Challenges, Coping Mechanisms and the Support Accorded to Student-mothers in Academic Pursuit: A Case Study of Egerton University, Nakuru County

Education is an important aspect in development as it strengthens nations and empowers people thus making it critical to Kenya’s attainment of Vision 2030. Education benefits society, communities, and individuals across the globe. Today, there is a high number of student mothers in institutions of higher learning whereby the demands in academic pursuit conflicts with motherhood responsibilities thus affecting their academic performance. Despite the existence of guidelines and policies on return to school, student mothers continue to face challenges in pursuit for education. The aim of this study was to examine determinants of schooling challenges, coping mechanisms and the support accorded to student mothers in their pursuit for higher education. The study adopted role conflict theory. A cross-sectional survey research design was used for this study. The study population was 360 student mothers. Simple random sampling procedure was used to obtain a sample size of 101 respondents. The data was collected using interview schedules and semi structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. From the study findings, 80% of the respondents reported that economic challenge was a hindrance to academic performance. The findings indicated that 92% of the respondents had time management hurdle with respect to lecture attendance, co- curricular activities, childcare responsibilities, and domestic chores, academic trips, taking the child to clinic, assignments submission, academic group discussions and academic trainings. About 96% of respondents agreed that they received family support to meet day to day expenses while learning. From the study findings this study proposes the loan award criteria by HELB should be revised to incorporate student mothers as special group of loan applicants. Greater institutional and family support should be encouraged in order to strengthen positive coping mechanisms by student mothers in dealing with unavailability of adequate financial and family support.