EDUCATING THE GIRL CHILD IN A POLYGAMOUS FAMILY IN NIGERIA; CASE STUDY OF LAPAI METROPOLIS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
An expanding research base indicates that family structure exerts considerable impact on the mental health and educational development of a child. An intact family structure that consists of both biological parents has been shown to provide the best prospects for positive outcomes on children (Elbedour, Onwuegbuzie, Caridine, & Abu-Saad, 2002). In contrast, research has revealed that adopted children, children of widowed families, children of divorced parents, and children with one stepparent or biological parent exhibit poorer adjustment as measured by several indicators, including conduct disorders, adjustment problems, self-concept, or dropping out of school (Elbedour et al., 2002).
Teachers and school heads have always been blamed for the failure of Pupils. Nothing or a little has been said about the child’s background as a contributing factor to high failure rate. The people of Northern Nigeria and most community still believe in and practice polygamy. The high rate of polygamy in the area has led the researcher to try to find out whether the polygamous home set up has any contribution in the enrolment and performance of girl child education.
1.1 Background of the study
Many studies have identified study habits, Pupils’ self-concept, teachers’ qualifications, teaching methods, school environment, family size and government as factors influencing Pupils’ academic performance (Edwa2002, Zsolnai 2002, Gonzalez &Pieda 2002, Arumu & Sokan 2003, Asikhia(2010). The influence of polygamy on girl child education and academic performance has not been given adequate attention in research. The present study sought to answer the question: Does polygamous have any negative influence in educating the child girl in Nigeria.
Studies carried out in Oromia by Feda (2008) established that family size, family type and birth order are among many household characteristics considered both in developing and developed countries as determinants of child schooling performance. Feda (2008) asserts that the early empirical findings from developed countries consistently confirmed the trade-off between family size and child educational achievement.
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) jural rights and obligation and moral and sentimental ties. Thus ones experience of ones 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 socialize 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, and when woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. If a marriage includes multiple husband and wives, it can be called polygamy, group or conjoint marriage. The effect of this marriage on the girl child is what the researcher is basing her research.
Polygamy is the type of marriage system practiced in t he 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, in the society in which he lives. Religiously, most religion encouraged the practice of marrying more than one wife for instance in slam you are encouraged to marry as many wives as you can, depending on your purchasing power. It is against this background that this study seek to evaluate educating the girl child in a polygamous family in Nigeria.
1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
In every societies of the world there are some specific structure designated to meet the immediate need of the society consequent upon this is many 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 Northern Nigeria, has not be given a serious concern. The girl child’s education has not be given the priority attention especially in the polygamous family. She contributes 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.
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The general objective of the study is to evaluate the education of the girl child in a polygamous family in Nigeria, a case study of Lapai metropolis. To achieve this, the following specific objectives are pursued:
- To examine the factors that encourage polygamous family in Nigeria.
- To ascertain whether polygamous family affect the girl child education
- To appraise the impact of girl education in sustainable development in Nigeria
- To identify the challenges of girl child education in Nigeria
- To proffer possible solutions to the identified challenges.
1.4 Research questions
- What are the factors that encourage polygamous family in Nigeria?
- Does polygamous family affect the girl child education
- What are the impact of girl education in sustainable development in Nigeria
- What are the challenges of girl child education in Nigeria
- What are possible solutions to the identified challenges?
1.5 Significance of the study
This study has both practical and theoretical significance. Practically, by establishing the impact of polygamous family on girl child education as it encourages girl education and gender equality.
It should also be mentioned that by highlighting some of the socio-cultural factors affecting girl child education, this study will provide social workers, policy makers, community members, governmental and non-governmental organizations insights on how to address this issue at the grass roots level. This study will also highlight the benefits in educating the girl child for a better society not just for the present generation, but for future generations.
Theoretically, this study will be a contribution to the available literature on educating the girl child in a polygamous family in Nigeria. This study will equally be of importance to students and researchers wishing to carry out further studies on this topical issue. Indeed, it is hoped that the findings of this study will ignite further scholarly inquiries into the impact of polygamous family on educating the girl child in Nigeria.
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 biological female offspring between the ages of 0 – 18.
Polygamous Family: 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.
Gender: This refers to the properties that differentiate individuals on the basis of their reproductive roles.
Gender equality: In the context of this study, gender equality will be interpreted to mean the state of being equal or equivalent in value or status by both males and females.