IMPACT OF EARLY MARRIAGE ON THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF AN ADOLESCENT
ABSTRACT
This study intended to assess the impact of early marriage on the educational attainment of youths. The study was carried out in n Enugu North LGA. The study employed mixed research approach and case study design, using a sample of 36 students, 32 parents, 28 teachers and 8 village leaders. In addition, the study used questionnaire to collect data. The findings showed that there were students who dropped out school for marriage. Early marriage was contributed by poverty and lack of community awareness among other reasons. It was observed that early pregnancy, diseases, complication during delivery, and death, psychological problems were the problems facing children who married at early age. The study concludes that early marriage is still a practice because of lack of community awareness among community members, lack of civic education, lack of strong leadership in the community and lack of meetings and discussion in the community. The study recommends that education should be provided to raise community awareness so as to reduce the practice of early marriage and school dropout among students. Establishment of strict by-laws, there should be meetings and discussion on early marriage, also the establishment of different programs. All these will be effectively done if parent, government, schools and other stakeholders work together.
IMPACT OF EARLY MARRIAGE ON THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF AN ADOLESCENT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
1.1 Background to the Study
Education is the process by which society through schools, colleges, universities and other institutions transmits its cultural heritage, values, skills from one generation to another. (Ukeje, 1980). According to Ozochi (2008), Education too many is seen as a solution for vast range of task of the society and bed rock for national development. The National policy in Nigeria education (2004 revised) saw education as a dynamic instrument per excellence for effecting national development and a potent means for ensuring the welfare of the people and the equalization of life chance. The benefits derivable from educational investment equip the individual for proper understanding of important phenomena and further exploitation of human and material resources. Education is equally the process whereby one is prepared for the task of living happily with one’s neighbours and advancing the cause of one’s society as well as finding solution to its nagging problems (Okeke, 2004).
In traditional African society, the role of female was pegged and circumscribed. It was considered a taboo sending a female to school. This is because of the attitude towards of education for women. It was considered a waste of money, time and effort considering that most women in no time get married into another family, to raise the children that serve as farm hands for their father. In addition to raising the children for the man, the women still helped to keep the house and provide meal for all. Hence the saying some years back that women’s education ends in the kitchen. This primitive attitude exposes women to early marriage.
According to UNICEF (2008), Early marriage better known as child marriage is defined as marriage carried below the age 18years before the girl is physically, physiologically and psychologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities of marriage and child bearing. Early marriage also means the individual becomes sexually active early, raising children while children themselves. The marriage of a young girl affects not only her life but the life of the children she will bear.
Early marriage has been a common practice among many ethnic groups in the world including Nigeria. However, it has contributed to series of negative consequences both for young girls and the society in which they live. It is a violation of human rights in general and of girl’s rights in particular (Abdallah, 2015). For both girls and boys, early marriage has profound physical, intellectual, psychological and emotional impacts, cutting off educational and employment opportunities and chances of personal growth. In Northern Nigeria where the practice is prevalent, the impact is more on girls as many of them marry early in their large numbers and with more intensity. Besides having a negative impact on girls themselves, the practice of early marriage also has negative consequences on their children, families, and society as a whole (Adedokun et al., (2012). Studies revealed that the practice is more prominent among rural dwellers, the poor, and illiterate and in less-developed areas ( Adebowale et al, 2012; World Vision UK, 2013; UNICEF, 2014). Due to high level of illiteracy, poverty and large proportion of rural dwellers in Nigeria, the country is one of the high-risk areas of child marriage around the world. In spite of its widespread and reproductive outcomes, it is against this background that the researcher intends to examine the effects of early marriage practice on girl’s education in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The present state of the nation (Nigeria) demands that youths should be educated first before marriage. It is on this note that the researchers would like to investigate on the causes of early marriage among adolescent of Enugu north L.G.A. the study also identified the impact it has on the educational attainment of our youths. Consequently determined the involvement of parents in such marriage since education is a major instrument for the development of any nation. Early marriage puts the youth at a disadvantage by their loss of educational opportunities. The level of the development for any nation is measured by the level of the educational attainment of the people in the area. The more people in the area are educated, the more the area will be developed.
1.3 Research Questions
Three research questions guides this study:
1) What are the factors responsible for early marriage among youth of Enugu North L.G.A
2) What are the relationship between early marriage and educational attainment?
3) What are the differences existing in education of boys and girls of Enugu North L.G.A?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The purpose of the study was to find out the impact of early marriage on the educational attainment of youths.
Specifically, the Study
- Determined the relationship between early marriage and educational attainment.
- Ascertained the causes of early marriage among youths of Enugu North Local Government Area.
- To know the difference existing in education of boys and girls in Enugu North Local Government Area.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The result of the study will be a useful instrument to the students, teachers, curriculum planners, parents, government.
The students would find the work necessary when they consult this project for further research. It will also serve as a reference during their project writings.
Teachers on their part, we use it in assigning further study on the work for other researchers.
This study through its findings is of immense benefits in the following areas: 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 them 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, and also if you educate a man, but if you educate a women 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 programmes should be made available for education at all levels. Educators, educational planners, the general public will gain from this study by learning that girls are in no way inferior to men, they also gain by learning how to educate, guide and counsel girls in carrier choices of educational courses.
1.6 Scope and Limitation Of The Study
This study focused on the impact of early marriage on the educational attainment of youths.
The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;
- a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL:The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
- b) TIME:The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
- c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.
1.7 Definition Of Terms
Education: Education is defined as the process of easing learning, or the learning of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits.
Marriage
Is the legal relationship between a husband and wife (Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary, 2002). According to UNICEF (2011), marriage is a social institution that unites people in a special form of mutual dependence for the purpose of developing a family.
Early Marriage
Is a marriage involving a person aged below 18 yeas (Human Rights Watch, 2014). In this study, early marriage is considered as a marriage that involves students, at any age, before they complete their secondary education.
Child Marriage
UNICEF (2011) defines child marriage as couples who are formally married, or who live together as a sexually active couple in an informal union with at least one member, usually the girl being less than 18 years old. Child marriage refers to a union where one of the individual in marriage is below 18 years of age (UNPF,
2012).
Early marriage or child marriage is defined as the union between two people in which one or both parties are younger than 18 years of age.
Academic Performance: Academic performance is the outcome of education, the point to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals. Academic performance is commonly measured by examinations or continuous assessment but there is no general agreement on how it is best tested or which aspects are more important.
School Dropout
This refers to early withdrawal of students from school without completing the required school years (UNICEF, 2011).
1.8 Organization of the Study
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.
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