The effects of shortage of trained teachers on the provision of education in basic schools in Kazungula and Livingstone
Date
2011-05-30
Authors
Mudenda, Alfred
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Abstract
This study investigated the effects of shortage of trained teachers on the provision of education in basic schools. The study was done in Livingstone and Kazungula Districts of Southern Province. Livingstone District represented the urban environment, while Kazungula District represented the rural set up. The two districts were chosen on account of their proximity to the researcher's work place, meaning that this would cut down on travel expenses. The two districts were sampled to allow for comparison on the degree of the effects of shortage of trained teachers between rural and urban basic schools. Objectives of the study were twofold; to assess the effects of shortage of trained teachers on the provision of education in basic schools; and to find out respondents' views on government's position to scale down on employment of trained basic school teachers since 2001. In line with its objectives, the study tried to answer these questions: what were the perceived effects of shortage of trained teachers on the provision of education?; and how did respondents in the study perceive shortage of trained teachers in basic schools? The
study had 206 respondents divided into four groups. These were education managers or
administrators, community leaders, class teachers and unions. These were Basic
Education Teacher's Union of Zambia (BETUZ) and Zambia National Union of Teachers
(ZNUT). To collect data, close and open ended questionnaires were used. Close ended
questionnaires provided for yes or no responses as well as multiple choices. While semiclose questionnaires provided respondents with an opportunity for greater depth of self expression. Another method used to collect data was unstructured interviews. These are flexible, non-restrictive but guided discussions with respondents on a given topic. Interviews provided for a higher degree of self expression to the respondents on the
topics in face to face settings. Additionally, interviews were used in the study because of their richness in collecting data. They allowed for free discussions supplemented by respondents' voice tone, body language and gestures.
Data analysis was done using two methods. These were statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and coding. Coding or classifying information into themes was done to information collected through interviews, while the information from questionnaires was analyzed though the SPSS generated tables, diagrams and percentages.
The findings were that: there was a shortage of trained teachers in basic schools in Southern Province, especially in rural districts such as Kazungula. The study attributed the aforesaid scenario to several factors including the following:
(a) the existing economic and social imbalance between rural and urban areas which has an attractive pull for teachers to remain in urban centres; (b) poor or lack of social amenities, social services and infrastructure in rural areas. To the contrary, the study showed that urban areas enjoyed the best of the social services
and facilities that lack in rural areas. The findings also revealed that many rural schools were distant from urban centers and that there were no adequate incentives for teachers working in rural areas. According to the study, one of the factors contributing to shortage of trained teachers was government's failure to employ enough trained teachers since 2001. Another factor was lack of sufficient incentives to motivate and retain trained teachers in rural areas. The study also revealed a host of perceived and felt effects of shortage of trained teachers on the provision of education in basic schools. They included non provision of quality education to pupils, pupils' mass failure in grades 7 and 9 examinations, and nonacquisition
of literacy, numeracy, survival and life skills by pupils.
Description
Keywords
Teachers - Kazungula - Livingstone , Teachers -- Training of -- Livingstone -- Kazungula , Teacher Orientation -- Livingstone