Academic Achievement and Gender Inequality in Higher Education: A Systematic Review of Muslim Majority Nations

Abstract

This paper identifies gender inequality in academic achievement in higher education across Muslim majority countries. It is evident that female students outperform and male students underperform in higher education. This study has critically analyzed patterns of educational performance among students among students drawing on published research documents and regional data from the past decades. The countries of the Muslim world including Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yemen. I have ended to extract the published document till reaching the point of saturation and a total of 180 published research documents has been used in this study. It has been assumed that patriarchal norms hindrance females, the findings reveal a context-specific landscape: in many Muslim-majority contexts, female students outperform males in higher education in Muslim countries. However, females also face different barriers to access and opportunities. The study highlights the influence of educational developments, religious explanations, family prospects, and employment market structures on shaping gendered academic practices. This study identifies research gaps and proposes policy recommendations aimed at adopting gender equity in higher education across Muslim majority nations.

Keywords: Gender Inequality, Academic Achievement, Higher Education, Review, Muslim Majority Countries