An assessment of learners' appreciation of spiritual and moral values in social development studies in selected primary schools in Kafue District in Zambia

Abstract

The study sought to assess learners’ appreciation of Spiritual and Moral values in Social and Development Studies with particular focus on upper primary school learners. The research objectives were to: explain the nature of current primary school Religious Education; establish what is covered in primary school Religious Education which is a component of Social and Development Studies; and assess the effectiveness of the Religious Education component of Social and Development Studies in promoting awareness and appreciation of spiritual and moral values among primary school learners. The research design adopted for this study was descriptive design. The sample size necessary to achieve the objectives of the study consisted of 105 elements. The sampling procedure used comprised a combination of systematic sampling procedure, simple random sampling, and judgmental or purposive sampling procedure Primary data was collected using structured observation, projective techniques, interviews and content analysis. The method used to collect secondary data consisted of desk research. The major findings were that only few spiritual and moral value items were mentioned without explanation in the teaching and learning materials; the few values mentioned in the teaching and learning materials were not recognisable as spiritual and moral value items by both the teachers and learners; upper primary school curriculum content contained spiritual and moral education but teachers did not know that they were spiritual and moral education topics. In the light of the results of the study, the researcher recommended that the curriculum should clearly state that a particular topic is spiritual or moral education to enable teachers have an understanding of the various composite Religious Educational topics they are teaching.