An assessment of the quality and relevance of educational provision in community schools of Mkushi
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Date
2011-03-18
Authors
Mwansa, Albert
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Abstract
This study tried to find out whether the quality and relevance of the education
provided by community schools in selected parts of Mkushi District had an impact
on pupils' academic achievement. The study sample consisted of five community
schools that were implementing the primary basic education course curriculum.
Using the grade seven public examination results, academic achievement among
the pupils was assessed by the number of pupils who had passed the
examination and were selected into grade eight.
The sample had a total number of fifty pupils who were in grade seven, twenty-
five community school teachers and twenty-five officials working at the office of
the District Education Board Secretary.
The qualitative research paradigm was used for data collection and this included
questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions with various key and
strategic stakeholders in the provision of education.
Some variables relevant to the study of quality and relevance in educational
provision in community schools were studied. They included academic and
professional qualifications of teachers, pre-service and in-service training of
teachers, teaching and learning materials, classroom pedagogy, professional
supervision and support, assessment, school learning environment and
community support.
Data analysis was done by categorizing the responses in both descriptive and
statistical figures. Triangulation of both qualitative and quantitative techniques
was employed. The study revealed that community schools generally suffered
from inadequate educational material supplies and professional support in the
areas of human resource development. It also showed that the core technology
of teaching and learning in community schools involved teachers' teaching of
pupils' replication of knowledge and being assessed on the extent to which they
retrieved it from memory. Teaching methods in community schools were
predominantly teacher centred, as opposed to child centred. The study also
revealed that almost all the teachers working in community schools were
untrained.
In-service training opportunities were equally not fully utilized and the majority
of the teachers were not exposed to it at school.
The study also showed that Co-ordination and instructional supervision of
teachers was also lacking so was quality control on the utility of the teaching and
learning materials that were used by community schools. Other findings of the
study were that most of the community school teachers did not plan schemes of
work and lesson notes and that not all the time-tabled subjects were taught in
school. Teachers' guides including the syllabi in almost all the subjects were not
available in community schools.
Despite all these shortcomings with regard to the factors that contributed to the
academic achievement of pupils, the results in community schools were
impressive. This was evident by the fact that the transition of Grade 7 pupils
into Grade 8 was in the range of 60.2% and 85.3%.
Not ignoring other factors identified by literature as influential in enhancing
academic achievement, this study singled out some of the factors as critical in
the attainment of academic achievement of pupils and these among others
included commitment and teachers' support from the community and a good
working environment.
VI
Generally there was a general sense of purpose and a good working relationship
with parents, staff and the learners in nearly all the community schools, a factor
likely to enhance learning achievement in pupils.
There was also professional and organizational commitment among community
school teachers. Collective vision was much greater than individual personalities.
There was also participative management and shared leadership at various levels
of school management. Personal factors of the teacher appeared to have more
influence on the enhancement of learning achievement in pupils. Masaazi (1991)
supports the view that every education system depends heavily on the teacher.
In order to improve the quality and relevance of the education provided by
community schools the following measures should be taken:
(l)The Ministry of Education should play a more pro-active role in ensuring
that the education provided by community schools meets the expectations
of both the Zambian society and the international community. Such
measures as reformation of the policy document, re-designing the
curriculum, setting priorities and increasing investment in education,
should be taken. The Ministry should also seek to promote the
development of a curriculum that is comprehensive, balanced, integrated
and diversified, so that it is more responsive to the needs of an individual
child.
There is also need to improve upon instructional support, staff
development activities, educational supplies, school facilities, the learning
environment and the provision of incentives for teachers in community
schools.
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Keywords
Education -- Mkushi--Education -- Mkushi , Community and School -- Mkushi--Community and School -- Mkushi , Community education -- Zambia--Community education -- Zambia , Teachers and Community