The Challenges Faced By University Of Education, Winneba Distance Education Student-Mothers During Examinations

Abstract

Education is expected to free the mind so that one can free oneself from the strictures and inhibitions that arise from laziness, jealousy, prejudice, and arrogance. In distance education, the teaching-learning process assumes the form of self study though guided by the teacher. Besides the teaching –learning process allows a degree of openness with regard to access, goals, and method. Obviously, the freedoms of access, space and time have tremendously contributed to many women enrolling on the distance education programme of University of Education, Winneba. Equally important is that the distance education programme is enlightening the female students and providing them with adequate professional training and preparing them to be connected to and integrated into the real world and for them to recognize the need for change and be change agents in their fields. However, some of the female students who are nursing mothers find it difficult to concentrate during examinations as a result of disturbances from their babies. The situation is so desperate that it is not uncommon to see a mother carrying her baby on the shoulders of one hand to soothe the baby from crying whilst using the other hand in answering the examination questions. Since such conditions do not create the necessary peace of mind for such mothers to pass well there is the need for the university to put mechanisms in place to help them to also have the necessary peace of mind needed to pass examinations.

Keywords: Nursing Mothers, Distance, Problem, Enlighten, Freedom

IFE PsychologIA Vol. 16 (2) 2008: pp. 243-254