Context, extent and challenges of married commuter teachers from selected secondary schools in Kitwe on the Copperbelt province of Zambia.
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Date
2022-07-30
Authors
Chondoka, Sharon
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the context, extent and challenges of married commuter
teachers from selected secondary schools in Kitwe on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. It
sought to ascertain if there were policies facilitating the commuting of married teachers, and to
explore the socio-economic challenges faced by married commuter teachers. It also sought to
determine the effects of commuting on married teachers‟ role performance. The type of
commuting which was considered is one where teachers live apart from their families and/or
spouses for some time and have to travel on a regular basis.
The study was conducted using a qualitative method of research. A phenomenological qualitative
design was employed. Data was collected through interviews using an interview guide.
Purposive sampling was used, specifically homogeneous sampling. The study sample consisted
of 10 married commuting teachers comprising 3 men and 7 women from secondary schools. The
sample included deputy head teachers, heads of departments and subject teachers. Data was
collected using an audio recorder. The audio recordings were transcribed and data from
transcriptions was analyzed according to the qualitative approach of thematic analysis.
Study findings established challenge and concern about the policy guidelines on the deployment
and transfer of teachers, the long period which teachers had to serve before being transferred, the
need for transfers to be given so that spouses and families live together and the need for certain
policies to be revisited. The major themes that emerged as challenges included: anxiety, cost of
commuting, multiple role performance, mistrust/ suspicion of spouse, infidelity/HIV&AIDS,
getting permission from work, infrequent social life, fatigue and child care when commuting.
Low frequency themes included time for travel, lack of good schools for children staying long distance from spouse, long distance for travel and frequent transfer of spouse. Further, the study
established that commuting affects the role performance of married teachers in such ways as
married commuting teachers failing to: adequately prepare for lessons; provide discipline in
homes as parents because they are often separated from their children and fail to attend to their
spouses and children when needed.
The study concluded that married commuter teachers are negatively affected by some aspects of
the deployment and transfer policy. In addition, married commuter teachers are faced with
various challenges because of having to commute. Furthermore, married commuting teachers fail
to execute their roles well either as parents, teachers or spouses or as members of the wider
community due to their commuting lifestyle. Therefore, it was recommended that consideration
be made for married commuting teachers to ensure their wellbeing on the job and to guarantee
efficacious teaching of pupils by having: administrators in schools being considerate toward
commuting teachers when they have genuine challenges affecting their work; MoGE evaluating
the policy on the transfer and deployment of teachers and schools deliberately initiating
schedules for teachers who commute to perform such responsibilities as marking end of term test
papers and performing school holiday duties.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Teachers--Transport challenges.