Challenges faced by head teachers of upgraded secondary schools and their coping strategies in Kawambwa district of Luapula province of Zambia.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2022-07-05
Authors
Musonda, Bestone
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This study aimed at establishing the challenges faced by head teachers of the upgraded secondary schools and their coping strategies to overcome the challenges in Kawambwa district of Luapula province of Zambia. The objectives were to: to establish the availability and adequacy of physical facilities in the upgraded secondary schools; to identify the financial related challenges faced by the head teachers in the upgraded secondary schools; to find out the challenges of human resource management faced by the head teachers of upgraded secondary schools; to identify the coping strategies employed by the head teachers to overcome the challenges they face in the upgraded secondary schools. Non – experimental research design under qualitative approach was used to conduct this study. The study sample was 29, comprising: 2 officers from the District Education Board Secretary’s office, 3 head teachers, 3 deputy head teachers and 21 head of departments. Purposive sampling technique was used and data was collected through interview guides.
The study findings revealed the following as the factors that have contributed to the upgrading of some primary schools to secondary school status: Requirement by the government to increase the number of secondary schools head teachers face challenges in managing the upgraded secondary schools; political driven Projects of increasing the number of secondary schools in their constituencies; population increase in the district; de – congesting the existing secondary schools. Studies further revealed that that head teachers of the upgraded secondary schools face a lot of challenges which includes: inadequate physical facilities such as classrooms, desks, teaching/learning materials; inadequate funds to meets the needs of the upgraded schools, inadequate and inexperienced teachers to deliver quality education effectively. Studies also revealed the following as the coping strategies employed by the head teachers in order to overcome the challenges: asking for assistance from the well-wishers; coming up with the project fund in conjunction with the PTA which is used to build and renovate classrooms and laboratories and applying for help from the CDF.
Bordering on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made: The rate at which the secondary schools are being upgraded should be controlled depending on the demand per community. This will reduce haphazard upgrading of secondary schools so that the buildings are completed and fully equipped with the needed facilities before being upgraded; the government should develop a curriculum for in-service training of head teachers. This will enhance career progression in their profession as managers and therefore prepare them for managerial challenges associated with administrative roles; and coping mechanisms put in place by the head teachers, PTA and school boards to set up a project funds which should drive the construction of classrooms, toilets, and other urgent infrastructure in the school should be encouraged.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Head teachers--Challenges.