Interogating Access and Society as Factors Limiting Literacy Potentials Among the Female Gender in Ondo Area

This Paper examines the importance of education in the society. It sees education as one of the social factors whereby gender parity is reflected worldwide (Aemiro, 2018). In Nigeria, as in many other countries, the educational outcomes of students are influenced by a myriad of factors, and there is growing recognition of the need to address these factors to enhance academic performance. It goes further to assert the importance of the female gender in education by recognizing educational disparity as reflective of social misnomer. The educational achievement of female students in Nigeria, remains a significant concern due to a variety of influencing factors that impact their academic performance. . According to Kassa (2016), in Nigeria, access to education is more readily available to male gender more than females at all levels thus making the country one of the developing countries with low females' performances in education. Evidence shows that the number of female students in primary, secondary and higher education is not equal to that of male students. The following factors were recognized as contributing to low female education in Nigeria; Personality related factor, academic factor, social factor, institutional factor and economic factor. After enumerating the derivable benefits of enhanced female education, the study concluded that socio-cultural factors play a significant role in shaping the educational achievement of female students by highlighting the importance of family support, with many agreeing that it encourages girls to pursue their education. However, cultural expectations that prioritize education for male children over female children create disparities. Additionally, societal norms that discourage girls from seeking higher education and peer pressure were identified as negative influences on academic achievement.