Available Online: 15 June 2012
Author/s:
Ayebi-Arthur, Kofi*
University of Cape Coast, Ghana (kofiayebi@ucc.edu.gh)
Dora, Baaba Aidoo
University of Cape Coast, Ghana (daidoo@ucc.edu.gh)
Aheto, Simon-Peter Kafui
University of Cape Coast, Ghana (kafuiaheto@yahoo.com)
Abstract:
Throughout the world, there are problems in attracting young women to science and technology studies. The problem is worse in Africa than in any other region. Female enrolment figures in the sciences reveal a low trend of female participation in computer science/ICT. Hence, there is the need to investigate the trends in female representation in ICT programs and its implications for admission processes as well as barriers that could possibly account for the low females’ participation in computer science/ICT at University of Cape Coast to help the nation attain equity. Two hypotheses and one research question were used to direct the study. The Evans model was used to explain Barriers to participation and Eccles et al. model was used for explaining the disparity in gender representation in Science, Technology and Mathematics. A descriptive comparative study design was used for the study. Data was extracted from the congregation list of the 2003/2004 academic year to 2009/2010 academic year. The results indicate that there was statistical difference in the number of male and female students graduating in the various programs offered in the university and that there was statistical difference in the number of male and female students graduating in computer science/ICT programs. We recommend that the Ghana Education Service must improve on the mentoring programs for basic school female pupils and within the university, management can brainstorm with students some innovative strategies that could be harnessed to help eradicate gender stereotyping as a means of improving on numbers of females who participate in ICT programs.
Keywords: women; ICT; gender discrimination; role models; technology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsc.2012.79
Cite this article:
Ayebi-Arthur, K., Dora, B. A., & Aheto, S.-P. K. (2012). Including the digital divas: Female representation in ICT programs at the University of Cape Coast. International Journal of Research Studies in Computing, 1(2), 3-12. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsc.2012.79
*Corresponding Author