Academic challenges of nursing mothers on distance education programme at Agogo College of Education

Abstract

Student mothers in distance education programmes in Ghana have to combine family roles with work and academic pursuits. Therefore, this study sought to find out the academic challenges of nursing mothers on distance education programme at Agogo College of Education. The study employed descriptive survey design. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 40 conveniently sampled student mothers attending Agogo College of Education. The data collected was analyzed using frequencies and percentages. It was found out that, the student mothers had a lot of academic challenges in relation to time management, concentration and study skills. Again, the coping strategies they employed were, that student mothers either gets assistance from their husbands or hire the service of a domestic paid worker to assist them in the home to be able to strategize themselves and do well in their academic work. The study recommended that management and administrators of the various colleges of distance education should have counselling unit for these student mothers, who get mentally and psychologically troubled to seek assistance from the counselling unit to help them have a stabled and a concentrated mind for studies.