Academic Challenges of Visually Challenged Female Students in Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The question of girls, females and women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, and mainly in the educational sector is globally growing concern. While students with disabilities are the most recent marginalized group to move toward equal opportunity, female students with visual challenges face far more critical challenges in higher learning institutions of Ethiopia. To play its part in this regard, this article assesses their academic challenges in Addis Ababa University (AAU), sidist Killo campus, Ethiopia, vis-à-vis legal provisions of the country. The study employed qualitative methods (in-depth interviews and case history) involving a total of 8 university students recruited from four departments using purposive and convenience sampling. The study found that AAU remains far from satisfying visually challenged female students for academic success as it has not yet established a structure to assist them; for not only failing to develop mechanism of checking their academic achievement but also failing to develop the university community to excel assistance to the students. As females have special needs to be met, so are visually challenged female students as compared to their male counterparts. Therefore, the university should develop viable structures to extend special assistance pursuant to their special needs.