...EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION M.ED. (ADMIN. IN HIGHER EDUCATION)-DISTANCE RESEARCH PAPER INEQUALITY IN ACCESSING HIGHER EDUCATION IN GHANA: THE CHALLENGES AND WAYFORWARD AKPLOME PRECIOUS INTRODUCTION Globally, education remains the fulcrum for the achievement of higher economic, social, technological standards and development. Education continues to receive wide attention amongst most developed nations’ governments and policy due to the remarkable contributions that it brings to the nation. In Africa even though there seems to be a concerted effort by various governments to improve on education at all levels, there is gender inequality in access to education at all levels of the academic ladder. Gender inequality in access to education continues to receive considerable attention worldwide and many developing counties. Ghana is no exception and the situation affects national development and also limits opportunities for women especially in enjoying higher job prospects in the country. At the 1990 World Conference on Education for All in Jomtien, Thailand, particular emphasis was placed on female education not only as a fundamental right, but also as an important means for economic and social development (UNESCO, 2003). Undeniably, education has been viewed by many as central to the achievement of greater equality in society, including between men and women. This notwithstanding, the lack of education has been viewed as a major obstacle to women employment and...
Words: 3422 - Pages: 14
...government to ensure that its citizens have access to education. However, despite this expectation, the ability to have access to education in different parts of the world is still difficult. It is essential to promote education so as to enhance equal attainment of opportunities. The right to education has been influenced by a number of policies, globally; the right to education is spelt out in chapter 26 in the Universal Human Right Declaration. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also elaborates on the need for global education. In a nutshell, education can be used in any county to promote equality in accessing different opportunities. For instance, taking a look on imperialism days, the whites were using education as a tool to acquire more opportunities than the black. They believed that it was through education that the blacks would be in opposition to oppose them. This is because they would be enlightened and hence demand for equality (Douglas, 1845). Precisely, the purpose of this essay is to discuss how access to education is significant in enhancing equality of opportunity in the current Australia. The discussion begins by describing the role that education and training has in our society today. Furthermore, the discussion will outline different social groups and the way different factors influence the way they get access to education in different forms. This paper also explores the current education and training policies and the author’s comments...
Words: 2359 - Pages: 10
...for quality education. According to the outcome report of UNESCO‐IIEP in Paris, France entitled “Gender Equality in Education: Looking beyond Parity An IIEP Evidence‐Based Policy Forum Globally”, some 39 million girls of lower secondary age are currently not enrolled in either primary or secondary education, while two‐thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate adults are women. Only about one‐third of countries have achieved gender parity at secondary level. The evidence shows that something needs to change. Legal Basis: 1. Batas Pambansa Bilang 232 entitled “An Act Providing for the Establishment and Maintenance of an Integrated System of Education” - General Provision, Chapter 2, Section 3 Goal 2. “To ensure the maximum participation of all the people in the attainment and enjoyment of the benefits of such growth” - (statement) “Promote and safeguard the welfare and interest of the students by defining their rights and obligations, according them privileges, and encouraging the establishment of sound relationships between them and the other members of the school community” - (statement) “The State shall promote the right of every individual to relevant quality education, regardless of sex, age, creed, socio-economic status, physical and mental conditions, racial or ethnic origin, political or other affiliation. The State shall therefore promote and maintain equality of access to education as well as the enjoyment of the benefits of education by all its...
Words: 1149 - Pages: 5
...Gender equality has been an ongoing problem since time began. Women are seen as the inferior gender, they did not even have the right to vote in the U.S until long after our government was established. In most countries women still do not have equal access to education and work. There are also many countries where women are seen a an inferior gender and are treated very badly. We still struggle for equal pay for women who do the same jobs as men and it is known that a woman studying science and engineering is very unlikely because it is seen as a man’s job along with many other careers. There shouldn’t be division within the work force nothing should be seen as a men’s job or a women’s job they should be seen equal and for both genders. Women...
Words: 1026 - Pages: 5
...Enhancing Quality and Equality of Education “Literacy is the road to human progress and the means through which every man; woman and child can realize his or her full potential.”……………Kofi Annan. Access to education and learning is crucial for development but ‘equitable’ access and learning is vital for sustainable development. The various dimensions of inequality (gender, socio economic, rural – urban), if not taken into account can result in skewed and lopsided growth that has the potential to do more harm than good to the larger fabric of society. Such development stands the risk of strengthening the current power structures and relegating the already marginalized, further down the abyss. These inequalities do not exist in isolation- one form reinforces the other. This means that there are common causes, functioning through multiple mechanisms, inflating the gross inequalities in the education sector. The major challenge before the Indian education system is to enhance the quality and bring equality in education system. Quality education which is essential to learning and human development is influenced by factors both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to enabling the transfer of knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a profession and break the cycle of poverty, quality plays a crucial role in closing the gender gap in basic education. Quality Education includes:- * Learners who are healthy, well nourished and ready to participate and learn and supported...
Words: 1554 - Pages: 7
...Making gender equality a reality The history of the world serves as a testimony that, in the days of yore, men were considered as the bread-winners and women as the nest-builders. As far as women were concerned, they were entrusted the responsibility to transform the brick-made house into a love-made home. The men had only to support the family financially. In fact, the women were stigmatised as homely-made furniture in the eyes of men. Unfortunately, this patriarchal trend still prevails in this so-called revolutionized world, where women are, once again, characterized as inferior. If the world has really undergone a revolution, then why this corrupt attitude towards women has not yet changed? However, the law has as its main motive to preserve and promote human rights, and gender equality is the crux of those rights. Gender equality does not only stand as a process of equal valuing of the roles of women and men, but more precisely, as a practice to overcome the obstacles of prejudices so that both sexes are subject to the economic, social, cultural and political developments of the society. It simply aims at equal perception, equal empowerment and equal responsibility in all spheres of life. One can be surely flabbergasted to acknowledge that achieving gender equality necessitates the presence of men; those men, because of whom, the word gender...
Words: 1768 - Pages: 8
...Gender equality is a human right,1 but our world faces a persistent gap in access to opportunities and decision-making power for women and men.2 Globally, women have fewer opportunities for economic participation than men, less access to basic and higher education, greater health and safety risks, and less political representation.2 Guaranteeing the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their full potential is critical not only for attaining gender equality, but also for meeting a wide range of international development goals. Empowered women and girls contribute to the health and productivity of their families, communities, and countries, creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone. The word gender describes the socially-constructed roles and responsibilities that societies consider appropriate for men and women. Gender equality means that men and women have equal power and equal opportunities for financial independence, education, and personal development 3 . Women's empowerment is a critical aspect of achieving gender equality. It includes increasing a woman's sense of self-worth, her decision-making power, her access to opportunities and resources, her power and control over her own life inside and outside the home, and her ability to effect change.4 Yet gender issues are not focused on women alone, but on the relationship between men and women in society.5 The actions and attitudes of men and boys play an essential role in achieving gender equality.6it...
Words: 276 - Pages: 2
...Gender equality and equity are useful aspects in the development of communities. The importance of gender equality is underscored by its inclusion and recognised globally as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals. In this writing the writer would first define terms gender equality and equity. The writer is going to dwell much on issues like income generating projects, education, health services, politics, family issues, and religion which are some of the useful aspects that promotes community development. Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. According to Momsen (2004), gender equality means equal valuation of men and women and sameness in the enjoyment of rights, power, opportunities, treatment, and control of resources between male and females in the society. P (2007) congruently agrees with Momsen when depict Gender equality, as that men and women should receive equal treatment, unless there is a sound biological reason for different treatment. This concept is a key factor in the development of communities, where the ultimate aim is to provide equality in law and equality in social situations, especially in democratic activities and securing equal pay for equal work. Momsen (2004) went on to define gender equity as a process of achieving fairness and justice among men and women in distribution of opportunities, responsibilities and resources as well as accessing and controlling benefits from these resources. Kaiser (2005) as well defines gender...
Words: 860 - Pages: 4
...Gender equality and socio-economic development Let’s consider this problem in the global scale. According to the United Nation statistics, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. But if we think, why is society concerning about it? Maybe it would be better to accept the traditional patriarchal system, which exists in many families? Maybe men are more successful in some activities, so it doesn’t make sense to share these activities with women? But it is not a good way of thinking, because modern society proclaims inalienable rights and freedom for everybody – both men and women. And progress in gender equality is necessary, as it fuels economy, stimulating productivity and growth. Let’s consider some facts how it happens. So, gender discrimination affects main spheres of society – both economics, education and politics. A significant progress has already existed in ensuring access to primary education for all. Nevertheless, uneducated mother will likely bring up her children in poverty and without proper medical care. So, the result of lack of education is the increasing of child morbidity, malnutrition and mortality. Further improving access to education for girls and women influences on their desire to provide educational opportunities for their children. Labor market in many countries also remains gender segregated. Women in most countries earn on average only 60 to 75 per cent of men’s So, even educated women are engaged...
Words: 482 - Pages: 2
...The legislation, guidance and codes of practice that support an individual to access training, education and employment are as follows: Employment Equality Act 1998 and 2004 The Employment Equality Act 1998 and 2004 prohibits discrimination on the following grounds: Marital Status, Family Status, Race, Religion, Age, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Gender, Being a member of the Traveller Community. Discrimination occurs where, because of any one of these grounds, a person is treated less favourably than another person is, has been or would be treated in a comparable situation. The Act applies to all employees and to applicants for employment and training. The legislation provides that all individuals should have equal access to job opportunities....
Words: 934 - Pages: 4
...LDP616: GENDER ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT Gender Mainstreaming The role of the state in mainstreaming gender issues and concerns in development Nyabochwa, Mary Mamo 1st February 2011 Lecture: Dr. Isaac Were. Table of Contents ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................... 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................. 6 1.1 Why gender issues .............................................................................................................................. 6 2.0 GENDER MAINSTREAMING .......................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Clarity on certain aspects of gender mainstreaming ......................................................................... 8 2.2 some key misconceptions................................................................................................................ 10 3.0 IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING ........................................................... 11 3.1 Definition of “gender mainstreaming” ............................................................................................. 11 3.2 Practical steps...
Words: 17757 - Pages: 72
...Equality of opportunity in the early years involves enabling all children to access education regardless of their cultural, religious and socioeconomic background. In the United Kingdom, equal opportunities are advanced by legislation such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the Equality Act 2010 and the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This essay will explore the commitment the United Kingdom has made to the UNCRC and the ways in which equal opportunities can be implemented in an early years setting in England. Equal opportunities can be broadly defined as how fairly individuals gain access to goods, services, jobs and opportunities (Haringey Council, 2005). In the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 prohibits people being discriminated against on the basis of several protected characteristics. These protected characteristics include a person’s age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation (HM Government, 2014a). The Equality Act 2010 strives to reduce discrimination and disadvantage so that all people reach their full potential (HM Government, 2014a). In the United Kingdom, early years providers are bound by the Equality Act 2010 and the EYFS to uphold equal opportunities for children and employees (DoE, 2014a). The EYFS stipulates that schools implement an equal opportunities policy so that every child is included and supported (DoE,...
Words: 2243 - Pages: 9
...According to the World Bank, gender equality enhances economic development, improves prospects for future generations and strengthens political and social systems. Though women now comprise more than 40 percent of the world’s labor force, they still lag behind men in terms of earnings and productivity. Women also face greater obstacles when it comes to participation in social and political institutions. Particularly in developing nations, the gender gap hinders economic and social development and destabilizes the political environment. In it’s 2012 World Development Report: Gender Equality and Development, the World Bank suggests four priority areas for improving gender equality. The first is reducing gender gaps in human capital, specifically female mortality and education. Second, improving female access to education and economic opportunities. Third, addressing women’s under-representation in communities and political systems. Finally, understanding how gender inequality applies across generations. These four priority areas help policymakers understand and address problems associated with the gender gap. Many factors are helping alleviate the gender gap and promote gender equality in developing nations. Globalization and increased access to information are providing women with stronger connections to markets and economic opportunities. These factors also contribute to increasing knowledge about women’s roles in other cultures throughout the world. Perhaps most importantly...
Words: 323 - Pages: 2
...quity and Equality Equity and Equality Jaime Matta Concordia Online Community of Learners EDGR 595 Karen Billette February 27, 2012 Educational equity refers to equal access, opportunities, and expectations in education for all persons, irrespective of their backgrounds or status. As a democratic nation, the United States offers a system of "universal" and free public education as a primary mechanism for providing equal educational access and opportunities to all persons, for preparing its people for civic participation in society, and for the socialization of immigrants. The basic premise of public schooling in our school district is that students at all grade levels are entitled to equal learning opportunities irrespective of advantages, disadvantages, or liabilities linked to skin color, ethnicity, disability, or socioeconomic status. An open system of public education serves as a key compensatory strategy to minimize individual differences and to equalize potential achievements and life outcomes for all. To achieve this end, attendance in public schools became compulsory in most states by the start of the 20th century. Specifically, the words equality and equity have different meanings. Equity speaks to public actions and policies in the cause of fairness and social justice. It requires a sufficient distribution of social resources to rectify initially unequal conditions for different groups of people. Equal access to educational opportunity has been a central...
Words: 269 - Pages: 2
...Education and Gender Equality within Millennium Development Goals: KSA & China Name: Institution: Course: Date: Declaration I hereby declare that this is my work and nothing has been plagiarized. Every aspect of this work has been appropriately referenced using the APA referencing format. Executive Summary Table of Contents Contents of the report with page numbers, list of tables, and list of figures. Introduction to the Research Topic Education and gender equality are critical components of societal progress and development. They reflect basic rights that require no economic justification. This notion is reflected in the inclusion of gender related developmental and propagative objectives in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Yet it is also a case that education and gender equality has broad and positive implications for economic as well as social development to any nation. A significant decline in child illiteracy and maternal mortality remains somewhat elusive and thus the Millennium Developmental Goals initiative that has been deemed to reduce child illiteracy and promote gender equality coupled with the establishment of women empowerment within all regions of the world is poised with inconsistent progress rates within some certain countries. To deliver such Millennium Development goals and MDG3 and its supporting targets which promotes specifically gender equality and empowers women, it will be critical to elevate...
Words: 3151 - Pages: 13
