The Impact of Community Education Programmes on Rural Women Participation in Self Help Development Projects in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract
This study identified community education programmes that promoted rural women's participation in self-help development projects in Osun State. It examined rural women's level of involvement in self-help development projects and the factors which determined rural women's participation with a view to ascertaining how the community education programmes promoted rural women's participation in self-help development projects. The study employed the sample survey design. The population comprised all women in rural communities in Osun State. A sample of 600 rural community women and 10 community education agents were purposively selected from the six administrative zones of Osun State. A questionnaire titled: "Rural Women's Self-Help Development Participation" (RWSHDP) was designed for the study. Crombach alpha reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.89. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that all the identified community education programmes were common in the selected communities; and 100% of the women enjoyed them; except mass mobilization for social justice (90%) and mobile van service (96.7%). It was also found that four programmes: Better life for rural women (53.33%) public campaign (40%), cooperative education (53.33%) and mass mobilization for social justice (43.31%), promoted rural women's participation in community self-help development projects more than others. Each of the following programmes: seminar (95%) workshop (46.66%), conference (36.67%), radio and T.V. jingles and advert (36.67%) and mobile van services (33.33%) promoted women's participation at a medium level. The study also revealed that Road grading (43.3%) and contribution to rural electrification (36.67%) were rated "common" self-help development projects that rural women participated in bridge construction (83.33%), building community hall (70%), building of community schools (56.67%). health and sanitation (96%), cooperative farming (56.67%), building and development of market (63.33%) and contribution of money for security provisions (96%) were rated "Very Common". It was also established that rural women were highly involved in road grading (93%), health and sanitation (46.67%), cooperative farming (50%), building of community schools (70%), electrification (56.67%) and contribution of money for security (53.33%). It was also revealed that women were very highly motivated by their desire to: socialize and associate with fellow women (86.67%), seek financial assistance from government (43.33%), seek community comfort (50%), make women relevant in society (70%), promote community spirit in women (50%), and boost community economy (90%). Lastly, the study found that on the average, women were motivated to avoid male domination in the society ( 3 0%) ; while desire to equate with men (26.67%) and render men irrelevant (63.33%) were rated least factors (very low). However, the factor with the highest rating in women motivation for participation in community self-help project was the desire to socialize and associate with fellow women (86.67%). The study concluded that community education programme had a great impact on the desire of rural women to socialize and associate with fellow women, which resulted in their active participation in community self-help development projects.
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Keywords
Community education programmes, Rural women, Self-help development projects
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