Open and Distance Education: A Contribution to Poverty Alleviation and Empowerment of Women?

Abstract

Gender inequality and poverty are two serious problems for developing countries, where the majority of women have been victims of cultural, socio-political and environmental impacts of development. The gender dimension of poverty focuses on the dilemmas women face, their multiple roles as women and their roles in poverty alleviation. The literature on women and poverty abounds with evidence that women are disproportionately subject to the economic and socio-cultural effects of poverty. Women are also known to be discriminated against in terms of economic security, basic needs support, work access, opportunities and remuneration. vehicle to break the three vectors - access, quality and cost – that has constrained education time immemorial in order to improve women’s wellbeing, reduce their vulnerability and act as a starting point in their empowerment. Using findings from two single-mode ODL institutions in Nigeria, - National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and National Teachers Institute (NTI) - this study explores the issues of poverty and women’s empowerment. First, it considers poverty from gender and economic sustainability perspectives, second, it evaluates the impacts of ODL on women empowerment and poverty alleviation, and third, it highlights the role of ODL in enhancing accessible education for women.