An investigation of the management of the teaching of Computer studies in selected schools of Zimba District of Southern Province, Zambia
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Date
2018
Authors
Chilangi, Maggie Beene
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The thrust of the study was to investigate the management of the teaching of computer
studies in selected schools Zimba District of Southern Province. In 2013 the government
through the Ministry of Education Science Vocational Technology and Early Childhood
(MESVTEE) by then reviewed the School Curriculum which saw the introduction of
Computer studies as a compulsory and examinable subject at Junior Secondary School level.
This development however was received with mixed feeling across the nation including
School management. The study was guided by the theory of Technology Acceptance Model
(ATM) (David 1989). In TAM, when the user is presented with a new technology, three
major factors influence his or her decision on how and when they will use it. The first
determinant being its perceived usefulness (PU), followed by the perceived ease of use
(PEOU) and the third one is user attitude towards usage (ATU) (David et al, 2002).
The descriptive research design was used to collect qualitative data from a sample of 18
respondents who included school administrators, Heads of Department and computer studies
teachers. Purposive and quota sampling were applied to select the respondents. Data were
collected using interview guide and observation check list. The data were analysed
thematically by the categorizing of major and sub-themes that emerged from the study. The
study showed that school management faced challenges in the management of the teaching of
computer studies. The majority of the school management were unable to formulate strategies
to help them in implementation of computer studies into curriculum. There were further, no
targets to be achieved, most schools lacked basic infrastructure which go along with the
teaching and learning of computer studies, such as computer laboratories, computers, trained
computer studies teachers, printers, projectors and adequate power supply.
Based on the findings, the study recommended that, government to give priority to schools
and provide solar panels under rural electrification programme, office of District Education
Board to hold regular seminars for head teachers on the importance of computer studies and
short management courses as it was discovered that most head teachers lacked managerial
skills.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Computer studies--Zambia , ICT--Study and teaching--Zambia , Digital Divide