Factors of Success of Girls in The Faculties of The Public Universities of Togo

Abstract

Girls have less access than boys to the educational system in Togo. At the primary level, they perform relatively less well than boys. In junior high school and high school, the few girls who remain in school have a success rate close to that of boys. At the university entrance, there is one (1) girl for every four (4) boys enrolled, however, they do better than the boys. What explains the performance of female students in Togo's public universities? This article aims at explaining the factors of success of girls in the said universities. Based on secondary data and a literature search, it was shown that girls enroll in large numbers in predominantly literary fields and do better than boys. In addition, the main factors favoring the success of girls are: social origin modulated by age and the field of study in which they enroll. Female students from disadvantaged social backgrounds are more resilient and their good academic performance is due to the support of their immediate social environment (parents, teachers, NGOs, etc.) and the global environment marked by the rise of feminism.