NAVIGATING HIGHER EDUCATION WITH CHILDREN: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF THE CHALLENGES OF MOTHERS ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN JAMAICA VERSUS CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

Back to Page Authors: Shanique Michelle Walker

Keywords: mothers, challenges, policy, governance, access, higher education

Abstract: It is already embarrassing for some mothers to be tiptoeing into classes with their children cling to their trousers. Imagine the mothers who bring their children to class and sit at the back hoping their children don’t throw a tantrum and disturb the class. Imagine the stare these mothers get when their children cannot sit still and crave their attention while they try to participate in the discussion. No mother who is trying to achieve higher education should feel uncomfortable because of her gift of bringing forth life. No mother should have to stop from higher education because her children are not allowed. The intent of this analytical study is to raise awareness of the challenges mothers enrolled in higher educational institutions in a developing country (Jamaica) versus two developed countries (the USA and Canada) face. The main objective of this comparative review is to raise awareness about the challenges mothers faced in trying to access quality higher education in Jamaica vs USA and Canada. In addition, this paper seeks to promote discussion about policies and governance relating to mothers who are enrolled in Jamaican, Canadian and American higher educational institutions. It is hoped that this paper will inspire a need to change the policies and governance at the institutional level in relation to the challenges of the enrolled mothers in higher educational institutions.