The Effectiveness of read on literacy Course on academic Perfomance: The Case of selected Basic Schools in Mufulira District
Date
2011-11-14
Authors
Massanzi, Agnes Florence
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Abstract
The Ministry of Education undertook a number of reforms in the 1990s due to the decline in literacy levels in basic schools; the basic school curriculum was changed. New methods of teaching were introduced as measures of intervention. Pedagogies like the New Breakthrough to Literacy (NBTL), Step in to English (SITE) and Read on Literacy Course (ROC) were introduced in basic schools. The current study sought to find out whether the numerous child
centered methods, with particular attention to Read on Literacy Course (ROC), were
effective in enhancing learner performance.
The descriptive survey design was used in conducting this research. The study opted to use this method taking into account the nature of the research. This study used mainly qualitative methods of data collection. However, quantitative
methods of data collection were also employed to yield pragmatic data to substantiate the
qualitative data. The study population was all basic schools in Mufulira district. The sample size consisted of
310 participants comprising 26 teachers (12 males and 16 females) and 284 pupils (161 boys
and 123 girls). In selecting the schools, purposive sampling was used. Purposive sampling was used because
it allowed the researcher to select the participants who could provide the richest information,
more interesting and that which will manifest interesting characteristics (Kahn: 2008). In addition, at each school, probability sampling technique was used to determine teachers and pupils who should participate in the study. White (2005:117), states that “probability sampling technique ensures that every element in the sampling frame has an equal chance of
being included in the sample”.
In collecting data, structured questionnaires, semi-structured interview schedules and focus group discussion guides were used. Data collection involved giving pupils class tasks. Two sets of task items which were taken from the Rainbow Workbooks were administered for each of the grades according to the ability groups as normal classroom activities. Rainbow workbooks are distinguished by the colours, blue, orange, green, red and yellow. The findings of the study revealed among others that the one hour allocated for teaching ROC
was inadequate. The study also showed that not all the teachers handling ROC were trained to teach it. Although the findings of the study revealed that schools had enough materials for teaching ROC, these were in most cases locked in cupboards in the school manager.s office. Further the study showed that most of these materials, though available, were either outdated
or worn out. Furthermore, the findings revealed that teachers. responses became more objective after the administering of test items to the learners. However the learner's performance still remained generally poor. In conclusion, the study has demonstrated that ROC, as a learner-centred pedagogy is not as effective as the educational expectations would like it to reflect. There is overwhelming
evidence from the findings that indicate that the levels of literacy among the learners are not improving. The performance of the learners is a great contradiction to what the teachers state. Based on the above findings, the following recommendations were made:
i) The Ministry of Education should embark on providing more intensive training
through in-service programmes in order to equip teachers with relevant skills to
manage the execution of ROC.
ii) The Zambian Government through the Ministry of Education should ensure that
there is a constant supply of latest relevant teaching and learning materials that are need to sustain programmes.
iii) Considering the overwhelming evidence from the findings of the study that
schools had enough materials for teaching ROC but were locked up in the school
manager.s cupboards, there is need for the Ministry of Education to re-sensitize
the school managers on the importance of availing these materials to the teachers
whilst emphasising on maintenance of the same.
iv) Since the findings of the study revealed that the one hour allocated for teaching
ROC was inadequate, school managers should consider increasing the time allocated to teaching ROC.
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Keywords
Educational psychology--Mufulira-Zambia , literacy(Academic perfomance)-Zambia , Ability testing(basic schools)--Zambia