COUNSELLING, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND GENDER GAP IN SCIENCE EDUCATION: A RELIGIO-CULTURAL FACTOR

Abstract

Gender gap in teaching and learning within the courses that fall within the Science Education is becoming unbearable. The researchers found out that in spite of the laudable goals and objectives in education, Nigerian women still face a lot of challenges that hinder them from participating equally with their male counterparts in science education. Gender gap was greatly noted in many science related areas and this has been of great concern to many educationists. Another problem of the study is that religion and culture which are supposed to be unifying factors have appeared to be major factors creating gender gap in Science Education in Nigeria. Therefore culture as well as guidance/counseling, education psychology is found to be a solution provider. It is discovered that involving reflective teaching as a method of teaching these sciences will be of great importance and help in boosting the number of females in science education and thus reduce if not eliminate the existing gap. The researchers aim at achieving gender equity in science education which will promote greater equality in employment help to control early marriage, give the girl child and women a voice and financial independence, improved health and education for the next generation. Thus, the paper recommends among others things that government should involve women in policy formulations to take care of any gender issue or bias and equally give employment to Nigerian female youths who studied sciences to encourage more female participation in science education. The research employs reflective and phenomenological methodologies. The research uses descriptive style of data analysis. Data were got from secondary materials.