Enrollment Gap Research Articles

Overcoming Educational Barriers: Analyzing Root Causes and Solutions for Gender Disparity in Adivasi Education

This paper examines the current state of the gender gap in literacy rates and school education among Adivasi populations in India. Despite significant progress in overall literacy rates in recent decades, Adivasi communities, particularly Adivasi girls, continue to lag behind. We analyze the latest data from the Census of India, National Family Health Surveys, and other government reports to quantify the extent of the gender gap in literacy and school enrollment, attendance, and dropout rates among major Adivasi groups across different states. Root causes including poverty, lack of access to schools, cultural norms, early marriage, and lack of female teachers are explored. The paper also reviews recent government initiatives and welfare schemes aimed at promoting education of Adivasi girls and reducing gender disparity. Based on the analysis, targeted policy recommendations are made to accelerate progress in closing the gender gap and ensuring basic school education for all Adivasi girls in India.

A non-parametric approach to predict the recruitment for randomized clinical trials: an example in elderly inpatient settings

BackgroundAccurate prediction of subject recruitment, which is critical to the success of a study, remains an ongoing challenge. Previous prediction models often rely on parametric assumptions which are not always met or may be difficult to implement. We aim to develop a novel method that is less sensitive to model assumptions and relatively easy to implement.MethodsWe create a weighted resampling-based approach to predict enrollment in year two based on recruitment data from year one of the completed GRIPS and PACE clinical trials. Different weight functions accounted for a range of potential enrollment trajectory patterns. Prediction accuracy was measured by Euclidean distance for enrollment sequence in year two, total enrollment over time, and total weeks to enroll a fixed number of subjects, against the actual year two enrollment data. We compare the performance of the proposed method with an existing Bayesian method.ResultsWeighted resampling using GRIPS data resulted in closer prediction evidenced by better coverage of observed enrollment with the prediction intervals and smaller Euclidean distance from actual enrollment in year 2, especially when enrollment gaps were filled prior to the weighted resampling. These scenarios also produced more accurate predictions for total enrollment and number of weeks to enroll 50 participants. These same scenarios outperformed an existing Bayesian method for all 3 accuracy measures. In PACE data, using a reduced year 1 enrollment resulted in closer prediction evidenced by better coverage of observed enrollment with the prediction intervals and smaller Euclidean distance from actual enrollment in year 2, with the weighted resampling scenarios better reflecting the seasonal variation seen in year (1) The reduced enrollment scenarios resulted in closer prediction for total enrollment over 6 and 12 months into year (2) These same scenarios also outperformed an existing Bayesian method for relevant accuracy measures.ConclusionThe results demonstrate the feasibility and flexibility for a resampling-based, non-parametric approach for prediction of clinical trial recruitment with limited early enrollment data. Application to a wider setting and long-term prediction accuracy require further investigation.

Course Correction: Navigating Equity in Ninth-Grade Advanced Placement

This robust mixed-methods study examines ninth-grade advanced course placement in Arkansas, revealing disparities rooted in race and socioeconomic status. Utilizing a logit analysis for a five-year pooled sample ( n = 163,616), we find persistent enrollment gaps for Black ninth-grade students after controlling for prior academic achievement, highlighting systemic barriers to access to advanced courses. Socioeconomic divides are also evident in our analysis. Qualitative findings from counselor interviews highlight the importance of parental involvement in course placement decisions, particularly for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Overall, we find through these interviews that districts consider a myriad of factors when considering course placement for ninth-grade courses. We recommend systemic changes for districts, including local norm-based placement systems and automatic enrollment policies to enhance fairness in advanced course placement.

Ambitious, misaligned, or uncertain? The occupational and educational aspirations of immigrant-origin youth in Germany

ABSTRACT Immigrant-origin students often hold higher educational aspirations than native-origin peers, accounting for socioeconomic status and school grades. The consequences of this ‘Immigrant Aspiration Paradox’ (IAP) on their socioeconomic attainment are debated. Although individuals’ occupational aspirations and how they compare with their educational aspirations (i.e. their alignment) also affect status attainment, they are understudied in the IAP literature. We contribute to the debate on the benefits of the IAP by investigating immigrant-native gaps in the level, (mis)alignment, and (un)certainty of teenage occupational and educational aspirations and their consequences on educational attainment in Germany. First, we describe immigrant-native gaps in teenage aspirations. Then, we investigate whether these differences mediate immigrant-native gaps in upper secondary attainment and tertiary enrollment. In line with the immigrant optimism theory, Asian-origin and Turkish-origin students are more likely to hold aligned high aspirations. On average, immigrant-origin students are less likely to have aligned low aspirations compared to native-origin students, and equally likely to hold misaligned or uncertain aspirations. We find that students from most immigrant-origin groups have a higher upper secondary attainment and tertiary enrollment than native-origin students, net of controls. Large portions of these advantages are mediated by the aspirations of immigrant-origin students, which we interpret as evidence of the benefits of the IAP.

Upward Bound Program Supports Success of Low-Income and/or First-Generation College Students at a STEM-Focused HSI

A deeper understanding of low-income and first-generation college student experiences is essential to advancing diversity and equity in higher education. Due to a significant gap in college enrollment and graduation rates for low-income and first-generation college students, specifically after COVID-19, it is important to identify factors affecting their success. The Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) Program at New Mexico Tech (NMT) supports high school students who are either first-generation college students and/or from low-income families to prepare them with the skills and motivation necessary to complete high school and enter and succeed in a program of postsecondary education. These students face unique challenges during their time at college. To identify the factors that affect the success of these students, we surveyed several of our UBMS program participants who chose to attend NMT after completing high school. All participants said support from UBMS staff was critical when starting college at NMT. Participants also mention building a support system with their fellow UBMS alumni to deal with the struggles that being at STEM-focused institutions brings. This study also resulted in several suggestions for faculty and staff members to improve academic outcomes for all students.

The role of gender in health insurance enrollment among geriatric caregivers: results from the 2022 informal caregiving, health, and healthcare survey in Ghana

BackgroundFemale informal caregivers of older adults experience a higher burden of physical and mental health problems compared to their male counterparts due to the greater intensity of care they provide. This is likely to result in an imbalance in health needs, including health insurance enrollment, between male and female informal caregivers of older adults. However, to date, no study is available on the role of gender in health insurance enrollment among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana. This study examines the association between gender and health insurance enrollment among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana.MethodsCross-sectional data from the Informal Caregiving, Health, and Healthcare Survey among caregivers of older adults aged 50 years or above (N = 1,853 and mean ages = 39.15 years and 75.08 years of informal caregivers and their care recipients, respectively) in Ghana were analyzed. A binary logit regression model was used to estimate the association between gender and health insurance enrollment. All statistical inferences were made at the 5% significance level.ResultsThe final Model (3) showed that female informal caregivers were 2.70 times significantly more likely to enrol in a health insurance scheme than their male counterparts (AOR: 2.70, 95% CI: 2.09–3.48, p-value = 0.001). Apart from gender, the results revealed that participants aged 55–64 years (AOR = 2.38, 95%CI: 1.29–4.41, p-value = 0.006), with tertiary education (AOR: 3.62, 95% CI: 2.32–5.66, p-value = 0.001) and living with the care recipients (AOR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.14–1.98, p-value = 0.003) were significantly more likely to enrol in a health insurance scheme than their counterparts. The findings further showed that those who earned between GH¢1000 and 1999 (US$99.50-198.50) monthly (AOR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52–0.95, p-value = 0.022) and were affiliated with African traditional religion (AOR: 0.30, 95%CI: 0.09–0.99, p-value = 0.048) were significantly less likely to enrol in a health insurance scheme than their counterparts.ConclusionGender was a significant predictor of health insurance enrollment among informal caregivers of older adults. This finding contributes to the empirical debates on the role of gender in health insurance enrollment among informal caregivers of older adults. Policymakers need to develop gender-specific measures to address gender gaps in health insurance enrollment among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana. Such health policies and programs should consider other significant demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with health insurance enrolment among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana.

Personality Traits and eHealth Study Enrollment Among Racial and Sexual Minoritized Men Living with HIV.

Inequities in eHealth research enrollment persist among Black and Latinx sexual minoritized men (SMM) partly due to socio-ecological barriers. Less is known about how personality traits are associated with their study enrollment. We examined the role of personality traits among 1,285 U.S. Black and Latinx SMM living with HIV recruited from sexual networking websites/apps for an eHealth intervention. Lower neuroticism and higher openness were associated with greater odds of study enrollment among Latinx SMM. Given these exploratory findings, future research should examine this phenomenon, along with well-established socio-ecological factors such as medical mistrust to better understand eHealth study enrollment gaps among Black and Latinx SMM.

Abstract 1002: The historically black colleges and universities cancer trial consortium: A way forward to diversifying cancer clinical trials

Abstract The National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network cancer guidelines state that the best management for a cancer patient is on a clinical trial. However, the demographics of 74 registration trials for oral cancer therapies from 2009 - 2019 show only 2.5% of participating patients were Black. Similarly, of the 3,593 patients enrolled in all registration trials for new cancer drugs approved by the FDA in 2019, only 4% were Black patients. A third analysis showed that between 2008 and 2018, only 3.1% of cancer trial patients were Black. The underrepresentation of Black patients in cancer clinical trials is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted solution. Complicated, interdependent causes include, but are not limited to system, provider, and patient bias. Increasing globalization of clinical trials also contributes to a widening gap in Black patient enrollment. Achieving diversity among clinical trial participants requires intention in study design regarding accrual sites and outreach, and involvement of a diverse trial workforce. The ideal clinical trial system would minimize system, provider, and patient biases. Such a system already exists in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) system. HBCUs represent 3% of institutions of higher education in the USA, yet they enroll 16% of Black students and confer 24% of all baccalaureate degrees earned by Black students. 40% of Black engineers, 50% of Black lawyers, 70% of Black physicians, and a staggering 80% of Black judges attended an HBCU. HBCUs are exceptional at impacting communities of Color and have been doing so for centuries. The HBCU Cancer Trials Consortium (HBCU CTC) is a network of HBCUs and Ally institutions that aims to bring innovative cancer clinical trials to historically underserved communities and honor the legacy of HBCUs, which have consistently and successfully served underserved communities for over a century. The HBCU CTC will oversee and conduct cancer clinical trials at member institutions. We envision founding flagship members to include HBCUs that provide graduate medical education and training, such as Howard, Meharry, Charles Drew, and Morehouse. Non-HBCUs committed to the mission are invited to join the consortium as Ally institutions (eg. MSIs). Membership is not exclusive of membership in other cancer consortia. The HBCU CTC will provide shared resource services for member institutions that lack expertise or funding to conduct services locally (eg. data management, DSMB, biostatistics, a cancer focused IRB, central radiology, and central pathology). The Consortium will also work to develop local infrastructure support for the conduct of cancer clinical trials at member institutions. Citation Format: Sheldon L. Holder, Robert A. Winn, Wafik S. El-Deiry. The historically black colleges and universities cancer trial consortium: A way forward to diversifying cancer clinical trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1002.

Racial and ethnic representation in united states plastic surgery clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A comprehensive systematic review was performed. All CTs in PRS from 2012 to 2022 were included. To assess racial and ethnic representation within CTs, a random-effects meta-analysis of proportion was conducted to pool the prevalence of the binomial data. A total of 3609 studies were initially identified in the search strategy, with 154 later classified as CTs in PRS. Only 36 met the eligibility criteria for reporting race and ethnicity and were included in the analysis. A total of 7281 participants were included: 446 (6.1%) males and 6835 (93.9%) females. From CTs that correctly reported race, the pooled prevalence of races were as follows: Whites 78% (95% confidence interval [CI] 73-82%), Black or African Americans 8% (95% CI 5-11%), Asians 1% (95% CI <1-2%), American Indians <1% (95% CI <1-<1%), and Pacific Islanders <1% (95% CI <1-<1%). From the studies that reported ethnicity correctly, the pooled prevalence of Hispanics was 7% (95% CI 5-9%), and Non-Hispanics was 12% (<1-38%). Disparities in minority representation were present among PRS CTs. This suggests clear limitations in generalizing PRS CT results to the population. Efforts to decrease the gap in minority enrollment and accurately report race and ethnicity are needed in all fields, including plastic surgery.

Central Government Schemes in Indian Higher Education: A Comprehensive Analysis of Impact, Quality, and Assessment Methodologies

This comprehensive analysis examines the impact of central government schemes on Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Indian higher education, focusing on initiatives such as Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), and the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Act. Through a meticulous review of literature, survey data analysis, and discussion of outcomes, this research delves into the complexities of GER trends, scheme effectiveness, and socio-economic factors influencing enrolment rates. Findings reveal nuances in scheme outcomes, highlighting variations across population segments and geographic regions. While schemes like RUSA and PMKVY show potential in bridging enrolment gaps and preparing a skilled workforce, reforms are necessary to optimize their impact. Moreover, the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA), under the HECI Act, plays a significant role in infrastructure development but needs to balance this with broader educational quality considerations. Contrary to initial hypotheses, the study finds no statistically significant association between scheme implementation and sustainable GER growth, emphasizing the need for evidence-based reforms. Recommendations include enhancing awareness campaigns, aligning training programs with industry needs, and strengthening quality assurance mechanisms. This research contributes valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders striving to enhance accessibility, quality, and inclusivity in Indian higher education.

Identification of Causes of Enrolment Gap From Nursery to 5th Class in Pakistan: A Case Study of District Rahim Yar Khan

The study was designed to identify the Causes of the Enrolment Gap from Nursery to 5th Class in district Rahim Yar Khan. The population of the study was all teachers of Govt boys and girls’ primary schools of District Rahim Yar Khan. The total sample was 720 Primary teachers of 360 Govt. Primary Schools of 90 Clusters of District Rahim Yar Khan. The filled questionnaires were received from 598 teachers. So the rate of responses was 83%. Further, mean and accumulative mean scores were calculated and compared and results were drawn. Further enrolment gaps were identified from enrolment sheets. According to respondents' failure in exams, unavailability of learning materials, and lack of financial resources are the main causes of enrolment gaps. There is a need to implement plans and Policies at the Primary level.

The enrolment gap and the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of routinely collected primary care enrolment data from 2016 to 2023 in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Introduction For many countries, primary health care (PHC) serves as the gateway for individuals to access healthcare services. It has been shown to not only improve health but also health equity. To maximise this benefit, a substantial proportion of the population needs to be connected with PHC. The aim here was to assess the degree and evolution of enrolment in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods We examined data on the enrolment of people in PHC organisations between 2016 and 2023. This analysis included breakdowns by sex, age groups, ethnicity, and socioeconomic deprivation levels. Poisson regression models were used to explore whether enrolment changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results In 2016, Māori, young people and the most deprived had lower enrolment rates relative to their peers. Although young people's enrolment rate increased over time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Māori enrolment rate declined, as did the rate for Pacific people, and those who were the most deprived. The groups who had increases in enrolment rates were those with the lowest levels of socioeconomic deprivation and those in the 'Other' ethnic category, predominantly made up of European New Zealanders. Conclusion Enrolment statistics reveal disparities across sociodemographic lines. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changed patterns of enrolment that appear to have consequences for population health.

Unraveling the Gender Gap: A Comparative Analysis of School Enrollment and Secondary Education Completion in Pakistan's Provinces

This study examines the gender gap in school enrollment and secondary school completion in Pakistan using secondary data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM) and Pakistan Education Statistics reports. A comparative analysis of the four provinces and their districts is conducted to identify regional dynamics contributing to gender disparities in education. The research investigates the relationship between students who ever attended school, those who passed secondary school, and the gender gap in enrollment. Descriptive statistics analyze school enrollment rates and dropouts across different regions. Data from the official governmental reports, including the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and PSLM (2019-20), and education statistics reports from 2017 for Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, serve as the foundation for this analysis. The study offers valuable insights into the complex web of causality and influence shaping the persistence of gender disparities in education in Pakistan.

Changing trend analysis on early detection of rifampicin resistant tuberculosis patients in southwestern area of China, 2016-2020.

There were no data about prevention and control status of RR-TB in a poor area with high burden of TB in China. In order to develop evidence-based RR-TB response strategies and improve enrollment of RR-TB patients in Yunnan province, China, this study was aimed at analyzing the changing trends in the detection and enrollment of RR-TB patients and examining the factors that may have implication on enrollment in treatment. Data, which includes demographics, screening and testing, and treatment enrollment, was collected from the TB Management Information System. Retrospective data analysis and factors analysis were applied. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Rank sum test and logistic regression analysis were used. From 2016 and 2018, the province had been challenged by low levels of screening, detection and enrollment of RR-TB. During the period between 2019 and 2020, a comprehensive model of RR-TB prevention and control was established in Yunnan, characterized by a robust patient-centered approach for RR-TB care and multiple, targeted interventions through the cascade of care from detection to treatment. In 2020, 93.8% of the bacteriologically positive TB patients were screened for RR-TB, which had been significantly increased by 146.9% from 38.0% in 2016. The interval from initial consultation at RR-TB facility to diagnosis (inter-quartile range) was reduced from 29.5 (1-118) days in 2016 to 0 (0-7) days in 2020. Despite the increasing rates of enrollment of RR-TB patients over the years, non-enrollment of those detected was still high (32.3%) in 2020. The main reasons for non-enrollment identified were refusal of treatment due to financial difficulties, loss to follow-up or death before starting treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that the elderly patients aged 65 or above (OR = 2.7, CI: 1.997-3.614), new patients (OR = 0.7, CI: 0.607-0.867), conventional DST used for confirmatory diagnosis of RR-TB (OR = 1.9, CI: 1.620-2.344) and diagnosis of RR-TB being conducted by the RR-TB care facilities at the prefecture and municipal level (OR = 4.4, CI: 3.608-5.250) have implications on RR-TB non-enrollment. As a comprehensive RR-TB model was implemented in Yunnan with scaled up use of molecular test for rapid detection of RR-TB, initial screening of RR-TB were decentralized to the county- and district-level to strengthen rapid, early detection of RR-TB, achieving a higher coverage of screening in the end. However, there remains a major gap in enrollment of RR-TB. The main barriers include: limited knowledge and awareness of RR-TB and financial burdens among patients, delayed diagnosis, loss to follow-up, difficulties in self care and travel for elderly patients, and limited capacity of clinical management at the lower-level RR-TB care facilities. The situation of the RR-TB epidemic in Yunnan could be improved and contained as soon as possible by continuous strengthening of the comprehensive, patient-centered model with targeted interventions coordinated through multi-sectoral engagement to improve enrollment of RR-TB patients.

Pathways to progress: The complementarity of bicycles and road infrastructure for girls’ education

In which settings can bicycles help to improve girls’ education in low-income countries? This paper analyzes the complementarity between all-weather roads and a bicycle program in India aimed at increasing girls’ secondary school enrollment. Using a triple-difference strategy, I find that the program benefits girls living 3–10 km away from schools with all-weather road connections, increasing their enrollment by 60 percent and reducing the gender enrollment gap by 51 percent. There are no effects for girls in villages without all-weather roads or girls living more than 10 km from school. The findings emphasize the importance and interdependence of road infrastructure, mode of transport, and distance to school for improving girls’ education in India.

A glass ceiling at the playhouse? Gender gaps in public and private preschool enrollment in India

India has reduced male-biased gender gaps in primary school enrollment and progression rates in recent years. However, patterns of early childhood education enrollment, selection of preschool, and related gender gaps remain inadequately studied. This study uses data from India’s National Family Health Survey (2019–2021), which collected preschool information for children aged 2–4 years, to examine female-male gaps in preschool enrollment. An estimated 40% of children were enrolled in preschools, and among them, 28% were enrolled in private preschools, with substantial variation across states. State, district, and household fixed-effects regressions, which accounted for a wide range of background characteristics of children, show that while preschool enrollment rates were 3.6–4.1% higher among girls than boys, girls were 9.3–16.7% less likely to be enrolled in higher quality private preschools. Using a mother fixed-effects regression, we found that while there was no gender gap in siblings’ preschool enrolment rates, girls were 18.6% less likely to be enrolled in private preschool than their brothers. The relative bias towards males in private preschool enrollment decreased with standard of living and maternal schooling levels. The findings indicate gender discrimination in enrollment in higher quality private preschool against young girls.

The Impact of Public School Choice: Evidence from Los Angeles’s Zones of Choice

Abstract Does a school district that expands school choice provide better outcomes for students than a neighborhood-based assignment system? This article studies the Zones of Choice (ZOC) program, a school choice initiative of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) that created small high school markets in some neighborhoods but left attendance zone boundaries in place throughout the rest of the district. We study market-level effects of choice on student achievement and college enrollment using a difference-in-differences design. Student outcomes in ZOC markets increased markedly, narrowing achievement and college enrollment gaps between ZOC neighborhoods and the rest of the district. The effects of ZOC are larger for schools exposed to more competition, supporting the notion that competition is a key channel. Demand estimates suggest families place substantial weight on schools’ academic quality, providing schools with competition-induced incentives to improve their effectiveness. The evidence demonstrates that public school choice programs have the potential to improve school quality and reduce neighborhood-based disparities in educational opportunity.

School integration of Syrian refugee children in Turkey

There is little evidence based on large-scale representative data on the school integration of refugee children—many of whom live in low- or middle-income countries. This study focuses on Syrian refugee children in Turkey and examines the underlying causes of native–refugee differences in school enrollment using the 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey. Accounting for a rich set of socioeconomic variables, we find that the native–refugee gap in school enrollment drops by half for boys and two-thirds for girls, but a gap persists for both genders. When we restrict the sample to refugees who arrived in Turkey at or before age eight and account for socioeconomic differences, the native–refugee gap completely vanishes for both boys and girls, indicating that school integration of refugee children (at least up to the ages we observe them in the data) has been possible for early arrivers. We also find that the timing of boys’ school dropouts coincides with their entry into the labor market, whereas girls’ dropouts mostly occur before marriage age. Finally, after accounting for socioeconomic differences, refugee children are likelier never to start school, less likely to progress grade levels, and have a lower grade for age.

Trends in arts education in United States public schools from 1988–2018

There is scant evidence on the level of arts education available in U.S. public schools and how this has changed over time. In this paper, I present new evidence on broad trends in arts education in U.S. public schools from 1988 through 2018 using nationally representative data from the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and the National Teachers and Principals Survey (NTPS) and administrative data from North Carolina. Both the SASS/NTPS and North Carolina data cover several school years after the Every Student Succeeds Act was passed in 2015, which may have impacted arts education. I first calculate the percentage of full-time teachers whose main teaching assignment is in the arts. In the aggregate, about 5.5% of public school teachers are arts teachers, and this has been stable for decades. There are substantial regional differences that have also changed little. I also find substantial and persistent differences by school characteristics: Schools with higher percentages of both Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income students consistently have a lower percentage of full-time arts teachers than other schools. I also examine of school-level and student-level trends in arts access using administrative data from North Carolina from 1998–2013. I find narrowing gaps in the presence of licensed art teachers between low-performing schools and other schools, and high-BIPOC schools and other schools. I also assess access to the arts at the student level from 2007–2018. I find narrowing gaps in arts enrollment between White students and Black and Hispanic students, consistent with the school-level trends I report. This descriptive evidence from both national and North Carolina data improves our understanding of how arts have been prioritized by schools in recent decades and highlights gaps in access students have had to the arts over time.

The gender enrolment gap in foreign language education revisited: Contemporary issues in a Ghanaian higher education institution

This paper investigates the intersection between gender and foreign language education with specific reference to subject choice, motivation, and achievement. The study was carried out at a Ghanaian public university, amongst students of the following Bachelor of Arts foreign language programmes: Arabic, Chinese, French, Kiswahili, Russian and Spanish. Through a thematic analysis of transcribed focus group discussions and desk-research of relevant administrative documents, the authors inquire why a gender enrolment gap exists in the foreign language programmes and if indeed, certain languages are perceived as more masculine than others. The findings of the study confirm the existence of a gender gap in foreign language education. Participants also considered some languages such as Spanish and French as more feminine. Regarding their motivation, participants noted both integrative and instrumental factors that motivated them to study the foreign language. Additionally, the study found no statistical significance between the performance of females and males. However, males performed slightly better than females in Arabic, French, Kiswahili and Russian whereas females performed better in Spanish and Chinese.