Islamic Influence on Education in Africa

This book has sought to investigate the influence of the interpretations of Islam on girl's access to secondary school education in Mombasa and Kwale Districts, Kenya. It has demonstrated that in principle, Islam grants equal rights to both genders. Hence the theory of intrinsic inferiority of the female gender is not supported by Islamic discourse or the biological differentiation between the sexes. The highly stereotyped imagery of a subordinated Muslim woman is perpetuated and propagated by [mis]interpretations of the teachings of Islam regarding the status of women in society. These [mis]interpretations are a product of, and beholden to culture proclivities of individual Muslims within particular socio-cultural milieus. The book further demonstrates that Islam attaches equal importance to the education of girls as of boys. This implies that Islam is not the cause of gender imbalances in access to secondary school education. On the contrary, some [mis]interpretations of the teachings of Islam on the place and role of women in society influence the importance attached to the education of girls. This book is a must read for Universities, religious practitioners and scholars