Parental attitude towards girl-child education in the Birim Central Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract

In this study we examined the parental attitudes towards the education of the girlchild in the Birim Central Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study was conducted with a sample of 140 respondents, who were made up of parents and girls in the Senior High Schools in the study area. The sample was drawn through the purposive sampling technique. The mixed methods were used in data analysis and presentation. The result of the study revealed that respondents still exhibited some negative attitudes towards the education of the girl-child in the area of study due to economic and other forms of hardships. In spite of these, it is evident that the parents did not allow these to prevent them from taking a keen interest in the education of the girl-child. The study revealed an inconsistency between the attitudes of respondents and their actual behaviour towards the education of the girl-child. Thus, the majority of the respondents (90%) considered the education of the girl-child as very important whereas the same percentage of respondents (90%) revealed that educating the girlchild was a waste of investment. It is recommended that the ministry of education and other relevant stakeholders in education should continuously educate the people to totally eradicate any negative attitudes towards the education of the girl-child in the study area. It is further recommended that fathers in the study area should take their responsibility of catering for the educational needs of the girl-child seriously so that together we can build a better and developed nation for the future.