The Impact of Gender Roles on Girls Participation in Primary Education in Bunda District

Mbekenga , Generosa Tarcis (2013) The Impact of Gender Roles on Girls Participation in Primary Education in Bunda District. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of gender roles on female students’ participation in primary education in Mugeta and Kunzugu wards in Bunda district. The study was mainly qualitative and data were collected using focused group discussions, semi-structured interviews, documentary reviews, observation and questionnaires. It was revealed in this study that responsibilities are distributed on gender basis and mothers and their daughters are responsible with all domestic works, farming and animal keeping. It was also discovered that the major portion of the family income is generated by mothers and their daughters. The study also reveals that gender stereotyped roles penetrate to school activities forcing girls to fetch water and collect firewood for teachers’ use at school. Furthermore, the study also discovered that cultural practices and social values such as betrothal and unyago (initiation) ceremonies affect female students performance, causes girls’ poor attendance, dropout, earlier engagement in sexual activities, pregnancies and early marriages. The study concludes that gender stereotyped roles, caused by cultural practices and values are responsible to poor participation of girls in primary education in Mugeta and Kunzugu Wards in Bunda District. The study recommends special education to parents on the benefits and importance of educating a girl child. Also, the government should put in place policies that will address social and cultural issues that affect negatively the female children to participate effectively and equally in education acquisition.

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