Abstract
Rwanda is widely viewed as one of the most progressive countries with regard to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. In education for example, the country has made tremendous advancements, with access to primary and secondary education for girls being among the highest in Africa. Yet, in spite of advances made at these two levels, access and participation of female students at higher education remains limited in public universities, with girls consistently representing only about a third of the student population at the University of Rwanda (UR). This paper sets out to explore the complexities involved in influencing female student’s participation in public higher education in Rwanda. The paper draws from a study commissioned by the UR, entitled “Understanding the causes of low female enrolment at the University of Rwanda,” that was conducted between the years 2016-2017. This study employed a mixed methods approach, and data collection methods included the use of questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The results of the study point to inextricably allied factors, both structural (such as university related policies) and socio-cultural related factors that contribute to the exclusion of female students from Rwanda’s top University. This therefore calls for a multi-pronged approach in addressing the issue of female representation at UR, considering the complexities involved.
Presenters
Innocent IyakaremyeSenior Lecturer, Gender Studies, University of Rwanda, Ville de Kigali, Rwanda
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Education and Learning Worlds of Differences
KEYWORDS
Gender disparities, Female students, Higher education, Rwanda
