Academic Challenges Facing Pregnant Students at the Ada College of Education, Ghana
David Doe Ayornoo & Frederick Mensah Bonsu 
Issue: Vol.3 No.8 August 2022 Article 1 pp. 286-298
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2022381 | Published online 4th August 2022.
© 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The study sought to find out the support system put in place at the Ada College of Education to create a conducive learning environment for pregnant students. This work is hinged on the social theory of humanism by Kwame Gyekye, which is centered on catering for the individual’s welfare, interest, and dignity in Ghanaian society. Through an unstructured interview guide whilst employing the interpretive approach, data gathered on the life of pregnant students in the college was interpreted. The study revealed that the academic programme is very stressful for pregnant students. There is also virtually no room for relaxation which is much needed. This is coupled with the fact that certain tutors do not treat pregnant students with care but rather embarrass them for their condition. These and other issues make the college quite unsafe, especially for students who are pregnant women and not married students. The study thus recommends that the Ministry of Education and the school authorities need to address some of these challenges pregnant students face at the College. This study contributes to the existing research done on the welfare of students with various health conditions.
Keywords: Pregnant Students, Environment of Care, Academic support and engagement.
Ada College of Education, 50th Ada College of Education Anniversary Celebration. (2015). Unpublished manuscript.
Ada College of Education, “Home – Ada College of Education.” Accessed January 20, 2022. https://adacoe.edu.gh.
Ada College of Education, “History – Ada College of Education.” Accessed January 20, 2022. https://adacoe.edu.gh.
Akyeampong, K., Lewin K. M., & Stuart, J. S., Teacher training in Ghana – Does it count?. Sevenoaks, UK: DFID Education Publication Dispatch (2003).
Antwi, J. K., “The value of a person in Akan traditional life and thought: A contemporary inquiry.” European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 3 (2), (2017): 93-101.
Ezenwuba, C., “Perceived effects of pregnancy on academic performances of female nursing students in Imo State University Owerri Nigeria.” South American Journal of Academic Research, 2 (1), (2015):1-27.
Esiah-Donkoh, K., Esiah-Donkoh, K., & Asare, H., “Coping in silence: Challenges faced by pregnant-students at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.” International Journal of Education and Practice, 2 (10), (2014): 222-233.
Etuah, P. A., Gbagbo, F. Y., & Nkrumah, J., “Coping with pregnancy in academic environment: Experiences of pregnant students in a public university in Ghana.” Journal of Woman’s Reproductive Health, 2 (2), (2018): 1-11.
Lindokuhle, T. R., “Lived Experiences of pregnant students at the University of Limpopo Province” (Master’s dissertation, University of Limpopo, 2017).
National Policy Board for Educational Administration, Professional standards for educational leaders, 2015, accessed January 20, 2022. https://www.npbea.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Professional-Standards-for-Educational-Leaders_2015.pdf
Netshikweta, M. L., The problems associated with pregnancy amongst student nurses in the Northern Province, (Master’s dissertation, University of South Africa, 1999).
Phiri, T. M., Nyamaruze, P., & Akintola, O., “Stress and coping among unmarried pregnant university students in South Africa.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21 (817), (2021): 1- 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04288-1
Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. R., Research methods for social work (6th ed.). Belmont, USA: Thomson Higher Education. (2008).
David Doe Ayornoo is currently the College Librarian, Ada College of Education, Ghana. He holds an MPhil, Religion and Human Values from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and MA in Governance and Sustainable Development from the same institution. He also holds an M.A in Library Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon. He has Research interests in Religious and Moral Education, Church History, African Traditional Religion, Bibliographic works and academics, Mobile devices and information use and Collection development.
Frederick Mensah Bonsu is currently a Senior Tutor (Religious and Moral Education) at the Wesley College of Education, Kumasi, Ghana. He is also a PhD. Candidate at the Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. He holds an MPhil. Religion and Human Values and Master of Education (Educational Administration) from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He has Research interests in Morality and Social Values in Africa, African Traditional Religion, Church History and Inter-faith and Religious Tolerance.
Ayornoo D.D. & Mensah Bonsu F., “Academic Challenges Facing Pregnant Students at the Ada College of Education, Ghana,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 3, no.8 (2022):286-298. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2022381
© 2022 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Publishers. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
