Charity Nkomo
Gender Affairs and Community Reporter
In contemporary times, the notion 50\/50 takes precedence in higher and tertiary education evidently by the increment of female students at Universities in the past years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately female students that are married come across a variety set of challenges that often go unnoticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Juggling academic demands, wife and household responsibilities is proving to be a daunting task to navigate for most married students at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). In the same vein, these students grapple with societal expectations of marital and maternal roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the primary challenges faced by married students while pursuing degrees, include but not limited to attending lectures, studying for exams, taking care of children\/ spouse and household chores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An accounting student at NUST who chose anonymity reflects on the challenges she faces as a married woman while pursuing advanced studies. She highlighted the impact of expectations on her marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I get home, I\u2019m expected to cook, clean, and care for my children. By the time I finish, I\u2019m too exhausted to open a book,\u201d She said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She further disclosed the impact of academic stress brought by the marriage life while still in school as she recalls skipping classes to tend to her sick toddler, only to face criticism from lecturers for absenteeism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There are days I\u2019m forced to choose between my child\u2019s health and my education. Last semester, I missed two weeks of lectures because my toddler had pneumonia”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sibongile Ndlovu, an engineering student also finds herself in a similar predicament but hailed her husband\u2019s stance in navigating the complexities of being a married student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe said that we share a roof but live separate lives. Your assignments and deadlines are your real family now.\u201d explained Ndlovu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For one Media and Journalism Studies student, being married and a mother before finishing your studies has proven to be stressful as she recalls how she missed a critical exam after rushing her unwell daughter to the clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had to choose between my child\u2019s life and my future. It broke me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others raised the concern of being single mothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m failing as a mother and as a student. My child deserves better,\u201d said Linda Dube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, allegations of infidelity among married students have not eased the burden but rather they further strain relationships. Several male students who spoke to this reporter claimed that some wives use University to engage in extra marital affairs with both lectures and students, leading to divorces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey forget their vows once they\u2019re on campus,\u201d one male student remarked as if speaking from experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though these claims were disputed by female peers who argued such stereotypes unfairly stigmatize married and older women seeking education. But during investigations it was revealed that Campus marriages\u2014informal unions where students cohabit as couples despite having spouses backhome exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese girls play house wives (campus marriages), get pregnant. It\u2019s irresponsible,\u201d fumed one male student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of all these obstacles faced by most married NUST students, they exhibit remarkable resilience and determination in pursuing their educational goals balancing them with societal and conjugal expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the struggle to fight for inclusiveness and equality in tertiary education, it is important to recognize and address the challenges faced by married female students. They endure criticism,
and daily compromises, often forced to prioritize one aspect of their lives over the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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