“This study examines the determinants of school attendance and attainment in Ghana
with a view to deriving implications for policy direction. The effect of household resources on current school attendance is higher for daughters than it is for sons. It appears that for male and female children the impact of household resources on school attendance has reduced, statistically
speaking. Father’s schooling effects on the education of female children decreased
between 1992 and 1999. Mother’s schooling effects on school attendance of daughters
in 1992 were not significantly different from those realized in 1999. However, the effects of mother’s schooling levels on school attendance of male children appear to have reduced. Other significant determinants of children’s schooling are the age of children, school infrastructure, religion and urban residency. The paper concludes that education matters and has an inter-generational impact. Arguably, sustainable poverty reduction approaches cannot ignore the role of education and implications for employment, earnings and social development. Hence, gender sensitive policies to ensure educational equity are vital.”
