Issues and challenges confronting Muslim student-mothers in Gombe State tertiary institutions (A case study of Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the domestic and academic challenges that are confronting Muslim student-mothers in Gombe state tertiary institutions. A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 30 respondents from a group of Muslim student-mothers in Federal University of Kashere. It was observed that difficulty in caring for their family members at home due to school activities was their major domestic challenge and loaded academic work that had to be accomplished within a short time frame was their major academic challenge. The causes of these challenges were identified as financial constraints and the performance of their marital responsibilities at home as married women. The respondents expressed that these challenges led to low concentration during lectures and low academic performance at the end of school year. The research suggests that minimizing the pressure from their households, issue of gender discrimination and reducing the number of programs that had to be covered at the University can help them cope with the situation.