Effects of Early Marriage on Academic Attainments of Students in Early Marriage in Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto Ijanikin

Purpose of the Study

The broad objective of this study is to assess the Effects of early marriage on Academic Attainments of students in early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education. Specifically, the study aims at:

Ascertaining the causes of early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education.
Determining the roles education play in the development of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education.
Finding out how which impede the effective education of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education.
Finding out the strategies that will help to reduce early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education.

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter will be discussed under the following sub-headings:

The conceptual clarification of early marriage or child marriage
Factors responsible for early or child marriage in Nigeria
Prospects and solutions to child marriage in Nigeria
Factors responsible for lack of women education in Nigeria
The role of education in the development of the women in Nigeria
Review of related empirical studies
Summary of literature reviewed

Conceptual Clarification of Early Marriage or Child Marriage

Marriage has almost universally been defined as a social and legal union between men and women, although a few cultures have allowed people of the same sex to marry (Coontz 2005). Sociologist Max Weber defined marriage as a “stable sexual relationship” allowed and legitimized by the larger kin group and used to determine rules about property rights for children (Collins, 1986:276). The majority of marriages are based on monogamy, a union between one woman and one man. But many societies also have allowed people to have more than one spouse, or polygamous marriages. The Talmud, which comprises Jewish religious law and customs, allows men to have as many as four wives. Whether monogamous or polygamous, marriage systems do not emerge in a vacuum but, like families, are social institutions that serve a purpose. Child marriage is defined as marriage of a child less than 18 years of age. It is an ancient, worldwide custom. Other terms applied to child marriage include “early marriage” and “child brides.” Early marriage is vague and does not necessarily refer to children. Moreover, what is early for one person may be late for another.

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

This chapter will be discussed under the following sub-headings; Research design, Population of the study, Area of the study, Sample and sampling technique, Instrument for data collection, Validity of the instrument, Reliability of the instrument Method of data collection and data analysis.

Research Design

The researcher adopted a descriptive survey design in carrying out this research. Descriptive survey design was used to collect information in order to describe the existing phenomenon in relation to the problems, make comparison and systematic evaluation, in line with the research purposes.

Population of the Study

The population of the study comprised all adolescents in Ogunsanya College Of Education within the ages of 15-45 years numbering 600 from nine departments.

Age, sex and reproductive status were also relevant criteria for the study. Since the researcher is unable to use the whole population in the local government area. This is in accordance with (Nworuh, 2001) who said that the nature of this population must be known because it helps in the choice of ; sampling technique.

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS

In this chapter, the data collected with the aid of research instrument were used to obtain results that were presented in tables.

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSIONS, SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter discusses the result of the study based on the data analysis made in chapter four. It starts with the discussion of the findings, educational implications, recommendations, limitations of the study, suggestions for further studies, summary and conclusion.

Discussion of Findings

The result of data analysis in table 1 shows the causes of early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education, the average mean in table 1 is 3.16 which is greater than 2.5. This means that the items provided in table 1 are the true cause of early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education. The findings in table 1 revealed that the respondents agreed to the causes of early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education in items I, 2, 3, and 5, while item 4 was rejected. Therefore, the answers to the questions showed that poverty, the family’s bid to maintain family honour and the importance “relied to virginity, over protection of the girl-child by their parents” . a migration and slavery of the girl-child , are the causes of early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education. This ordnance to the assertion made by Aduradola, A. M.(2011), that the followings are the causes of Child IW Jage: Cultural and Social pressure; persecution, forced migration and slavery; financial challenges; politics and financial relationship; religion and child marriage.

The result of data analysis in table 2 reviews the strategies for reducing early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education, the average mean in table 2 is 3.01 which is greater than 2.5. This means that the items provided in table 2 are the true strategies for reducing early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education. The findings in table 2 revealed that the respondents agreed to the strategies for reducing early marriage in Ogunsanya College Of Education in items 7, 8, and 10, while item 5 and 9 were rejected. Therefore, the answers to the questions showed that if Government should enact laws against early marriage, organize sensitization programmes against early marriage, and if Punishments are metted out for parents who force their children into early marriage, then early marriage will be drastically reduced especially in Ogunsanya College Of Education.

The result of data analysis in table 3 reviews the factors that impede the effective education of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education.’ the average mean in table 3 is 2.99 which is greater than 2.5. This means that the items provided in table 3 are the true factors that impede the effective education of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education. The findings in table 3 revealed that the respondents agreed to ‘ factors that impede the effective education of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education in items 12, 13, 14, and 15, w item 11 was rejected. Therefore, the answers to the questions showed that ha economic condition of our society, parents fear of sexual violence against th female children, society’s view that women career ends in the kitchen, and the most societies do not permit the idea that a woman should have formal education, are the factors that impede the effective education of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education

The result of data analysis in table 4 reviews the roles education play in the development of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education, the average mean in table 4 is 2,96 which is greater than 2.5. This means that the items provided in table 4 are the roles education play in the development of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education. The findings in table revealed that the respondents agreed to the roles education play in the development of women in Ogunsanya College Of Education in items 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Therefore, the answers to the questions showed that education; offers women expanded sense of her own potentials, increases the self confidence of women, increases the social and negotiation skills of women, helps to boost the earning power of women, and also gives women the ability to protect herself against sexual violence and ill health.

Summary of findings

The study reviewed the effects of early marriage on adolescence education in Ogunsanya College Of Education.
The study adopted a descriptive survey design.
The population of the study comprised all adolescents in Umunebe community in Ogunsanya College Of Educationwithin the ages of 15-45 years numbering 600 from nine departments.
The sample used was made up of two hundred (200) respondents out of the total population using simple random sampling technique.
Four research questions were formulated to guide the study.
The data for the study were collected using a researcher structured questionnaire.
The reliability of the instrument was established as 0.69. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data collected.

Conclusion

Education is a human right that should be given to all human beings. This is to say that where education is given to only one set of group of people in the society, the society will be inversely affected politically, economically and other wise. The relationship between education and development is well established such that education is a lay index of development. Research has also shown that schooling improves productivity, health and reduces negative features of life such as child labour. This is why there has been a lot of emphasis particularly in recent times for all citizens to have access to basic education. It has however been established by researchers that improving female education is crucial for national development. Education is a basic human right and has been recognized as such since the 1948 adoption of the universal declaration of human rights. Since then, numerous human rights treaties have reaffirmed these rights and have supported entitlement to free compulsory primary education for all children.

T^{1 :}mpositions of a marriage partner upon a child means that the childhood is lost never regained (UNICEF, 2001). When children are hurried through childhood, and rushed into taking on adult task (such as marriage at a very early age, the effects can be profound and long lasting (Awake 2003). Bayisenge (2010) noted that young girls are robbed of their youth and required to take on roles for which they are not psychologically or physically prepared. Many have no choice bout the timing of marriage or their partner. Some are coerced into marriage, while others are too young to make an informed decision. Premature marriage leprives them of the opportunity for personal development as well as their right to full reproductive health, well being and participation in Civic life. It is imperative to say that education plays a particularly important role as a foundation for girls’ development towards adult life.

Recommendations

The following recommendations were drawn based on the findings of the study:

The general public and the government should put hands together to shun every form of discrimination and marginalization against women in our society so as to make the society a comfortable place for all to develop his or her full potentials.
Women should be given equal opportunity and access to education so as to enable them develops self confidence and the ability to protect themselves from sexual violence and ill health.
Government should embark on sensitization programmes that will kick against early marriage and enlighten the public on the adverse effect of early marriage or child marriage.
Government should past laws against early marriage and should met out punishments against parents that force their children into early marriage. The government should also make sure that the laws made, and punishments metted out are followed strictly.

Educational Implications

Based on the findings, the following implications were identified.

Since it has been established by researchers that improving female education is crucial for national development. In a situation where women are not given good and equal educational opportunities, then the development of the entire nation is adversel affected. It is therefore adviced that good and equal educational opportunities should be given to all irrespective of our gender disparity.
Since the impositions of a marriage partner upon a child means that the childhood is lost and never regained and since the childhood period is the only time one can have access to basic and primary education, there is every need to therefore discourage early marriage and encourage education at the childhood stage.
Women to an extent contribute to the economic and financial standard of both their families and the countries as a whole. Where women education is lacking, their power of positive contribution is also lacking. Therefore, women should be encourage to make positive contributions through education.

Limitations of the Study

The following limitations were inherent in the study:

Two of the departmentsmapped out by the researcher to carry out this research were not well covered because of the large size of the departments. This made the researcher to make use of the result derived from the other village for the study. This may have affected the result of the findings of this study.
Great numbers of the respondents used for this study were mainly from the rural area. They may not have mastery of the concepts used in the questionnaire items though the researcher explained concepts that were unclear to them. This may also have affected the result of the findings of this study.

Suggestions for Further Studies

Based on the findings, the researcher suggests that further research should address the followings:

A replication of the study in other local government areas of Enugu State. This will enable authentic recommendation on the subject matter to be made.
Influence of early marriage on the political and economic development of Nigeria, using Enugu State as a case study.
Influence of marginalization of women national development, in Enugu State.

REFERENCES

Adebambo Adeyinka Veronica (2010). Cultural Influence on Child Marriage Focus on Northern Nigerians Resident in Ogun State, Nigeria, A Project Submitted to The Department of Home Science and Management (Child Development And Family Studies) College of Food Science and Human Ecology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Alexandra Hervish and Charlotte Feldman-Jacobs (2011): Who Speaks for Me? Ending Child Marriage
Aduradola, A. M.: Child Marriage: Issues, Problems and Challenges, A Paper presented at a One Day Seminar organised by National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos on the 4th September (Unpublished).
Alexandra Hervish and Charlotte Feldman-Jacobs (2011): Who Speaks for Me? Ending Child Marriage
Bern, Angwe: Child Marriage in Nigeria; Issues, Problems and Challenges, A Paper presented at a One Day Seminar organised by National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos on the 4th September (Unpublished),
Davis, A., Postles, C. and Rosa, G. (2013): A girl’s right to say no to marriage: Working to end child marriage and keep girls in school. Woking: Plan International.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa: Child Marriage in Nigeria; Issues, Problems and Challenges, A Paper presented at a One Day Seminar organised by National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos on the 4th September (Unpublished).
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), (2011): Solutions to End Child Marriage, What the Evidence Shows
International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Forum on Marriage and the Rights of Women and Girls,(IPPF): Ending child marriage , A guide for global policy action
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). New York, (2008). Child Marriage and the Law, Legislative Reform Initiative Paper Series, Global Policy Section.
USAID, (2009). Fact Sheet on Youth Reproductive Health Policy, Early Marriage and Youth Reproductive Health.
Ayres, B. D. (2000). ‘Marriage Advised in Some Youth Pregnanciesarticle in the New York Times.
Bala, I.D. (2003). Consequence of early marriage amongst Kaduna women Unpublished PhD Thesis, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
Final Report on National Baseline ‘Survey of Positive and HarmfulTraditional Practices Affecting Women and Girls in Nigeria‘ (1998). Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

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