A Comparative Study Between Student Mothers And Non-Student Mothers In Academic Performance In Maasai Mara University

Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to come up with a comparison of academic performance between student mothers and non-student mothers in Maasai Mara University. Whereby the research objectives were; to compare the attitudinal differences between student mothers and non-student mothers, to compare the challenges faced by student mothers and non-student mothers and to compare the academic performance between student mothers and non-student mothers. This study investigated the experiences that student mothers face while going on with their education. Those experiences are what contributes either positively or negatively to their academic performance. The study was also meant to benefit the student mothers especially when put into use by the Maasai Mara university administration. That is, to shed light to them on some hardships that student mothers undergo and thus consider them in the course of timetabling. The study was carried out in Maasai Mara University, situated in Narok County, approximately 1.5 Kilometers from Narok town. It targeted the student mothers present in Maasai Mara University, specifically those who were in session. This study was not done as an independent study but employed two theories to streamline it, that is, the identity and the role conflict theory. Also, it included the conceptual framework which has the dependent variable, the intervening and the interdependent variable. The study employed descriptive survey design utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The snowballing sampling technique was used to identify student mothers. The study used primary data which was collected through use of a five point Likert scale questionnaire and secondary data which entailed the published books, academic journals and the internet source. The researcher used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to generate the descriptive statistics and also to generate inferential results. The descriptive statistics used included frequency tables. The findings of this study were to help the Maasai Mara University administration come up with structures that will curb the challenges faced by the student-mothers, thus boosting their academic performance. There is also data analysis that was done based on the questionnaire and the responses given as per objective and the findings, conclusion and the recommendations.