Educational Access and Success: Unravelling Challenges faced by Children of Widows in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

It has been established that widowhood has detrimental impacts on both the widow and the children. Extreme poverty and widowhood are linked, and this has a significant effect on children. The claim is that the absence of the father reduces the financial resources available to the children, adversely affecting their ability to access and succeed in school. This paper explores how widowhood affects children’s achievement in school and access to it. Intersectionality will serve as the theoretical foundation for this investigation. Descriptive research will be used in this conceptual work. Information was gathered from e-books, academic papers, and research articles. The collected data was examined, and the conclusions were stated. The study results showed that the widow’s financial situation influences the children’s academic progress and access. It was shown that children whose mothers come from stable financial backgrounds are more likely to have access to educational facilities and excel in their studies. In contrast, those whose mothers’ income is unpredictable are more likely to have difficulties getting to and succeeding in school. Resources should be provided to widows’ children so that they can succeed in their academic work. To help widows care for their children without experiencing any issues, there should be policies that support widows’ immediate access to their husband’s estate.