Exploring the Impact of Cultural Beliefs and Practices on Women's Education in Northern Nigeria

Abstrak

This research was designed to investigate the influence of cultural practices on education of the girl child in Northern Nigeria. Due to the purpose of the study, an exploratory qualitative case study approach is adopted and data collected via immensely flexible interviews in form of Questionnaires and Diaries and participant observation with pre-teen and teenage girls out of school, educationists, community and governmental officials. Coded indice was adopted in analyzing data concerning cultural beliefs and practices that hampers girl child education. It revealed that effective education was also a challenge owing to current societal practices that includes early marriage and gender roles regarded to girls, and economic status were the key challenges faced by girls in education. The study therefore called for a multi-sectoral approach to tackling these barriers; the need for economic empowerment for women, reducing cultural prejudice against women as well as promoting women’s political representation.