Education as an Instrument for Ensuring the Participation of Women in Politics for the Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Gender Equality: Empirical Lessons from Bafut in the North West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Purpose: This write-up has been provoked by the gender disparity which prevails in political participation between men and women. While noting that women's participation in politics is low as compared to that of men, the article has been premised on the hypothesis that education is the only instrument that can ensure equal participation of women and men in politics. 
 Materials and Methods: Methodologically, the write up relied on the descriptive research design. While relying on this design, the sample size was 380 women in Bafut. These women were randomly sampled and administered questionnaires, with a response rate of 81.84% (311). Data were also collected through secondary sources from published and unpublished books. In this light, data collected through questionnaires were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data obtained from secondary sources were analyzed contently, by extracting relevant data to support the research questions
 Findings: While relying on empirical observations from Bafut in the North West Region of Cameroon, it is evident that women’s participation in politics is significantly influenced by their level of education. The more education of women is the more the likelihood they are to participate in political activities, such as membership in political parties, voting, attending campaign rallies, petitioning an official, and attending a protest or strike action.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: This article has resolved that for Goal 5 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of gender equality in political participation to be attainable; there is an urgent need for the government, municipal authorities, the civil society, and local traditional authorities to harness all avenues to foster the education of women and their political knowledge.