Analysis of Gender Disparity in Out-Of-School Children in Nigeria

Abstract

As such, this study examines the gender gap in out-of-school children in Nigeria, its scope, regional variation, drivers, consequences and current policy responses and research to build on evidence-based interventions for girls’ educational inclusion. The study is based on secondary data from the Universal Basic Education Commission, UNICEF, UNESCO and academic literature and a systematic review of secondary data from secondary schools. The literature synthesises quantitative data on out-of-school children, regional attendance rates and policy documents to examine the structural issues that create gender disparities in the Nigerian education system. Girls make up about 60 percent of Nigeria’s estimated 17 to 20 million out-of-school children, with over 7.6 million girls without access to school. Between 73 and 80 percent of out-of-school children are concentrated in northern states where female primary net attendance rates are less than 48 percent. The main reasons are poverty, child marriage, socio-cultural norms, insecurity, and policy gaps, with economic losses of $229 billion from women’s workforce exclusion. This study has relevance to education policy making, international development programmes, gender equality advocacy and curriculum planning in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African contexts in which challenges are also significant. The findings can be applied to government agencies, NGOs and international organisations in the education sector that deal with girls’ education. This study provides a comprehensive, multi-dimensional look at gender disparity in Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis and combines quantitative data and regional patterns, socio-cultural drivers and policy gaps in policy implementation with a comprehensive and multi-faceted analysis of gender inequality. It is also a step forward in understanding the intersectional barriers to girls’ education and provides evidence-based recommendations for targeted retention strategies to help girls’ education.