ABSTRACT

This study examined the challenges and coping strategies of married female students in Gombe State University. The objectives were to examine the challenges faced by married female students in Gombe State University, investigate how the challenges faced by married female students in Gombe State University affect them and their academic performances, find out the coping strategies adopted by married female students to overcome their academic challenges and to proffer possible solutions to the challenges faced by female married students in Gombe State University. Relevant literature was reviewed in line with the study objectives and the role strain theory was adopted to explain the phenomenon studied. The study was conducted in Gombe State University, Gombe State and both the primary and secondary data were used for the study. Also, snow balling and purposive sampling techniques were adopted to select the sample for the study. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the process of data collections which are the questionnaire and in-depth interview. A total of 166 respondents were drawn across six (6) availablefaculties in Gombe State namely: faculty of Social Sciences, Science, Arts, Education, Medicine and Pharmacy. The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20) from which simple descriptive statistics was used. Based on the research conducted, it was found out that majority(20.5%) of the respondents said that pregnancy was a major challenge for them, and that they always lay complains to lecturers and seeking assistance from colleagues to work out assignments. An overwhelming majority of the respondents also revealed that they always feel bad whenever they miss a class, miss class assignments and presentationand that beingmarried and schooling affect their chances of good mothering. In addition, a significant majority of the respondents said they carried over some courses, complained of poor grades and spill over some coursesand suffered low self-esteem and poor health. The study also indicated majority (89.8%) of the respondents disclosed that they wake up at mid night to read their notes, wake up early to perform domestic chores and enroll their babies in daycare. Also, it was found that the respondents don’t hesitate to always communicate with their lecturers when they encounter any problem, sought their colleagues’ assistance by informing then when the lecturer is around for lectures and to also assist them with materials and tutorials to enable them meet up with academic activities.However,it was recommended that husbands and relations should support their wives in both division of domestic work and childcare to enable them effectively achieve their education with minimal problem. It is recommended that lecturers and the school authority should be sensitive and sympathetic and take it upon themselves to meaningfully guide the mothering students. The study recommends that student mothers should develop personal time tables to cater for various educational activities which include assignment writing, reading,     research    and   writing      of            lecture                 notes           for                   missed         lectures.

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Parenting is one of the most challenging jobs an individual will ever face and can be stressful

at times, but also very rewarding. Becoming the parent of a child has a time of great stress

and challenge and is reported to have higher amounts of physical, emotional, psychological,

and financial constraints. Luzzo (2002), stated that motherhood seems to oppress women and

mothering is not quite compatible with other roles women are expected to play because

women‟s career motivation is much more vulnerable to competing role priorities and

environmental demands which constitute serious barriers to their career aspirations.

Being a mother and pursuing a degree is a present challenge for many married female

students. However, they often encounter additional