An investigation of the management of the teaching of Computer studies in selected schools of Zimba District of Southern Province, Zambia

Abstract

The thrust of the study was to investigate the management of the teaching of computer studies in selected schools Zimba District of Southern Province. In 2013 the government through the Ministry of Education Science Vocational Technology and Early Childhood (MESVTEE) by then reviewed the School Curriculum which saw the introduction of Computer studies as a compulsory and examinable subject at Junior Secondary School level. This development however was received with mixed feeling across the nation including School management. The study was guided by the theory of Technology Acceptance Model (ATM) (David 1989). In TAM, when the user is presented with a new technology, three major factors influence his or her decision on how and when they will use it. The first determinant being its perceived usefulness (PU), followed by the perceived ease of use (PEOU) and the third one is user attitude towards usage (ATU) (David et al, 2002). The descriptive research design was used to collect qualitative data from a sample of 18 respondents who included school administrators, Heads of Department and computer studies teachers. Purposive and quota sampling were applied to select the respondents. Data were collected using interview guide and observation check list. The data were analysed thematically by the categorizing of major and sub-themes that emerged from the study. The study showed that school management faced challenges in the management of the teaching of computer studies. The majority of the school management were unable to formulate strategies to help them in implementation of computer studies into curriculum. There were further, no targets to be achieved, most schools lacked basic infrastructure which go along with the teaching and learning of computer studies, such as computer laboratories, computers, trained computer studies teachers, printers, projectors and adequate power supply. Based on the findings, the study recommended that, government to give priority to schools and provide solar panels under rural electrification programme, office of District Education Board to hold regular seminars for head teachers on the importance of computer studies and short management courses as it was discovered that most head teachers lacked managerial skills.