Academic excellence requires physical strength and mental alertness. The need to be properly equipped with adequate knowledge, skills and attitudes so as to fit into the ever-changing society has made some mothers to combine their reproductive responsibilities with educational pursuits. Both duties are quite demanding. What are the challenges? And how do these women cope with the daily stress?
Students-mothers are women (married or single) that are still in school. They constitute small but significant part of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
According to research, student mothers are faced with challenges of meeting the demands of being both a student and a parent of a kindergarten – the inadequacy of childcare facilities, restrictive or “no child on campus‟ policy, inconvenient timing of lectures, and acute financial pressures.
Hauwa Suleiman, a mother of four and a final year student of mass communication, Bayero University Kano, said that her quest for a better-paid job is responsible for her decision to further her education even after marriage. Though the journey has not been easy, she has remained resolute at ensuring that both responsibilities are performed.
“I have sleepless nights trying to attend to my family and have good grades. Very early in the morning, I prepare my three kids for school and go for lectures with the little one. Most lecturers frown on this because cries of babies normally disrupt lectures. So, sometimes, I’m forced to abandon lectures to go outside whenever my baby starts crying.
“The school crèche is far from my department and the cost is high. Not all mothers can afford it,” she said.
Another student from University of Nigeria Nsukka, Ukamaka Idoko, said that catering for three children and attending to school activities have been hectic. She explained that her major challenge is having little time to do extensive reading and be with her kids.
“The school management should have at least a day care that will accommodate kids. And they should provide good hostels to help cope up with stress”, Ukamaka added.
Similarly, Suleiman Saadat who is a mother and a student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai said that she got married while in level 3 and playing the tripartite role of a mother, wife and a student has not been easy. She lamented the uncooperative and harsh attitude of some lecturers towards student mothers.
She said, “Some lecturers fix class and test by 7am and they expect you to be there at the exact time. A minute late and you are out. I have missed lots of tests and lectures because of this. When your baby is crying, the lecturer will just send you out and will not allow you to come back.“
Meanwhile, behind every successful woman, a man is always there as the back bone. This is not far from the truth as some husbands have been identified as helpers and supporters of these mothers.
Pro. Hajara Sanda, first woman to move into the professorial cadre in mass communication at Bayero University Kano, in a interview, acknowledged the support of her husband during her PhD programme in USA.
Also, Abdulrasheed Gbedegesin is a husband and he has been supportive of his wife towards becoming a graduate. He said, “I know the value of education and I want to see my wife become self accomplished. She is strong and has been able to manage her primary responsibilities. Whenever she requires any support or assistance, I am there for her. I take her to school and had to buy her a car to ease her movement”.
Unfortunately, Nigeria’s tertiary institutions have shown that taking on motherhood alongside educational pursuit is not normal, thus, not much encouragement is given. Unfavourable policies that tend to discourage hard working mothers are made and there is no adequate support from the schools. This is not to talk of the hostile approach of lecturers.
The Vice Chancellor of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo state, Prof. Olukayode Amund, during the institution’s 10th matriculation ceremony said, “The university hostels have no care facilities for expectant mothers and would not harbour pregnant students on campus”.
Similarly, Prof. Umar Pate, Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere expressed dissatisfaction over mothers bringing their babies to lectures. According to him, the babies could easily contact diseases and their cries disturb others from learning.
However, findings revealed that whenever the roles of mother and that of student overlapped, student mothers made their families and children a priority over their educational pursuit. This has put them at a disadvantage and limit their academic performance.
According to Mr. Nurudeen Mohammed, lecturer at Federal Polytechnic, Offa, student mothers are always distracted by their role as a mother and as a student. He said they often come late to class and sometimes they miss lectures due to their babies falling sick or other family issues.
“As babies cry, lectures are distracted and as the mothers go out to attend to them, they miss significant part of the lectures. As a result of this, student mothers are out-performed by other students. Most of them are average or poor,” Mr Nurudeen added.
Reacting to this, Vincentia Okoye, a mother and a final year student of mass communication Bayero University Kano said she does not believe that student mothers always perform poorly in the class.
She said “I don’t believe in the assertion that student mothers always perform poorly in terms of academics. I know of many who are doing excellently and my GPA rose higher compared to when I was single. So everything depends on what one really wants”.
Vincentia added that what student mothers really need is a bit of support from lecturers and school management. She also advised women who want to further their education after marriage to marry a man who shares in their dream.
Adama Umar Ayuba,
Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano.
