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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:School Participation by Gender: Implications for Occupational Activities in Kenya
Author:Otunga, Ruth N.ISNI
Year:1997
Periodical:Africa Development: A Quarterly Journal of CODESRIA (ISSN 0850-3907)
Volume:22
Issue:1
Pages:39-64
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Kenya
East Africa
Subjects:gender relations
women's education
Education and Oral Traditions
Women's Issues
Labor and Employment
Education and Training
gender
access to education
educational systems
Occupational structure
gender discrimination
Education of women
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/24482782
Abstract:This paper examines school participation by gender and its implications for women's occupational activities in Kenya. Statistical sources indicate that at primary school level, the participation of boys and girls is almost at parity. However, at secondary school level, the rate of participation of girls is lower than that of boys. Moreover, the curriculum arrangement encourages boys to study the sciences and technical subjects while most girls are channelled into subjects that are thought to be 'suitable' for them. At university level, the gender disparity worsens. This situation affects the participation of women in occupational activities, notably the civil service. An analysis of the number of civil servants by sex and grade shows that women are underrepresented in all job groups and that the situation worsens as one moves from the lowest grade to the highest. The underrepresentation of girls in formal education can be attributed to sociocultural factors as well as to the limited number of educational institutions for females compared to those for men. The gender-neutral education policy of the Kenyan State does not operate in the same way for both sexes. To improve the school participation rate of women, gender sensitization of decisionmakers and education of the masses is important. App., bibliogr.
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