Training needs assessment for retirement education programme: a mixed methods study among civil servants in the ministry of health, Lusaka district.
Date
2019
Authors
Sakala, Nelson
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the training needs for retirement education programme among civil servants in the Ministry of Health in Lusaka District. The study addressed the objectives in threefold, thus: to establish the kind of training existing for retiring and /or retired workers; to identify the training needs for retiring and/ or retired workers; and to investigate the retiring/retired worker’s preferred delivery instructional techniques and strategies of training. To accomplish this, the study employed a concurrent embedded mixed methods design with an approximate population of 942 workers aged 45 years and above. The sample size was 281 comprising 190 in-service workers selected randomly and purposively, 30 Retired Workers snowballed and five Human Resource Development Officers selected using expert sampling. Data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings of this study demonstrated that Ministry of Health as a government entity in Lusaka District does not have retirement education programme for workers but that it facilitates with relevant stakeholder. The results also indicate that workers’ needs, in order of importance, range from entrepreneurship, financial management and literacy, agriculture, psycho-social counseling, health, legal, organizational processes and procedures on retirement among others. Results further indicated that workers preferred instructional delivery techniques such as; workshop, seminar, group discussion, field trip, simulation and role play and that these should be accompanied by strategies like retiree facilitated training, professional advice and written materials. The study concluded that there is no retirement education in the Ministry of Health in Lusaka District and that it only facilitates training. The study also concluded that workers’ most urgent needs are entrepreneurship, financial planning and literacy, savings and pension management, agricultural training, health issues and counselling as well as training techniques that require them to be active throughout the training session. Arising from the study, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health in Lusaka District in collaboration with stakeholders should effectively sensitize and provide a linkage between workers and training providers so that workers are prepared for retirement in the researched areas of need. Furthermore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health should consider funding and incorporating retirement education in its annual and strategic work plans.
Keywords: Training, Needs assessment, Retirement education, Instructional Technique
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Training-- Needs assessment--Civil servants--Zambia , Retirement education-- Instructional Technique--Zambia