Abstract
This study sought the perceptions of university students on the challenges faced by children whose fathers are unable to participate in their early education. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study with a sample of 300 university students in Eastern Cape-based University. A 16-item questionnaire titled “Challenges Faced by Children Questionnaire” was used for data collection. The instrument was face validated by test development experts and as well trial tested to determine its reliability. An internal consistency reliability index of the items of the instrument is 0.86. Data collected were analysed using mean and analysis of variance. The findings of the study revealed that the challenges faced by children whose fathers are uninvolved in their early education include seeking support elsewhere when fathers are unable to support them, exposure to serious dangers outside, suffering of child abuse when their fathers are unable to participate in their early development, missing the guidance they need from fathers among other. Further analysis showed that race and age of the students had a significant influence on their perceptions of the challenges faced by children of uninvolved fathers. It was therefore recommended that adequate measures should be taken by the education stakeholders to ensure the active involvement of fathers in the early education of their children.
Presenters
Christian UgwuanyiResearch Fellow, Education Foundations, University of the Free State, Free State, South Africa Charity Okeke
Lecturer, Department of Education Foundations, University of the Free State, Free State, South Africa Chinedu Ifedi Onochie Okeke
Professor, and Head: Department of Education Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, Free State, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
CHALLENGES, CHILDREN, FATHERS’ PARTICIPATION, EARLY EDUCATION, PERCEPTION
