Women in Education: A Study of the Academic Performance and Participation of Female Students in the High Schools of Addis Ababa Region·

Abstract

In many African countries, women's participation in education is low. The enrolment
at elementary, secondary and tertiary levels of education is characterised by gender
disparity. A large number of female students drop-out of school and repeat in a class.
Many of them concentrate in fields, such as, secretarial, home-economics, nursing
and teaching in elementary schools.
The pattern of enrolment and participation of Ethiopian women in education is
similar to that of many African countries. Statistics reveal that the number of female
students enrolled in element¥y, secondary and higher education is not equal to that
of male students. For example, in 1989/90 academic year the female students
enrolment in primary, secondary and in higher education in Ethiopia accounted for
39%, 39% and 10% respectively (MOE, 1989).
The reason for such low enrolment of women in different levels of education may be
attributed to the values and attitudes that the Ethiopian society attaches towards
education of women. In most paqs of Ethiopia, patriarchal thinki,ng dominates the
culture (Allasebu, 1988). Patriarchal thinking enhances the belief that men are
superior to women and it also institutes division of labour by gender.