CHILD REARING

Child bearing is one important attribute of motherhood but the raising of a child to become a mature and responsible member of the society is another. The latter is indeed the more difficult of the two. At the end of the intra-uterine gestation of the foetus after about 267 days, the woman becomes the Chief Caterer of the child, the first teacher, counsellor, comforter, guard, guide, friend and indeed the first parent of the child.

Barring genetic in prints, the woman plays a significant role in the shaping of the child for good or ill. She is also a spiritual link having the onus to direct the child to the worship and fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom. Reggie that:

A sound religious upbringing can never be over-emphasized as it provides a substance that could defy all levels of worldly rocking if properly internalized.

The character and behaviour of a child depend on to a large extent on the character and behaviour of parents particularly those of the mother. For instance, a mother should not only provide the basic needs of love, care and guidance but should be an epitome of moral and religious education; a role model for the child. Thus a sound parental background particularly maternal background is a sine qua non of good citizenship as this base helps the children to synthesize over 95% of the learning which arc did off the streets. Such a base acts as buffers as children are exposed to various worldly temptations many of which "are difficult to" resist. The excellence of womanhood nay motherhood is gauged by her success in accomplishing the demands of a happy family and children who are properly adjusted to life and society. The responsibility of womanhood is enormous. This, therefore, calls for the proper education of the woman herself. This proper formal education of woman should indeed begin with the education of girls.

In fact, the girls being the mothers of the next generation should be given the best and soundest education possible so that our future generation might possess the strongest foundation and background to sustain our civilization.

The educated girls of today will become tomorrow's  mothers who will be in a position to take better care of the nation's children for tomorrow's schools.

Premature marriages which involve emotionally and sometimes biologically unprepared girls in the delicate and crucial role of motherhood is an unpardonable crime. For the women who did not have the opportunity of formal education in their youth, it is strongly being advocated that they are exposed to well-integrated adult and non-formal educational programmes which will be among others:

Improve the individual's sense of their subjective competence,

ii.      Inculcate in the individuals the sense of social commitment;

iii.     Ensure greater measure of equality among individuals and iv

.     Improve the level of effective social accountability in the management of public affairs of the state.

CONCLUSION

The ecclesiastical discrimination against women in inconsistent with the dynamic dignity of womanhood. Womanhood like manhood should be valued by individual merits and human dignity. There is, in fact, no justification for the sub-human treatment to which womanhood is subjected. I cannot agree less with who opined that; Society and social life become more humane, tension-free peaceful, creative'and dynamic and more productive where the equal dignity of men and women is the guiding principle. In the theory and practice and the administration of justice.