Parents-teachers collaboration in addressing pupils' sexuality and pupil-teacher conflict at Momboshi secondary school,Chisamba district, Zambia.
Date
2019
Authors
Chisango, Evans
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Good pupils’ behaviour in terms of sexuality and a good relationship between pupils and
teachers cannot be overemphasized as this plays a vital role in making pupils realize the
functions of school. Pupils’ sexuality and pupil-teacher conflict have the potential to make the
function of school not to be realized by pupils, hence, the need for parents and teachers to
collaborate in addressing these challenges. Lack of collaboration between parents and teachers in
addressing pupils’ sexuality and pupil-teacher conflict can have negative effects on the education
of pupils. Parents-teacher’s collaboration in addressing pupils’ sexuality and pupil-teacher
conflict is not known. The current study therefore sought to establish parent-teachers
collaboration in addressing pupils’ sexuality and pupil-teacher conflict. A single case study
design was used by utilizing the semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion to collect
data and analysis. A sample consisted of a total of 20 participants 7 pupils, 7 parents and 6
subject teachers drawn from Momboshi Secondary School. Only grade 12 teachers, parents with
children in grade 12, and pupils in grade 12 were purposively sampled to draw on their
experiences in parents-teacher’s collaborations in addressing pupils’ sexuality and pupil-teacher
conflicts at Momboshi Secondary School. Semi-structured interviews were used to elicit views
from pupils, teachers and parents. Pupils were also involved in a focus group discussion. Data
was analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that there was low parents’-teachers’
collaboration in addressing pupils’ sexuality and pupil-teacher conflicts. The study also
established that some parents do not take part in collaborations due to ignorance with regard to
benefits of parents-teachers collaborations. Additionally, cultural taboos also contribute in
hindering some parents from discussing issues of sexuality with their children, which
exacerbates pupil-teacher conflicts and further affecting parents-teacher’s collaborations. Lack of
courtesy for parents by some teachers, poor discipline among pupils in some homes, poor
communication between parents and teachers, loss of confidence in some teachers by parents,
cultural taboos, and failure by parents to approach teachers on matters of sexuality among pupils
were identified as challenges facing parents-teacher’s collaborations in addressing pupils’
sexuality and pupil-teacher conflicts. Parents’-teachers’ regular meetings, strengthening the
guidance and counselling services, formulation and systematic implementation of compelling
guidelines to facilitate parents’-teachers’ collaborations, parents’ sensitization on the importance
of collaboration with teachers during community meetings, teachers avoiding engaging in pupils’
sexuality and pupil-teacher conflicts as measures to enhance parents’-teachers’ collaborations at
Momboshi Secondary School. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that; the
administration of Momboshi Secondary School should ensure a platform is created for regular
meetings between parents and teachers to address pupils’ sexuality and pupil-teacher conflict, the
government of Zambia through the Ministry of General Education should formulate and
systematically implement compelling guidelines to facilitate parents-teachers collaborations in
Schools, the government of Zambia through the Ministry of General Education should consider
turning the school into a boarding secondary school.
Keywords: Collaboration, sexuality, pupil-teacher conflict.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Collaboration , Sexuality-- Pupil--Teacher conflict--Zambia