Educating The Girl Child In A Polygamous Family In Nigeria (A Case Study Of Oredo Local Government Area Of Edo State)

Project and Seminar Material for Sociology

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the role of polygamous home in the academic performance of the girl child. Scholars in education and psychology have attempted to proffer a solution to the challenges encountered by children from a polygamous home. To help solve this, the following objectives were postulated. To ascertain the attitude and interest of polygamous family in the education of their girl child. Hypotheses were also formulated. 200 residents of Oredo local government metropolis were selected randomly.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

In the context of human society, a family (from latin word familia) is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity (by recognized birth), affinity (by marriage) or co-residence and/or shared consumption (nurture kinship). Members of the immediate family include spouses, parents, brothers, sisters, sons and/or daughters. Members of the extended family may include grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and/or siblings-in-law.In most societies, the family is the principal institution for the socialization of children. As the basic unit for raising children anthropologists generally classify most family organization as multifocal (a mother and her children); conjugal (a husband, his wife) and children also called nuclear family) avuncular (for example, a grandparents, a brother, his sister and her children) or extended parents and children co-reside with other members of one parents family. Sexual relations among the members are regulated by rules concerning incest such as the incest.

Family is used metaphorically to create more inclusive categories such as community nationhood, global village and humanism. Generally is a field which aims to trace family lineages through history. Family is also an important economic unit studied in family economic. One of the primary functions of the family involves providing a framework for the production and reproduction of persons, biologically and/or socially. This can occur through the sharing of materials/substances (such as food), the giving and receiving of care and nurture (nurture kinship) rural rights and obligation and moral and sentimental ties. Thus ones experience of one’s family shifts over time. From the perspective of children, the family is a “family of orientation”. The family serves to locate children socially and plays a major role in their enculturation and socialization. From the point of view of the parents(s) the family is a family of procreation, the goal of which is to produce and enculturation and socializes children. However, producing children is not the only function of the family in societies with a sexual division of labor, marriage, and the resulting relationship between two people, it is necessary for the formation of an economically productive household.

Christopher Harris notes that the western conception of family is ambiguous, and confused with the household, as revealed in the different contexts in which the word is used and so many. There are different types of family units which are monoigamo8us and polygamous are inclusive. Monogamous family is based on legal or social monogamy. In this case, an individual has only one (official) partner during their life’s time or at any one time (serial monogamy). This means that a person may not have several different legal spouses at the same time, as this is usually prohibited by bigamy laws, in jurisdictions that require monogamous marriages. Polygamous family unit is a marriage that includes more than two partners when a man is married to more than one wife at a time, the relationship is called polygamy. Polygamy is the type of marriage system practiced in the traditional Africa society whereby a man takes more than one wife at the same time. It is practiced because of the prestige it accorded a man during the traditional African society. Religiously, most religion encouraged the practice of marrying more than one wife for instance in Islam you are encouraged to marry as many wives as you can, depending on your financial ability.

1.2 Statement of Problem

In every society there are some specific structure designated to meet the immediate need of the society consequent upon this, is Oredo settlement she has a robust nature of socialization which clearly defines the role of both sexes (male and female). Over the years position of women in Nigeria societies, especially in Oredo, has not be given a serious concern. The girl child’s education has not been given the priority attention especially in the polygamous family. She continues to languish in social inequality (such as education) and relegated to the background. The resultant effect of this lack of fortune, the girl child is not given adequate attention she is retorted to both growth and development; this is as a result of the unhealthy waling that existed in polygamous family there are always constant quarrels, hatred, disunity, hostility as well as diabolism. Another striking effect inherent in weak or mismanagement of polygamous family is the audience of a broken home.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is educating the girl child in a polygamous family in Nigeria. But for the successful completion of the study; the researcher intends to achieve the following sub-objectives;

To highlight the factors which give rise to polygamous family in Nigeria
To ascertain the effect of polygamous family on the educational development of a girl child.
To ascertain the attitude and interest of polygamous family in the education of their girl children
To offer suggestion that will bring about lasting solution to this menace and eventual happiness to both men and women, to educate parents on the need for educating the girl child.

1.5 Research Hypotheses

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H0: there is effect of polygamous family on the educational development of a girl child
H1: there is no effect of polygamous family on the educational development of a girl child
H02: there is significant relationship between factors that give rise to polygamous and girl child education
H1: there is no significant relationship between factors that give rise to polygamous and girl child education

1.6 Significance of the Study

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the study will be of immense benefit to the following: the married women because they are majority involved in this type of marriage the opinion of the parents about the education of girl in a polygamous family unit in Oredo local government area of Edo state the findings of the research will be carefully analyzed and interpreted through the data collected and solution will be provided to a given problems. The study will also be of great benefit to the researchers who intends to embark on research on similar topics as it will serve as a guide. Finally, the study will be of great importance to academia’s, lecturers, teachers, students and the general public.

1.7 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of this study covers educating the girl child in a polygamous family in Nigeria. In the course of the study, 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.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Education:

Is the totality of processes through which an individual acquires knowledge, skills, attitude and abilities which enable him or her to positively contribute towards the meaningful development of the society. Encyclopedia American a defined Education as a design to affirmatively assist individual to develop their skills or potentials and to lead a productive and satisfying lives culturally, education is the process whereby society preserves and perpetuates its social valves and institutions. It is the means by which the collective wisdom of the past is transmitted to each new generation

Girl Child:

A young woman, the female child of human species

Polygamous:

This is the institution that permits the marrying of more than one wife or husband. It can either be polygamous, systematic polygamy is a situation in which a man marries a woman divorce her marries another, divorce her adifinitum. While polyandry is a process whereby a woman get married to more than one husband.

Family:

Family is seen as a subset of an individual total Kinsley network and a key unit of the household or domestic economy, a symbol of social cohesion and moral philosophy.

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.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Education:

Girl Child:

A young woman, the female child of human specie

Polygamous:

Family:

Family is seen as a subset of an individual total Kinsley network and a key unit of the household or domestic economy, a symbol of social cohesion and moral philosophy.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain educating the girl child in a polygamous family in Nigeria

In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of girl child education in polygamous family.

5.2 Summary

The study was carried out to determine the extent of use of instruction materials for effective teaching and learning of business education in junior secondary school. In order to achieve this objective, four specific objectives were raised which included: To highlight the factors which give rise to polygamous family in Nigeria. To ascertain the effect of polygamous family on the educational development of a girl child.To ascertain the attitude and interest of polygamous family in the education of their girl childrenTo offer suggestion that will bring about lasting solution to this menace and eventual happiness to both men and women, to educate parents on the need for educating the girl child.In line with these objectives, four research hypotheses were formulated and four null hypotheses were posited.

The total population for the study is 200 residents of Oredo local government metropolis of Edo state Gove was used. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up principals, secondary school teachers, headmasters, primary school teachers were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies.

5.3 Conclusion

Based on the findings in this study, the following conclusions were drawn:

Ashley et al (1977) said that a child is born, knowing of ways of his society but having the potential to learn them. He claimed that it is the functions or duty of the parents to maintain good relationship with their children, to be able to improve them with psychological needs and security. Lack or absent of which result into low self-esteem or lack of self-realization. Children from monogamous homes usually have good relationship with their parents and this will definitely have a positive effect on their academic performance. Children from this kind of home spend with parents and parents watch and monitor their progress. In a polygamous home parents show less concern and interest in the academic progress of their children, since they always busy trying to make ends meet. More so, pressure from all the many wives and children wear the parents out. Concussively, it can be inferred that most students/pupil that hail from polygamous homes land to perform poorly.

5.3 Recommendation

The researcher recommends the following

Teacher should be aware of the fact that children are from varied background therefore individual attention should be given to them to aid mental, emotional, psychological and social development.
Teachers should encourage pupils to do extra study by giving them home works or tutorial questions
Parents should be invited to discuss the academic Performance of children.
Guidance and counseling services should be made compulsory in schools.
Parents should build good relationships with their childre

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