Tag Archives: Marriage

DIVORCE AMONG MARRIED AND DIVORCED COUPLES

PERCEIVED CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DIVORCE AMONG MARRIED AND DIVORCED COUPLES IN GAYA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the perceived causes and effects of divorce among the married and divorced couples in Gaya local government area of Kano state. The objective of the study was to determine the religious, social, economic and political causes and effects of divorce in the study area. The study used survey design and a sample of three hundred and fifty three [383] respondents, made up of 173 married and 193 divorced people served as the sample of the study. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire titled perceived causes and effects of divorce inventory [P C E D I]. Percentages and mean were used in answering the research questions. Independent t- test was used in testing hypotheses. All the hypotheses were tested at

0.05 level of significance. The results of the study revealed no significant difference in the perceptions of the married and divorced couples on the religious, social, economic and political causes of divorce and it so also showed the effects of divorce. Therefore, the study recommended for pre-marital counselling for both married and divorced couples as well as for young men and women in the society to get prepared conveniently for marriage practices. Counsellors, learned people and people concern should effectively be utilizing mass Medias and forum they find themselves in and create awareness in the minds of people on marriages divorce and its effects.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

Marriage is the oldest and the most cherished institution that every society in the world has undergone or went through their unique practices religiously, economically, socially and politically. Families as a social group whose members are related by blood, marriage or adoption are students of this institution. According to Musa [2008] “organization, coordination and distribution of societal wealth, is only easy and possible through an established system, and no system is more realistic than the family.” Culture and tradition in Africa have shown that a person is honoured and becomes responsible if he marries. Marriage accelerates and enhances social relationships between people. Marriage is a lifelong activity, if it is made with the acceptance of both the two parties.

But there are certain natural and artificial instances that occur and bring about marital instabilities in marriage activities whose end results are divorce. Divorce is mainly caused by political, economic, social and religious factors. Abdullati (2002) is of the opinion that conflict between couples is inevitable especially when they come from different societal setting. Spouses can no longer live in harmony and have lost mutual regard for each other; for obvious reasons, husbands search for slight fault from their wives to seek for a divorce. Musa {2008} highlighted that divorce is a dissolution of a marriage contract which may be effected either by the act of the husband or by demand from the wife or by mutual agreement or by operation of the law. Lemu  {2005}  explains  that  dissolution  of  marriage  brings  about  the disintegration of the family unity. Yahaya {2008} is of the opinion that divorce leads to broken homes, children in these homes suffer from lack of parental care and love, poor socialization, which in the end leads to delinquency, to criminal acts and to the spread of other social ills in the society. Couples begin to dislike the values of marriage in totality. The end result of divorce is that couples begin to roam about and take time before getting married again. To a certain extent, women go into prostitution. According to Anderson (2000), the rampant divorce the society is experiencing is breeding a lot of sexual ills or practices, immoralities and disrespect. However, poverty and ignorance are another grand factors influencing divorce in many of the Hausa societies. People marry without having the full knowledge of marriage and the functions of marriage. Responsibilities of husbands to their wives and the responsibilities of wives and their husbands are not fully understood and observed by married couples. According to Lemu (200O) women, for one reason or the other, develop high taste of life in marriage. It is the consequences of these factors that the main body of this survey revolves around.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

 Gaya local government area of Kano state is a typical Hausa Fulani setting where majority of the people live in their homes. It is an area where married and divorced couples are easily known or identified. From the data gathered in the area, divorce rate is increasing arithmetically especially during harvesting seasons. This is why divorce is becoming increasingly problematic and noticeable as a result of the gross negativity of its effects on the society. The perceived causes of divorce are classified into religious, social, economic and political factors. From the religious factor, is observed that many couples are not committed to their religious practices. They are ignorant to their obligatory responsibilities as husbands and wives. They respect culture at the expense of their religious practices. Those that are having the knowledge are not putting the knowledge in their marriage activities. Radda [2001] and Musa [2008] shade more light as they said in their findings that ignorance, parents inability to train their children and cultural predomination are the major religious factor causing divorce in most of the Hausa societies.

From the social factor, people have the opinion that communication gap, early marriage and with little or no experience of withstanding marital challenges, lack of love, care, lack of motivation, frequent travelling by husbands with little or no time to the wives, excessive smoking and drinking of alcohol are vibrant instruments that cause divorce. [R. I. Okorodudu and C. N. Okorodudu 2004] observation is in line above assertion as their finding reveals that communication gap is a common problem in almost all marriages in Nigeria. Modo [1996] so also in his research work explained that the common feature among the Muslim house wives is that they all married before the age of 19. These innocent wives have no option than to see their husbands as fathers and would not express themselves freely.

Economic is another factor that causes divorce Hausa communities. It is observed that, poverty, house mismanagement and selling of food stuff by wives cause divorce. Lack of sufficient supply of food stuff in the house, lack of welfare packages to the wives by the husbands, and inability for the husbands to take care for the training of their wives make divorce easily.

Musa [2008] added that the husbands, that cannot satisfy the financial needs of their wives, certainly stand to face problems from them.

In the political factor, it is observed that many couples do not know what administration not to talk of administrating others. They allow external interferences to run the activities of their houses. They cannot render justice in the administration of their children. They cannot make adjustments of life to themselves; they lack mutual commitment and trust. Yahaya [2008] supported this opinion as he observed in his finding that cruelty, battering, bullying, too much commitment to job at the expense of marital relationship instigate divorce.

Divorce when it is made, it uses to have serious religious, social, economic and political consequences on the couples, family themselves and the society at large. From the religious point of view, it is observed that when divorce is made, in most of the time, enmity is created between the couples. Children of divorced couples suffer from poor upbringing, lack proper guidance and moral training. Modo [1996] went on to say wives may result to locking things in the mind. However, parents are shying away from their obligatory responsibilities of training their children morally; they engage themselves in training the children on how and where to get money.

From the social point of view, divorce has serious effects on the couples, the children and the family. It is clearly seen that after divorce, women are subjected to traumatic conditions such as forceful ejection from matrimonial homes, loss of dignity as wives and loss of responsibilities. Modo [1996] went further and shed light that when couples are not in speak able terms, this may result in tension and severance of relationships.

Husbands use communication breakdown as a weapon for punishing their wives most especially in Nigerian situation where men are not restricted to their marriage vow. Musa [2008] too, has examined that if divorcees become immoral and children get poor socialization chain of social problems such as prostitution, drug abuse, thuggery, school dropout, pre marital sex, which may lead to H I V|A I D S and unwanted pregnancies etc will be trigged and ultimately spread across the society affecting all members.

Means of survival is vital in life. Absence of it causes havoc especially in marriages as it accelerates divorce. This is why the victims of this circumstances search for the means of survival such as prostitution, hawking, house help work, selling of food in commercial areas and finally become political sags. Children from divorce family may be engaging themselves into licentious activities instead of economic activities. Musa [2008] further intensified this view points as he explained that the end result of divorce is woman lose her source of financial satisfaction. If she is not working, and poor, she may scum to other means of alleviating her suffering.

From the political effects of divorce, it is seen that divorce women experienced separation with children, house ejection, loss matrimonial administration and children experienced parental neglect. Radda and Zango [2001] went further to say that members of the community are not treating divorced women properly. Children of divorced women are not often treated properly by their step mothers. Sometimes they are denied food, proper hygiene and emotional attention. As a result, children take the form of unusual behavours  like delinquent acts, begging and  other forms of destitution. Thus, this study investigated the perceived causes and effects of divorce among the married and divorced couples in the study area.

1.3     Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study are to determine the:

  1. Perceptions of married and divorced couples on religious causes of divorce in Gaya local government area;
  2. Perceptions of married and divorced couples on social causes of divorce in Gaya local government;
  3. Perceptions of married and divorced couples on economic causes of divorce in Gaya local government Area;
  4. Perceptions of married and divorced couples on political causes of divorce in Gaya Local Government Area;
  5. Perceptions of married and divorced couples on religious effects of divorce in Gaya Local Government Area;
  6. Perceptions of married and divorced couples on social effects of divorce among the married and divorce in Gaya Local Government Area;
  7. Perceptions of married and divorced couples on economic effects of divorce in Gaya Local Government Area; and
  8. Perceptions of married and divorced couples on political effects of divorce in Gaya Local Government Area.

1.4     Research Questions

The following research questions were asked and they guided the study:

  1. What are the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the religious causes of divorce in Gaya local government?
  2. What are the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the social causes of divorce in Gaya local government?
  3. What are the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the economic causes of divorce in Gaya local government?
  4. What are the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the economic causes of divorce in Gaya local government?
  5. What are the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the religious effects of divorce in Gaya local government area?
  6. What are the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the social effects of divorce in Gaya local government area
  7. What are the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the economic effects of divorce in Gaya local government area?
  8. What are the perceptions of married and divorced couples on political effects of divorce in Gaya local government area?

1.5     Hypotheses

The following hypotheses guided the conduct of the study.

  1. There is no significant difference in the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the mismatch religious causes of divorce in Gaya local government area.
  2. There is no significant difference in the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the social causes of divorce in Gaya local government
  3. There is no significant difference in the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the economic causes of divorce in Gaya local government area.
  4. There is no significant difference in the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the political causes of divorce in Gaya local government
  5. There is no significant difference in the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the religious effects of divorce in Gaya local government area,
  6. There is no significant difference in the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the social effects of divorce in Gaya local government area,
  7. There is no significant difference in the perceptions of married and divorced couples on the economic effects of divorce in Gaya local government area, and
  8. There is no significant difference in the perceptions of married and divorced couples on political effects of divorce in Gaya local government

1.6     Basic Assumptions

The following assumptions were raised:

  1. The married and divorced couples may have common perceptions of the religious causes of divorce in Gaya local government area.
  2. The married and divorced couples may have the same perceptions of the social causes of divorce in Gaya Local Government Area.
  3. Married and divorced couples may have the same perceptions of the economic causes of divorce in Gaya local government area
  4. Married and divorced couples may have the same perceptions of the political causes of divorce in Gaya local government area.
  5. Married and divorced couples may have the same perceptions of the religious effects of divorce in Gaya local government area.
  6. Married and divorced couples may have the same common perceptions of the social effects of divorce in Gaya local government area.
  7. Married and divorced couples may have the same common perception of the economic effects of divorce in Gaya local government area.
  8. Married and divorced couples may have the same common perceptions of the political effects of divorce in Gaya local government area.

1.7     Significance of the Study

The research work is vital and of benefit to not only the counselling professionals but also to community leaders, judges, Islamic teachers, married and divorced couples, policy makers and the general public. The study is highly beneficial to government and Non-Governmental Organizations since they are agents aiming at curtailing the rate of divorce in the area of study.

The finding of the study is significant as it attempts to provide solutions to reduce the rate of divorce among the people concerned in the study area. For those who experienced divorce, the work will help them to guard against its future occurrence. And for those who are yet to experience it, the work will serve, to them, as a guide or a precautionary measure against its occurrence.

The finding also intends to motivate the parents, elders in the society, religious leaders, village heads, district heads and counsellors to contribute eminently toward establishing more desirable, everlasting marital engagements and relationships between couples so the rate of divorce in the society will reduce.

Also, the findings of the study intends to help all married couples in the society as it reflects out their marriage responsibilities and functions as ordained upon them by God, whose, if fully and judiciously adhered to, end result is infinite patience, tolerance, loyalty, transparency, unending of love and affection. The work intends to enlighten couples on the art of understanding one another`s levels in life, that is who they are, what they are, what they can do and what they cannot do. If this is known and practiced between them, negative actions and reactions will be reduced and thus, there will be peace and love between them.

The finding of the study will help and give counsellors a guiding input which they can use to counsel and enlighten married and divorced couples to observe early, identify and appreciate the factors influencing divorce and its end results to them, the family and the society which, if they adhere these inputs to, will curtail the menace of divorce.

1.8     Scope and Delimitation of the study

The study is delimited to the married and divorced couples‟s perceptions on the causes and effects of divorce in Gaya local government area. It covers all the married and the divorced couples who experienced the bitter taste of divorce in the seventeen villages in Gaya local government area. The area of study is a simple society where married and divorced people are very much known. They can be counted within a short time.

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CAUSES OF MARITAL INFIDELITY AMONG MARRIED WOMEN

PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON THE PREVALENCE AND CAUSES OF MARITAL INFIDELITY AMONG MARRIED WOMEN

ABSTRACT

Every society has its norms and values about sex in marital relationship. Infidelity in marriage is a social issue various society, religion, and age frown at. Married women are known to be chaste and faithful to their marital vows. This practice is gradually waning. This study examined the prevalence and causes of marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North local government area, Enugu State. The study was conducted between November 2017 and May 2018 based on a survey of 400 respondents through the use of multi-stage sampling technique. The information for this study was obtained from the respondents using questionnaires & in-depth interview. The stated research questions formed the basis for data analysis. The data were collated and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software version 20. The findings, among other things, show that majority of the respondents were aware that married women engage in marital infidelity. 77.6% agreed to sexual infidelity as the most common form of infidelity, and 28.5% agreed to economic support as the major reasons why women engage in infidelity through. Religious opposition and customs were found to have a significant influence on the attitude towards marital infidelity in Enugu North local government area. The researcher therefore suggests a need to educate the people on the health challenges and other problems associated with marital infidelity. This should be accompanied by sanctions for defaulters. Economic empowerment of women would go a long way in discouraging marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

 

CHAPTER ONE

 INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

Marriage is one of the oldest institutions associated with human society. It is one that has repeatedly been emphasized in every society and constitutes the yardstick for the determination of responsibility in the families. Ofoegbu (2002)   defined marriage as an arrangement of social structure which results in the establishment of a relationship of a legal customary or religious bond between a man and his wife for the propagation of the family root through procreation and sharing of various types of other acceptable relationship norms. Marriage of some kind is found virtually in every society. But throughout the centuries, marriage has taken many different forms. Understanding of marriage contrasts greatly from culture to culture, some view the institution as endogamous (men were required to marry within their social group, family, clan or tribe), exogamous (marrying outside the geographical region or social group) or polygamous (allowing people (both men and women) to take more than one partner.

Denga (1990) as cited in Yahaya, Esere, Ogunsanmi & Onye (2008) states that marriage is a partnership contract without escape clauses because it connotes a lifelong arrangement where the couple should permanently survive a multitude of demanding situations such as illness, financial constraints and so on. At any given time in human history, a family comes into existence each time a marriage is successfully contracted. The family is the most important primary group and the smallest social unit in any particular society. Family setting is universal because the human society exists or has existed with some form of family organization. Akubue & Okolo, (2008) referred to family as any group of people who interact and communicate with each other such as husband, wife and children in organizational settings. In the Nigeria context, because of the phenomenon of the extended family system, the family is made up of married people, their off springs and immediate kith and kin and other dependents (Onwuasonya, 2006).

From creation, every society has its traditional practices such as loving one’s spouse, having sex only with ones partner among others, which are pronounced during marriage ceremonies are expected of couples to boost the image and self-esteem of their partners. Some partners deviate from these norms and exhibit it outside their marital homes. This has been a source of marital dispute and instability among couples. The negative outcome of this often times impacts the children psychologically and socially (Fernando, 2013). Contemporary society is bedeviled with marital problems which are not in accordance with the standards, norms and values of traditional society.

Marital fidelity has been known not only to keep a family together but also a generation of individuals that respect the sanctity of marriage. People get married with fidelity in mind but infidelity has always been documented to affect almost 80% of marriage around the world. Infidelity in marriage is a social issue various society, religion and age frown at, and as a result stringent measures are placed to curtail this act. In some societies, the penalty could be as stiff as death. However, infidelity strives leaving the people to wonder why it has taken a form of legacy passed from one generation to the other. (Ejaifo, 2012).

Infidelity in marriage is gradually becoming a norm. Female infidelity is the new trend because extra marital sex by men is socially tolerated and in many respects, even socially rewarded. The prevalence of married men’s participation in extra marital sex in Nigeria is well documented (Karanja, 1987; Onusuloye, Caldwell & Caldwell, 1997; Lawoyin & Larsen, 2002; Mitsunaga, Powell, Antonia, Heard, Nathan, Larsen., 2005). A report out of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University found that for the first time in modern history, women are cheating at nearly the same rate as men. Another study, published in the National Opinion Research center’s 2013 General Social Survey, found that while the percentage of men who admitted to infidelity has held constant over the last two decades, the percentage of wives who reported having affairs rose almost 40 percent.

Before the advent of civilization, married women, no matter the conditions they found themselves never became promiscuous; they remained chaste and faithful to their vows. Cheating among Nigerian women is the new trend, which is abstract and very different to what was in existence two decades ago, when women were faithful, patient and more tolerating (Ejaifo, 2012).        

Against this background, this study is aimed at investigating the causes of marital infidelity among women in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

1.2     Statement of the Problem 

Marital infidelity among women which was a rare phenomenon has apparently become common place today in the Nigerian society. According to a new report by Durex, a condom manufacturing company in 2012, Nigerian women are ranked the most unfaithful in the world with 62 percent.

Infidelity impacts strongly on the functionality and stability of relationship (Drigotas, Safstrom, & Gontlia, 1999; Whisman, Dixon & Johnson, 1997).

John Kester, a sociologist at the University of Lagos reports that infidelity not only hurts the relationship but has an adverse impact on family life, particularly if children are involved. When a mother is having an affair there is a different reaction in children, this is because the mother is still most often considered the focus of the family and of course when the child learns of an affair, he or she is in danger of testing confidence in the inability of marriage and family.

Research on marital infidelity shows that it  leads to marital strife leading to divorce, wife battering, prostitution in urban areas, children born of different fathers and the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (National Aids Control Council (NACC), 2007). Marital infidelity has been associated with increased risk of mental health problems, including depression and anxiety (Cano & O’ Leary, 2000).

Marital Infidelity by impacts negatively on the development in any given area due to its effect on people involved. Resources that are made for the development of the family are deviated to cater for extra-marital affairs and the treatment of HIV/AIDS (Kenya Forum, 2013). Infidelity by women could also enhance the spread of sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, syphilis, and many others. Reproductive health of the women are most times usually affected, thus resulting to loss of lives by the women or mothers, thereby making their children become orphans, or even school dropouts, thus becoming touts and juvenile deliquents.

Despite its negative effects on the health of their family members and the society at large, it is worrisome to observe that married women still indulge in extramarital affairs. What could be behind this rise? Could it be that married women are lacking some fundamental needs in family relationship which they seek to satisfy from external sources?

It is in view of these concerns that this study is being carried out to find out the prevalence and causes of marital infidelity by women in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State.       

1.3     Research Questions

The following research questions were put forward to guide the study:

  1. What are the patterns of marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L.G.A. of Enugu state?
  2. What are the attitudes of people towards marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A. of Enugu State?
  3. What are the factors responsible for marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A. of Enugu State?
  4. What are the challenges resulting from marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A. of Enugu State?
  5. What strategies can be put in place to reduce or address the prevalence of marital infidelity among women in Enugu North L.G.A, of Enugu State?

1.4     Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study was to ascertain the causes of marital infidelity among women in Enugu North L. G. A. of Enugu State.

The specific objectives of the study were as follows:

  1. To find out the patterns of marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.
  2. To identify the attitude of people towards marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A of Enugu State.
  3. To ascertain the factors responsible for marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.
  4. To investigate the challenges resulting from infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A of Enugu State.
  5. To proffer plausible solutions/strategies that will help curtail the prevalence of marital infidelity among women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.

1.5     Significance of the Study

This study has both practical and theoretical significance.

Practically, the study will help to resuscitate marriage and improve marriage relationship by helping married people to keep to their marital vows and have healthy spousal relationships. It will help to create societal awareness on the damages and harm of infidelity, if not properly curbed.

Theoretically, the findings will give first-hand information to religious leaders, marriage counselors, women organizations on the prevalence and causes of marital infidelity among women, with a view to give proper counseling to spouses either before or during the marriage sessions. With the knowledge, the curriculum planners would include issues that bother on family and procreation into subjects like, Sociology, Civic Education, Sexuality Education and Social Studies. Findings of the study will also add to existing knowledge and literature that have addressed the issue of marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North Local Government Area, Enugu State and Nigeria at large.

1.6     Definition of terms

Attitude: It refers to the way we think or view someone or something.

Couple: This refers to two people who are married, are living together or having an intimate relationship, as socially approved.   

Divorce: It is the legal ending of marriage between couples so that husband and wife are free to remarry again.

Early marriage: Early marriage is a marriage that occurs before a person reaches the age of consent (18 years). It is also known as child marriage.

Gender: It refers to culturally and historically specific concepts of femininity and masculinity. It reflects the power relations between men and women; social construction of sex roles between men and women.

Infidelity: It is referred to as cheating or adultery when married. It is a violation of a couple’s assumed or stated contract regarding emotional and or sexual exclusivity.

Marriage: In the context of this study, marriage can be seen as the legalizing of a special relationship between a man and a woman to which the society gives its approval. It places each partner under legal and social obligations to the other and to the society.

Pattern: A particular way in which something is done, or been organized or happens.

Prevalence: It is a term which means being widespread. It tells us about the number of particular events in the community.

Socio-Economic Factors: These are conditions that necessitate and sustain the status of individuals in family and community in terms of formal education, occupation, income, health and cultural freedom.       

 

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THE EFFECT OF MARRIAGE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING OF FEMALE STUDENTS IN CASSS UNIT OF KADUNA POLYTECHNIC

THE EFFECT OF MARRIAGE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING OF FEMALE STUDENTS IN CASSS UNIT OF KADUNA POLYTECHNIC

ABSTRACT

The study examined the effect of marriage on the academic performance and well-being of female students in six (6) selected departments of CASSS Unit of Kaduna Polytechnic, more specially, the study sought to assess the education effects of marriage on the academic performance on female students in six (6) selected departments of CASSS Unit of Kaduna Polytechnic. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 48 female married students in CASSS Unit of Kaduna Polytechnic, 48 respondents duly participated in the survey. A well-developed questionnaire was designed to elicit information from the respondents. The data collected were subjected to simple percentage formula; results from the study indicated that one of the reasons for students marrying while schooling in Nigeria is poverty. Also, it was found that the reason some get married why schooling has significant educational impact on the academic achievement of the respondents. Based on this, the study advised that strong legislative mechanism should be instituted to reduce the occurrence of students getting married while schooling in Nigeria.

 

Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

Birth, marriage and death are the standard trio of key events in most people’s live. But out of these three events; ‘marriage’ is a matter of choice. The right to exercise that choice was identified as a principle of law starting from the Roman era and has been established in the international human right instruments. Yet, many girls enter into marriage without any choice of exercising their right to choose. Most of them forced themselves into marriage while schooling for the sake of finding help. Others are simply too young to make a matured decision about their marriage partner or about the consequences of marriage itself. They may have given what passes for ‘counsel’ in the eyes of the law, but in reality, consent to their binding union has been made due to poverty. (Bunting, 2012)

The axiom is that once a girl is married while schooling she has automatically become a woman regardless her age and it may possibly affect her academic performance and well-being. There are various forms and causes of female marriage while still schooling, but one issue is prominent, which is marriage while still in school affects the females academic performances because combining domestic jobs to lectures, assignments and exams is a task that can’t be met. The right to free and full consent to marriage is recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and in other human right instruments (Shehu, 2010; Buting, 2012). Female students getting married has a profound physical, intellectual, psychological and emotional impacts, which has the capacity to dash away the educational opportunities and chances for personal growth. It almost leads to pregnancy and childbearing, and is likely to result into a lifetime domestic and sexual subservience.

For many young girls in developing countries, marriage is perceived as a means of securing and protecting their future. Girls are forced into marriage while still schooling by their families while they are still children in the hope that marriage will yield them returns financially and socially without considering the negative effect it will bring to the students’ academic (Shobba, 2009). On the contrary, marriage while schooling violates the right of the female students with negative implications. It compromises their overall development and self-realization. These conditions ultimately make married female students susceptible to poor academic performance. These married female students are required to do a disproportionate amount of chores, which includes new roles and responsibilities as wives and mothers. The young bride’s status in the family is frequently dependent on her, demonstrating their fertility often within the first year of her marriage. At this time, she is not psychologically, emotionally and physiologically prepared for these roles. Additionally, this married female students are made responsible for the care and well-being of future generations while still children themselves. Young mothers with no decision-making powers, restricted mobility and no economic resources are likely to transmit this vulnerability to their kids. Therefore, marriage of female students while still schooling directly compounds to feminization of poor academic performance and intergenerational poverty.

Marriage of female student still in school leads to early pregnancy and motherhood, which adversely affects the education of girls in schools. Inspite of the recognition of women education, there are many barriers in the way of women to get higher education and contribute their maximum impact to the betterment of the society. The mindset of the society does not allow girls for higher education in that, it promotes gender inequality and ensures prioritization of economic resources for boy-child(ren). They get fewer opportunities not only in education, but also in all facets of life (Daraz, 2012). Studies conducted by Goldien (2007) revealed that many young married female students face many problems and leave their education uncompleted due to different social and cultural factors. Even if they are fortunate to complete their education, their performance is abysmally poor. This termination of education and abysmal poor performance in their studies is the outcome of the challenges encountered when combining education with their responsibilities as home-keepers in their families.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

The unprepared female students getting married is a symbol of poor orientation. Throughout the world, marriage is regarded as a moment of celebration and milestone in one’s life. Sadly, the practice of female students getting married involves the deprivation of educational success. Young married females are robbed of their youthfulness and required to take on roles, they are not emotionally prepared for. Majority of the young female students have no choice about the timing of marriage or about their partner. Some are coerced into marriage, while others are too tender to make an informed decision. Premature marriage deprives them of the opportunity for personal development as well as their rights to full reproductive health, wellbeing, education and participation in civil life.

There has been consensus in literature that marriage of girls still in school disrupts, disturbs and distorts the academic performance and well-being of female students, but these does not imply that all married female students perform poorly in education. Marriage while still in school poses great threat to the academic performance and wellbeing of students coerced into it. Poor attendance to class, limited time to read and study, digressed focus from academic to families’ welfare, withdrawal at times and poor time management. All these challenges have been identified in existing literature as the effects of marriage on the academic performance and wellbeing on female students. In view of this, the problem of the study is to examine reason the effect of marriage on the academic performance of KADPOLY students.

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this research is to examine the effect of marriage on academic performance and wellbeing of female students in College of Administrative Studies and Social Sciences (CASSS) of Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.

The specific objectives of the study include:

  1. To identify the possible reasons why female students get married while still schooling in selected departments (CASSS), Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.
  2. To examine the educational effects of marriage on the academic performance of female students in selected departments (CASSS), Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.
  3. To examine the effects of marriage on the family well-being of female students in selected departments (CASSS), Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.

1.4       Research Questions

In accordance with the research objectives, the questions of interest raised in the study are:

  1. What are the possible causes of female students getting married while still schooling in Kaduna Polytechnic?
  2. What are the educational effects of marriage on the academic performance of female students in selected departments (CASSS), Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.
  3. What are the effects of marriage on the family well-being of female students in selected departments (CASSS), Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.

1.5       Significance of the Study

Female students will gain from this study by learning that education is the only way to achieving greater goals in life, and this will help in correcting the instability that had existed in girl’s education. Parents will gain a great deal in this study by getting to learn that women education is not a waste, as a man, if you educate a woman you educate a family, a nation, and this will help change their attitudes and ignorance towards girls education.

Government, both the Federal, State and Local levels will gain from this study by realizing from this study that funds, higher access education, poverty easing programs should be made available for education at all levels. Educators, educational planners, the general public will gain from this study by learning that girls in career choices of educational courses.

1.6       Delimitation/Scope of the Study

This study focused on the effect of marriage on academic performance and wellbeing of female students who have experienced marriage while still schooling in selected departments (CASSS), Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.

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