Abstract:
This study investigated the communication relationships that existed between lactating
student-mothers pursuing graduate programmes and their cohorts, and lecturers and the
influence such relationships had on their academic development and success. It focused on
the sandwich session of students, lactating sandwich mothers on Graduate programmes. It
delved deep into their experiences of combining childcare and studies by using the
phenomenological approach. In-depth interviews were conducted on four student-mothers.
The interviews were transcribed and colour-coded into themes and descriptively analysed.
The findings were that, graduate lactating student-mothers found it taxing combining these
two roles which led to conflict. However, positive communication relationships between
these mothers and their cohorts, as well as their lecturers including other support services
from significant others, motivates them to learn leading to academic development and
success. The study also revealed that, negative comments and awkward relationships
demoralizes such students putting more stress on them which results in incongruence in
their lives, thereby resulting in poor performance. The study recommended cordial
relationships and positive interactions between lactating student-mothers and their
associates and lecturers, university orientation, accommodating them at one hall of
residence and providing support from other significant others, to promote every lactating
student-mother’s welfare and academic success. It is also recommended that evening
lectures could be shifted to the weekends. Such arrangement would afford these mothers
the opportunity to be with their babies during the night thereby relieving their nannies of
the childcare duties in the night as well.
Description:
A DISSERTATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA
STUDIES, FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES EDUCATION AND
COMMUNICATION, SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES,
UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS
(COMMUNICATION SKILLS) DEGREE.
DECEMBER 2018