Opportunities and challenges of learning integration outside school sessions in Zvimba District, Mashonaland West Province.

Author

Mataruse, Vimbai

Title

Opportunities and challenges of learning integration outside school sessions in Zvimba District, Mashonaland West Province.

Abstract

The purpose of carrying out this study was to examine the opportunities and challenges of carrying out lessons outside school sessions when teaching ‘Integration’ at Advanced level. A mixed methods research paradigm and a descriptive survey research design were preferred by the researcher to collect data for this study. This study was done in 2022, and it was delimited to three high schools found in Zvimba District, Mashonaland West Province. The researcher used convenience sampling techniques which relied on oral interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions as key research instruments to gather. The oral interviews were conducted with 10 teachers, focus group discussions were done with 10 parents and questionnaires were administered to 20 learners. Thematic data analysis was used. From the gathered data, it was established that extra lessons greatly help to eradicate idleness, were the main option to cover up for the lost time, served as a source of encouragement for all learners, and were beneficial for instilling confidence that would boost interest to excel in Mathematics at Advanced level. It also emerged from the findings that the extra lessons were illegal and hence teachers were doing them clandestinely, and that the teachers involved in extra lessons were cashing in on parents as they continued to increase fees. The participants also lamented at the lack of protection for the learners, and felt that extra lessons put female children at risk of sexual molestation. The participants again indicated that the best approach to curtail the detrimental effects brought by partaking in lessons outside school sessions was for the Government to offer adequate remuneration to the teachers and they also wished for the Government to legalize extra lessons, so that teachers would carry them out in classrooms. The study recommended that parents should not send their children for extra lessons for the sake of just sending them, the Government of Zimbabwe should come up with viable policies that permit the undertaking of lessons outside school sessions legally, there is need to strictly monitor learners partaking in extra lessons to check if they are not going off the rail, and the Government of Zimbabwe should improve remuneration for teachers as a way to shun underhand dealings like lessons outside school sessions.

Date

2022

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Learning of integration

School session

Zvimba District

Mashoinaland West Province

Supervisor

Dr. Mudavanhu, Y.