Gender Parity Index in Public Primary Education in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State

Abstract

This study focuses on  gender parity index in public primary education in Egor Local Government Area of Edo state as a way to determine whether there is gender parity index in this local government between 2011/2012 – 2015/2016. Primary education is an aspect of education given to children between the age of six to eleven years. It is expected to be beneficial to both males and females; the learners should have equal accessibility to education because primary education lays the foundation of all other levels of education.  At this level of education, literacy, numeracy and social skills are acquired. Learners are exposed to citizenship education and provide job opportunities to those who are unable to further their education. Gender parity is a process of being fair to both genders in having access to education. It is attained when the same proportion of males and females enter into the educational system. School enrolment statistics were collected in order to compute the gender parity from 2011/2012- 2015/2016 from thirty-seven public primary school in this local government. The analysis of all the gender equality form gender parity index. The study reveals that there are more males than female’s enrollment and concluded that there is no gender parity in public primary school in this local government. It is recommended that equal opportunity should be provided for all children so that both males and females can benefit from this level of education.