Challenges to Female Students’ Participation in Graduate Studies in College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

The study sought to examine the relationship between challenges of female student participation in post graduate studies in the College of Education Makerere University. It was guided by three objectives that is to say examine the socio-cultural, economic and political aspects that determine female students’ participation in graduate studies. The study was both qualitative and quantitative biased on the quantitative approach; it was cross sectional, co relational where data was collected from graduate students and administrators who were selected purposively. The core instruments were questionnaires, and interview guides, the objectives were tested using the Pearson’s co-relation coefficient. The findings exposed a positive significant relationship between the socio-cultural, economic and political aspects on female student participation in post graduate studies in the College of Education. It was concluded that socio-cultural, economic and political aspects positively relate to female student participation in post graduate studies in the College of Education Makerere University.

It was recommended that if female student participation in post graduate studies in the College of Education is to be improved, policy makers, University council, and National council for Higher Education should do the following: carry out civic education programmes to sensitize people about the benefits of female students enrolling for higher education, encourage donors, parents and other financers to give sponsorship to female students, political ideologies of all political groups should be encouraged to put more finances in female education.