Analysis of Parental Gender Bias in Educational Investment Decisions in Imo State

Parental investment decisions regarding children's education are a critical determinant of intergenerational gender inequality, with bias in favour of sons reducing girls' educational attainment and long-term human capital outcomes. This study analyses parental gender bias in educational investment decisions in Imo State, examining household expenditure patterns and decision-making processes across Owerri North, Ikeduru, and Mbaise Local Government Areas. A quantitative survey design was used, with 280 parents of school-age children completing structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using paired t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analysis. Findings reveal that parents in the sample invest, on average, 23% more in sons' education than daughters' education in comparable households, with the gap largest in secondary and post-secondary private schooling expenditure. Sons are preferentially enrolled in private schools while daughters are directed to lower-cost public schools. Parental justifications centre on cultural expectations that sons will support aging parents and daughters will marry into husbands' families. Mothers demonstrate significantly less gender bias in educational investment than fathers. Recommendations include community sensitisation on the equal returns to girls' education, school-based parent engagement programmes, and female scholarship schemes targeting rural Imo communities. This research adds to gender and education economics literature in South East Nigeria. Keywords: parental gender bias, educational investment, daughters, Imo State, gender inequality