Interdisciplinary Seminar:
Education for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
Convener: Kathy Mumford, Australia

Factors affecting the participation and performance of girls in science subjects in Bauchi town, Nigeria
Omolola Alao, Nigerian Association of University Women

The participation of women in science is not only an issue of gender equity, it is crucial to the development of a healthy science and technology sector and the direction and implementation of appropriate science policy and research. The survey carried out in three secondary schools in Bauchi town identified six factors affecting the participation of girls in science subjects, eight factors affecting their performance in science subjects and ten strategies on how to improve the participation and performance of girls in science subjects. Mean statistics were used to analyse the data obtained from using the five point Likert scale. There was a high correlation between the data collected for factors affecting the performance of girls in science subjects from all three locations and there was no significant difference in the data collected from the various locations on factors affecting participation and performance (p < 0.01). The strategy with the highest mean score is that girls and boys should receive equal attention from teachers. Girls should be given the opportunity to equip themselves to make useful contributions to development at this crucial time, especially in the area of science and technology.

Omolola Adewunmi Alao is a Principal Lecturer in the Chemistry/Biochemistry Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria. She holds a Masters Degree in Chemistry and is completing her PhD. She has published a number of papers. She is a past secretary of the Nigerian Association of university Women.