Objectives of the Study

1. Parallel Session 5A: Gender Issues in Post-Primary Education Negotiating the Interface betweenUpper Secondary and Higher Education in sub-Saharan Africa: The Gender Dimensions Grace Bunyi

2. Objectives of the Study • the nature and extent of the gender inequities in the transition between upper secondary (US) and higher education (HE) in SSA; • the nature and extent of the gender inequities in participation in HE • the obstacles that prevent girls and women from transiting to, and participating effectively in HE;

3. Objectives of the Study contd. • interventions implemented to enhance gender equity and equality in US and HE • Case studies of promising approaches to the education of girls and women • Recommendations – policy and program

4. Findings - Transition • Lower transition rates for females generally • Particularly lower transition rates for females from socio-economically deprived communities • Women transit more into ‘female profession’ programs such as primary teacher education • Very low female transition into SMT TIVET and University programs • Higher female transition to private than to public universities

5. Findings Contd. - Obstacles The School System: • Gender inequities in the feeder education system • Poor quality secondary schools for girls • Girls’ poor access to and participation in SMT in primary and secondary education

6. Findings Contd. - Obstacles The upper secondary-higher education interface • Gate-keeping national examinations • Poor linkage between secondary and higher education

7. Findings Contd. - Obstacles The higher education system • Women unfriendly institutional environments • Lack of articulation between HE curricula and the labor market • Lack of, and ineffective use of, sex-disaggregated data for policy and planning

8. Findings Contd. - Obstacles Cross-cutting factors: • Socio-economic - poverty • Socio-cultural – beliefs, norms & practices • Education system – insufficient places & ineffective implementation of policies to address gender inequities • Contextual factors – HIV and AIDs

9. Findings Contd. - Interventions Polices • Sector wide gender in education policies • Re-entry for school girl mothers • Free primary (& secondary) education • Affirmative action e.g. lower admission cut-off points for females

10. Findings Contd. - Interventions Programs • Gender mainstreaming • Empowerment programs • Girls’ friendly school environments • Gender responsive curricula • Outreach programs

11. Findings Contd. - Interventions Programs Contd. • Girls’ only remedial courses and US-HE bridging programs • Increasing number of women teachers, lecturers and managers • Boarding facilities for girls • Women only institutions • Gender sensitization

12. Recommendations • Increase access of girls, especially from marginalized communities, to good quality primary and secondary schools • Strengthen the teaching & learning of SMT at primary and secondary school levels with a special focus on girls • Develop and effectively implement comprehensive education sector wide gender in education policies

13. Recommendations contd. • Implement AA policies ensuring targeting of the areas of greatest gender disparities • Implement HE institutions specific gender policies with regard to GBV & SH and gender imbalance among lecturers and management • Ensure articulation of HE curricula with the needs of the labor market • Build capacities for gender at all levels

14. Recommendations contd. • Adopt participatory approaches, partnerships and collaborations in addressing gender issues • Institutionalize the practice of collecting, analyzing and using sex disaggregated data on all aspects of education • Scale up promising interventions • Mainstream gender

15. Finally • Thank you for your attention