RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARITAL SUCCESS AND THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION AMONG FEMALE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Women in Nigeria have had various challenges in order to obtain equal education in all forms of formal education in Nigeria. Education is a basic human right and has been recognized as such since the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. A positive correlation exists between the enrollment of girls in primary school and the gross national product and increase of life expectancy. Because of this correlation, enrollment in schools represents the largest component of the investment in human capital in any society. Rapid socio-economic development of a nation has been observed to depend on the caliber of women and their education in that country. Education bestows on women a disposition for a lifelong acquisition of knowledge, values, attitudes, competence and skills. To ensure equal access to education, the National Policy on Education states that access to education is a right for all Nigerian children regardless of gender, religion and disability.

Many people define successful marriages in many different ways. Many think a marriage is successful if two people are happy together for a period of time while others may think a marriage is successful if two people stay together until death. Therefore, in order to find the common factors of a successful marriage it is important to first define what a successful marriage is. For this study, I believe the most important idea is that couples find a way to live together and to not divorce. Therefore, the definition of a successful marriage for this study will simply be that a marriage is successful if a couple can find enough qualities in their partner that they would rather stay together for the rest of their lives than live without that person. I also want to stop and mention that although most of the following research, if not all, was conducted on heterosexual couples; I acknowledge that some say “marriage” can be between two committed individuals regardless of their gender.

Education has long been a key pathway to financial, physical, and social-psychological well-being (Brand &Xie, 2010; House, 2002; Hout, 1988), and its role in differentiating family patterns has grown (McLanahan, 2004). College graduates are on average more likely to get married and stay married than others, and they are more likely to have and raise their children in marriage (Ellwood & Jencks, 2004; Goldstein & Kenney, 2001; Martin, 2006; Raley& Bumpass, 2003). These differences coincide with fewer resources for families at the lower end of the educational distribution.

A growing body of research has examined declines in marriage among the less advantaged (e.g., Edin& Kefalas, 2005), but little has looked at variation within the “stable-marriage” pattern (Cherlin, 2009) characteristic of college graduates. Increasing college enrollments, particularly among women (Buchmann&DiPrete, 2006), underscore the importance of better understanding variation in the effects of college on family life. Educational expansion has led to greater diversity in the social backgrounds of college students − and to questions about heterogeneity in the meaning and rewards of schooling. Skeptics worry that increased accessibility dilutes the gains to college by drawing in students Who are less well equipped to succeed (e.g., Steinberg, 2010), but evidence in sociology and economics has shown rather that men and women at the margin of college attendance, typically the least socially advantaged, have experienced the greatest economic gains from college (Brand & Xie, 2010; Card, 2001; see Hout, 2009, for a review).

They expand this line of inquiry, shifting focus from how the effects of college vary in the labor market to how they vary in the marriage market. They examine variation in the effects of college on marriage among men and women from different social backgrounds. What do we expect as to variation in the effects of college on marriage, that is, which segments of the college-going population should have greater or lesser effects? Research on the divergence of family patterns by education has emphasized the importance of financial resources for marriage formation, suggesting that those who stand to gain the most financially from college should likewise be in the best position to marry. If individuals with disadvantaged social origins stand to gain the most from college in the labor market, they may in turn gain the most from college in the marriage market.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The concept of successful marriage is pivotal for the building of the home, society and the nation at large consisting of the happiness and wellbeing of the family members comprising of the father and the children etc. As important as it is to maintain quality teaching and output in our primary institution, there is the imperative to maintain a successful marriage. Many teachers are facing more challenges balancing their career with their responsibility of satisfying their husband and children at home. One important factor lies with their level of education. Most people know that an alarming 40 to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce (American Psychological Association, 2015).
Research shows that most of these divorces are not because of physical abuse or addiction, but the two primary reasons people divorce are to either escape a relationship that has been painful, loveless or destructive or to seek a more satisfying single life or with another partner (Weiner-Davis, 1992). However, people may be surprised to discover that their difficulties or unhappiness still exists with their choice of a single life or new partner. They may think the divorce solved the problem. Sadly the problem often still exists in their life or with new partners.

If divorce is truly the answer, shouldn’t the problem go away when the relationship goes away? Shouldn’t the problem disappear when the partner gets married to someone else? We find the opposite is true, the problem does not go away, but the divorce rate for second marriages is 60 percent (Weiner-Davis, 1992). Also, after a divorce a couple may expect arguments to stop, however when children are involved marital arguments often do not cease with the divorce (Weiner-Davis, 1992). Therefore, trying to run away from unhappiness or arguments by getting a divorce is often not the answer. So how can people learn to live in and enjoy a happy and successful marriage? Marital roles and career of women go a long way in defining how gender is perceived in today’s view on roles of the female folks. Therefore the problem confronting this project is to investigate the relationship between marital success and the level of education among Female primary school teachers in Enugu north local government.

1.3 Objective of the Study

1. To determine the nature of successful marriage.
2. To determine the nature of the educational level of female teachers.
3. To determine the relationship between marital success and the level of education of female primary school teachers in Enugu north local government.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the nature of successful marriage?
2. What is the nature of the educational level of female’s teachers in Enugu north local government?
3. What is the nature of the relationship between marital success and the level of education of female teachers in Enugu north local government?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The study shall provide a detail appraisal of the nature of successful marriage and its fundamental characteristics. The study shall seek to provide an understanding of the relationship between marital success and the level of education of female teachers in Enugu north local government. It shall also serve as a veritable source of information.

1.6 Statement of Hypothesis

1. Ho: The level of education of female teachers in Enugu north local government is low.
   Hi: The level of education of female teachers in Enugu north local government is high.
2. Ho: The level of marital success in Enugu north local government is low.
   Hi: The level of marital success in Enugu north local government is high.
3. Ho: The relationship between marital success and the level of education of female teachers in Enugu north local government is negative.
   Hi: The relationship between marital success and the level of education of female teachers in Enugu north local government is positive.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The scope of the study is to investigate the relationship Between marital success and the level of education among Female primary school teachers in Enugu north local government.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Education:

This process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills.

Marriage:

This is the legal relationship between a husband and a wife.

Marital:

This has to do with connected marriage or with the relationship between a husband and a wife.

Success:

The fact that you have achieved something that you want and have been trying to.

Relationship:

This is the way in which two people, groups or countries behave towards each other or deal with each other.

Culture:

This is the customs and beliefs, arts, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group.