SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES AND GIRLS SCHOOLING SYSTEM IN THE UPPER WEST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The United Nations Convention guarantees fundamental human right for all children. In Ghana, this right is guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution with the introduction of the Free Compulsory Basic Education for all children of school going age, irrespective of religion, gender, ethnicity and geographical location. However, basic education, to some extent, is still far from being a reality for most children, particularly, those in the rural settings facing socio-cultural challenges, especially the girls. This paper therefore explores the socio-cultural factors accounting for the low access, retention and participation by girls in basic education in the Jirapa District of the upper west region of Ghana. The study employed the mixed (qualitative and quantitative approaches) to the collection and analysis of data. The tools used in the data collection include questionnaires and interview guide. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data was purely descriptive. We found out that NGOs efforts are complementing the efforts of the government in promoting girls’ basic education. However, their efforts are not yielding the necessary fruits as expected. The study revealed that socio-cultural values serves as the major obstacles to girls’ participation in basic education in the study area. The socio- cultural values, beliefs and practices perpetuate formal educational imbalances in terms of gender. Boys are preferred to girls in terms of formal education in the study area. The socio-cultural practices include early marriage, being housemaid, performing household chores, female genital mutilation and funerals rites and other economic related activities. It was revealed that girls are discriminated when it comes to funding children’s formal education. The following recommendations were made: Government and NGOs should institute scholarship schemes for the girl-child, provide separate wash room for girls in schools and enforcement of laws on outmoded socio-cultural practices (early marriages, betrothal, female genital mutilation, elopement and the use of charms in marriage).