Title: Gender disparities in educational attainment in the 2010 Ghana Census

Authors: Karin A.C. Johnson; Augustine J. Kposowa

Addresses: Department of Sociology, University of California, Riverside, 1206 Watkins Hall, Riverside, California, 92521, USA ' Department of Sociology, University of California, Riverside, 1206 Watkins Hall, Riverside, California, 92521, USA

Abstract: Education is an important indicator of national development and remains an ongoing concern in Sub Saharan Africa. This study investigated religion and marital status as potential sources of gender disparities in educational attainment in Ghana. Using a 10% probability sample from the 2010 Ghana Population Census, multilevel linear and nonlinear models were fitted to data comprising individuals and regions. Marital status and religion were found to be key variables that account for persistent gender differentials in education. We demonstrate individual and structural factors help explain the gender gap in educational attainment and enrolment. Analyses suggest that to close it, attention ought to be paid to individual factors as well as enhancing social, civic, and economic opportunities for females.

Keywords: women's education; gender gap; educational attainment; educational enrolment; Ghana; marital status; religion; fertility; disability; immigration; gender.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSDS.2018.093324

International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2018 Vol.2 No.4, pp.336 - 359

Received: 19 Dec 2017
Accepted: 15 Apr 2018
Published online: 24 Jul 2018 *

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