THE IMPACT OF MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PURSUIT OF FEMALE STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION EKIADOLOR BENIN

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In pre-colonial days, Africans knew little or nothing about western education, but with the advent of colonialism, western education was introduced into Africa by missionaries. At the beginning, western education was generally embraced by the male populations because of the African belief that the women’s place is in the “Kitchen”. Females were looked at as a helper to their male folks predominately in their farming professions. Consequently, the introduction of western education produced many scholars and personalities, for example, Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who translated the Holy Bible from English Language into Yoruba language and Sapara Williams a Lagosian who became the first lawyer in Africa in the 19th century.

Fortunately, the notion of women’s place being in the “kitchen” was gradually being swept underground by the African populace (i.e. people of both gender), when women missionaries started coming into Africa aer their counter parts had come. One of such was Mary Selessor who eradicated the killing of twins in Calabar the South-South of Nigeria. This social change, gradually motivated women is going to school to acquire west an education. Parents, local governments and then regional government were now actively involved in the education of women. This government to further enhance the advancement of women education decided to carryout mass mobilization of parents to see that women are educated . They also drew out a blueprint such as, granting scholarship to indigent students, developing women curriculum (Food and nutrition Studies, needle work etc). The efforts by parents, government and missionaries to say the least brought a revolution towards the orientation and beliefs against female education. Eventually, this gradual change began to yield dividends in producing great women scholars and technologist, for example Mrs. Funmilayo Rasome Kuti, the first female in Nigeria to drive a car, professor Grace Alele Williams a great mathematician and first women vice Chancellor in Nigeria and dr. Abimbola Awonivi, the first woman medical doctor in African, just to mention a few.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

Africans believed that the woman’s place in the “kitchen” a helper to her male counterparts in his day to day activities. They also believe that the education of female is a waste exercise. Parents were of the notion that after their education, they drop their maidens name for their husband’s family name after marriage they concluded that females are basically for procreation. Thus, this project intends to find out the motivational factors that enhance the learning skills of females using students at College of Education, Ekiadolor Benin as a case study. In order to appreciate motivation in learning we must find out the degree at which motivation influences the learning of a given task/tasks.