Gender Inequality in Education: An Analysis of Socio-Cultural Factors and Impacts on the Economic Development of Malakand, Pakistan

Abstract

Women’s education is the most effective channel for reducing the inequalities between men and women and ensuring the maximum participation of women in the developmental process. This study is conducted in Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Further this Paper explains the socio-cultural reasons of gender inequality in education, and to investigate that how this inequality affects the economic stability. The data is collected through questionnaire from 165 household using cluster random sampling technique. Chi-square test and correlation technique are utilized for the verification of hypotheses which proves that the gender inequality in education is as an endogenous variable and show that it can be explained to a considerable extent by cultural-religious preference, and  regional factors. It is concluded from the study that, gender disparity in education reduces human per capita income. The study suggests that to improve human development in the context of per capita production, women’s education must be improved through the elimination of disparity in the text and by relaxing the socio-cultural factors.