INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS ON GIRL-CHILD EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KEBBI CENTRAL SENETORAL DISTRICT OF KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of Socio-cultural factors on the girl-child education in secondary schools in Kebbi Central Senatorial District of Kebbi State, Nigeria. Five research questions and five hypotheses guided the study. The related literature review was done under the conceptual framework, empirical studies and summary which identified the influence of socio-cultural factors on the girl-child education in secondary schools. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised 810 principals, vice principals and PTA Exco members from 90 secondary schools in Kebbi Central Senatorial District of Kebbi State. A sample of 300 principals, vice principals and PTA Exco members were used for the study. A 25 item structured questionnaire constructed by the researcher titled “Influence of Socio-cultural Factors on the Girl-child Education Questionnaire (SCOGEQ)” was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while the t- test statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that early marriage, gender preference, sociocultural factors, socio-economic statues of parents and political factors significantly influence the girl-child education in secondary schools in Kebbi Central Senatorial District of Kebbi State. It was recommended among others that the issue of early marriage should be avoided by parents who should encourage and give orientation to their girl-child on the importance of education before marriage.