Education and marriage behavior Among rural folks: A dilemma of senior high school graduates in Northern-Ghana

Abstract

Education is necessary for human development, especially at a time when the conventional labor market is in decline, yet the challenges of child marriage remain unresolved. The study examined how Northern Ghana’s rural folks handle calls for marriage and higher education. A case study design was implemented within the qualitative method to achieve the stated goal. Results revealed that factors influencing marriage and education choices include poor educational background, peer influence, teenage pregnancy, financial constraints, and parental pressure. There was a greater interest in marriage than in higher education. The institution of marriage is cheap compared to the cost of tertiary education, combined with economic and social advantages. This negatively affects education decisions. Results also showed that higher education helps build better homes and keeps marital households financially secure. However, females are less likely to marry and have children than their male counterparts. The results uncovered elements of incrementalism in the decisions of Senior High School graduates. This is reflected in limited expert advice, limited consideration of alternatives, and more focus on personal experience and feelings related to problem-solving and troubleshooting. However, when confronted with the consequences of their decisions, the study detected traces of rationality and incrementalism.