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Dissertation
Student mothers in Liberia: the role of international nongovernmental organizations in education completion
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Aug 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011188
Abstract
Adolescent pregnancy poses a significant barrier to educational access in low- and middle-income countries. Liberia experiences particularly high rates of adolescent pregnancy, with nearly 31% of girls aged 15 to 19 having begun childbearing. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of adolescent mothers in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, Liberia, focusing on the barriers they encountered in completing their secondary education and assessing the role of international nongovernmental organizations and government-led initiatives in supporting their academic journeys. Through semistructured and member-checking interviews with 10 young mothers aged 19 to 24, the study identified three core themes: (a) institutional and educational barriers to education; (b) the transformative influence of support systems; and (c) education as a pathway to empowerment, intergenerational change, and human development. Despite frameworks established by educational policies, such as the National Policy on Girls' Education, affirming education as a universal right, participants faced stigma, emotional isolation, a lack of childcare, and insufficient financial and institutional support, factors that collectively hindered their academic advancement. The study's implications extend beyond Liberia, offering valuable insights applicable to similar contexts across sub-Saharan Africa and the Global South. The study highlights the urgent need for the enforcement of educational policies, including the National Policy on Girls' Education, integrated support services, gender-sensitive teacher training, and community engagement to dismantle systemic barriers. Furthermore, the findings revealed a need for national educational reforms that align with global commitments, such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 for quality education, SDG 5 for gender equality, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. By amplifying the voices of adolescent mothers, this research calls for transformative actions that empower pregnant adolescents and student mothers to reclaim their right to education and contribute meaningfully to personal and societal development, thereby enhancing the country's human development index. Keywords: adolescent pregnancy, student motherhood, Government of Liberia, International Non-government Organization (INGO), and educational access
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Details
- Title
- Student mothers in Liberia
- Creators
- Anita Sianna Korgbe
- Contributors
- Kristy Kelly (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xii, 141 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022098043104721