) because majority of the girls below 18years were giving out for early marriage and this religious/ cultural practices have hindered girl-child education in these local government areas, and that there is strong practice of purdah in Sabon-gari and Zaria local government areas as a result of religious and cultural beliefs of the majority of the inhabitants, and this have prevented girls from furthering their education and engaging in economic activities or skill acquisition programs. The study recommends among others that regular awareness campaigns and seminars should be held especially in the rural areas about the importance of girl-child education. Also, adult education centre should be established in rural areas so that even the girls who dropped out as a result of early marriage or purdah system can benefit from it, after all, education is a lifelong process. More so, it was recommended that parents, state and federal government should jointly and cooperatively promote girl-child education using all means at their disposal to eliminate religious, cultural, social, and economic barriers to the education of the girl-child.

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