E-2: ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON FEMALE EDUCATION, PROBLEMS FACED BY FEMALE HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Abstract

Purpose of the study is threefold; firstly, to report from Quran and Hadith the evidence of female education, particularly higher education; secondly, to investigate the problems faced by female higher education students; and lastly, to study the impact of these problems on their academic achievement. It is a descriptive study employing qualitative-quantitative approach. Qualitative part includes evidence from Quran and Hadith highlighting female (higher) education followed by the quantitative part containing purposefully administered survey on female higher education students. In this survey, the problems faced by the female students (according to their own perception) at an institute of higher education are carefully recorded along with their academic achievement in the form of grade point averages (GPAs). A questionnaire based on the work of Demise and coworkers (n.d) has adapted. After experts’ review it was modified accordingly. This questionnaire was administered to a convenient sample of 104 female students from various departments of an institute of higher education. Although nonparametric statistic (Spearman rho and Kruskal-Wallis) was suitable to the type of data the researchers had after the questionnaire survey; nevertheless, parametric statistic (Pearson r and ANOVA) was also calculated and presented (using SPSS) to have a comparative look on the two different types of statistics. The discourse concluded with highlighting Islamic perspective on female (higher) education, recording the female students’ perception on the problems faced by them, and confirming that these problems had no impact on their academic achievement. However, the researchers were apprehensive of the fact that the sample is very small; therefore, recommending the survey on an increased sample size for future researchers. Similarly, an investigation at more institutes of higher education would also be interesting as an extension to this study.