The University of Zambia Journals
Not a member yet
787 research outputs found
Sort by
Formative Assessment as a Means of Improving Learner Achievement: Lessons from Selected Primary Schools of Lusaka, Zambia
Get PDFAssessment is the systematic collection and analysis of information to improve student outcomes (Shute, 2008). Assessment take a variety of meanings within education. It refers to the process an institution uses to grade its students’ work. It is usually in form of some kind of standardised testing and is often compulsory. Many schools in Zambia carry out compulsory assessments usually monthly and at the end of the term as part of the processes for accountability. The reason for assessment either termly, weekly test or mock examination is to improve institutional practices. This study was aimed at analysing classroom-based formative assessment that may identify needs and in the process shape teaching. Formative assessment contributes to learning through providing feedback. The study reviewed three primary schools in Lusaka. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. 90 Questionnaires were distributed to teachers, to accord them a chance to analyse their practices. In addition, in depth interviews were conducted with 12 teachers from each of the participating schools. Focus group discussions were conducted with learners. The findings demonstrated that in most cases where teachers used assessment results to improve teaching and learning, pupil performance greatly improved. However, in other cases, it was found that implementation of formative assessment was difficult due huge class size and also a lack of educational materials. It was recommended that funding be improved in schools to enhance implementation formative assessnment. In addition, there is need to reduce teacher pupil ratios in order to improve assessment processes
Reforming School Experience in Pre-Service Teacher Preparation for Quality Teacher Graduates
Get PDFIt is well a known fact that quality teaching is key tolearning. This means that the quality of schools dependslargely on teachers. In the same way, the quality ofteachers depends on the institutions that preparedthem. Therefore, school experience in pre-serviceteacher preparation is central because, it is during thepracticum that trainees are given an opportunity to applytheories that they learnt and also observe experiencedteachers’ lessons. It is also during practicum thattrainee teachers are availed an occasion to work withreal learners (pupils). In this vein, then, there is need tohave a school experience which is effective. This canonly occur if it is properly structured, well financed andadequately staffed. This paper will provide a situationalanalysis of the common practices of school experienceat the University of Zambia. The problematisation ofthe situation will be followed by arguing for elementswhich make school experience in pre-service teacherpreparation effective and responsive to the demandsof 21st century didactics. Some of the elements willinclude the restructuring of the practicum, adequatefinancing and relooking at practicum implementation needs. The paper will conclude by reiterating the factthat the quality of teachers in schools (and lack of it) islargely a result of the nature of the school experiencethey underwent. Finally, the paper will submit asuggestion for a rethink and reformation of schoolexperience in Zambia if the goal of producing qualityteacher graduates is to be realised
Disparities in Pro-Environmental Behaviour between Rural and Urban Areas in Zambia
Get PDFOver the years, there has been rising concern over the state of cleanliness of the physical environment in Zambia. Although several studies have been done on the need to keep the environment clean, rarely have these studies addressed the differences in perception between rural and urban areas. Far more literature is concerned with urban areas rather than rural areas. This study, therefore, compared environmental behaviour characteristics between rural and urban areas to find out if there were any differences. Five hundred and forty-five randomly selected participants participated in the questionnaire survey which used a Likert rating scale. The results were analysed using the Student’s t-test. The study determined that there was a significant difference in environmental behaviour between rural and urban areas. Therefore, implementing cleanup campaigns would require taking into consideration these differences
Mentorship of Novice Lecturers at the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University
Get PDFThis article draws on the findings of a study conducted in 2011 to examine perceptions of lecturers towards mentorship of novice lecturers at the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University. Data were collected from 47 respondents. Two separate self-completion questionnaires, one for senior academic staff and another for novice lecturers, both with quantitative and qualitative elements, were used to the collect data. Data revealed that both the senior academic staff and novice lecturers perceived mentorship to be necessary for the professional development of novice lecturers. However, the data further revealed that the absence of policy on mentorship of novice lecturers, indifferent attitudes by senior academic staff, overrunning programme schedules encountered by both senior academic staff and novice lecturers and unwillingness by some novice lecturers to be mentored negatively affected the mentorship of novice lecturers. Those who provided mentorship did so informally on humanitarian grounds. On the basis of these findings, the study recommends that the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University should develop policy on mentorship and that mentorship be included among the duties of senior academic staff to avoid unscheduled work overloads. In so doing, the two universities might establish mentoring of novice lecturers as a norm. To achieve this the paper recommends that senior academic staff should be trained in various aspects such as purposes of mentorship, needs of novice lecturers and benefits of mentorship. Lastly, the two universities should consider making mentorship of novice lecturers count towards one’s promotion
The Use of e-voucher as an input distribution system by small scale farmers in Chongwe district, Zambia: An adult education perspective
Get PDFThis study sought to explore the use of e-voucher as an input distribution system by small scale farmers in Chongwe district. The objectives of the study were to: establish the extent to which small scale farmers used e-voucher as an input distribution system, identify adult education methods used in the dissemination of information on e-voucher, establish challenges faced by small scale farmers and providers of e-voucher and suggest strategies aimed at addressing challenges faced in the use of e-voucher. The study was guided by the diffusion of innovation theory. Using a descriptive survey research design to generate answers to the research questions, a sample of 30 participants was purposively selected. This comprised 26 small scale farmers, 2 programme officers from the Zambia National Farmers’ Union and 2 from the Zambia National Commercial Bank. Data were collected through interview guides and focus group discussions, and analysis was through thematic content analysis. The study revealed that most small scale farmers were accessing farming inputs of their choice through the use of e-voucher. It also revealed that adult education methods used in the dissemination of information among small scale farmers on e-voucher included radio programmes, door-to-door visits by extension workers and farmer meetings. The study further showed that challenges faced by small scale farmers and providers of e-voucher included inadequate and delayed funding, slow loading and activation of e-cards and late delivery of farming inputs. Other challenges included late replacement of lost pin numbers and language barrier. Proposed strategies aimed at addressing challenges faced in the use of e-voucher were that areas should be serviced by specific focal persons; timely loading and activated of e-cards and delivery of farming inputs. The study recommended that the government should adequately fund banks; designated officers should handle e-voucher; farmer awareness campaigns should be done at farmer cooperatives level to enhance farmer participation and dissemination of information on e-voucher should be done in local languages
Student Teachers’ Views on School Experience Preparation and Supervision
Get PDFUsing a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative paradigms, and based on three primary colleges of education, this study sought to capture final year student teachers’ views pertaining to school experience preparation and supervision. The total sample consisted of 137 students, constituting 38 (28%) of students at college A, 28 (20%) students at college B and 71 (52%) students at college C.
Using broadly ranging questionnaire with open-ended questions, the study aimed at establishing and eliciting information from the respondents through the principals of primary colleges of education. The objectives were to: solicit students’ views on their school experience preparation and supervision and ascertain how students’ performance was evaluated.
The study findings revealed that generally, student teachers found the teaching experience
beneficial in the following aspects:
planning schemes of work, weekly focuses and lessons,
application of the real teaching process in the classroom,
identification of learners with special needs, highlighting of student weaknesses and strengths, availability of teaching materials,
academic and social interaction between lecturers and students and application of theories into practice,
the classroom scale was explained to them by the lecturers,
evaluation notes on their teaching performance were made available,
they pointed out their dislikes during the school experience and also made suggestions on how they would like to be assessed,
they also highlighted the extent of contributions class teachers made during teachingskills.
experience and wanted supervisors who were well versed in their subjects and supervisory
In conclusion, the student teachers recommended the following procedural aspects as being essential in the package of supervisory skills: arranging a brief observation meeting at which concerns about teaching are defined and performance criteria selected; class observation; analysis of the collected data; maintenance of desired teaching behaviours; recycling of difficulties encountered by student teachers in exhibiting desired teaching behaviours or ensuring closure once the problems are resolved
Adult education is many things: Its meaning and implications
Get PDFMany adult educationists have laboured in an attempt to define what is meant by Adult Education. Some of the definitions are confined much more to the philosophical aspect of the concept, while others restrict themselves to the functional or clientele criterion. Consequently, vital shades of some Adult Education activities are left out of the concept. This paper attempts to bring out together all the different shades of Adult Education by firstly considering the two words ‘Adult’ and ‘Education’ separately. Then, the meaning of Adult Education is further derived at by its function (especially in the Third World), clientele, content and pedagogical aspects. It is then concluded that unlike other professions, ‘Adult Education’ simply means many things; a situation that relegates it to an inferior position
Zambia’s Transition to a Green Economy
Get PDF In the last ten to fifteen years, Zambia has been on a road to transition from a ‘brown economy’ to a‘green economy’.The key aim for such a transition is to eliminate the trade-offs between economic growth and investment and gains in environmental quality and social inclusiveness. This paper describes the events and activities done and implemented in the country leading to making Zambia a clean, green and healthy nation as well as addressing social and economic challenges. It looks at the global origins of the green initiative and its development in Zambia through policies and activities of both government and its cooperating partners. The paper also examines the evidence of green growth in Zambia and the support the country is receiving in the implementation of the green initiatives. Finally, it analyses the linkages between green growth and sustainable development, as well as the challenges faced by the transition to green economy
Effects of Vigesimal and Decimal Modes on the Learning Outcomes of Junior Secondary School Students in Yoruba Numerals
Get PDFNumeracy is an integral part of any language. For any linguistic discourse in a language to be meaningful, it should make reference to numbers. Yorùbá language employs vigesimal numerals of counting which involves complex calculation and had led various users to neglect its use. Despite scholars’ efforts at finding lasting solution to this problem, learners are fast losing grip of the numerals. By way of contribution to solving the problem, this study examined the effects of vigesimal and decimal learning modes on students’ learning outcomes in Yoruba numerals. A total of 180 Junior Secondary schools sixty students were randomly selected in one of the three selected secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode local government area for the study. Treatments were administered to the students. Vigesimal and decimal learning modes were administered to two experimental groups, students’ previous knowledge on vigesimal numerals was considered for control group. Two research instruments were used namely: Yoruba numeral achievement test (r = 0.76), students’ attitudinal questionnaire towards Yoruba numerals (r = 0.74). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyse data at 0.05 significant level and Sidak post hoc analysis was used to explain the direction and source of obtained significant effects. The findings revealed that the main effects of treatments were significant both for vigesimal mode (F (2, 161) = 35.975, P < 0.05) also decimal mode (LM= 16.128), There was significant main effect of treatment (learning mode) on students’ attitude to Yoruba numerals (F (2, 161) = 3.824, P < 0.05). The study concluded that Decimal Yorùbá is an effective strategy in enhancing students’ learning outcomes in Yorùbá numerals. It was therefore recommended that policy makers, curriculum planners and teachers should ensure its adoption into the school curriculums
Biblical Interpretations in Zimbabwean Politics from 2000 to 2016
No full textThis article is a contribution to the ongoing discussion on the relationship between religion and politics. The article did so by focusing mainly on the interpretation of the Bible to serve Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU-PF) political ideology in Zimbabwean politics from year 2000 to 2016. The article presented the interpretations of the Bible in light of the broader context of not only Zimbabwean or African but also global political arena. It however narrowed the discussion to the interpretations of the Bible proffered by ZANU-PF leadership and its supporters. Needless to say, the Movement of democratic Change (MDC-T) opposed such ZANU-PF interpretations while the majority of scholars on Zimbabwean politics accuse only ZANU PF of having the habit to ‘abuse’ Christianity. The Bible, pastors, traditional leaders and religious gatherings. This article provided evidence that all major political parties in Zimbabwe were involved in the habit. Evidence was adduced from media; both print and electronic especially social media: WhatsApp, Facebook and Youtube. Few political rallies and prayer gatherings were attended by the researcher which also inform the conclusions of the article. The purpose of the article was neither to endorse nor to condemn the interpretations of the Bible either by ZANU-PF or the MDC-T or any other political party in Zimbabwe. It is the responsibility of the readers to judge for themselves as regards whether what was done by the political parties in Zimbabwe was right or wrong for the Zimbabwean politics and religion