An Assessment of Teachers and Parents’ Views on Part-Time Continuing Educational Classes (PTEC’S) in Mashonaland Central Region

Abstract

This study focused on Part Time Continuing Education Classes (PTCEC’s) that were being run in Mashonaland Central Province. The major objective of the study was to investigate how these programmes were being administered. The questionnaire and the interview techniques were used to collect data. Twelve (24) respondents selected through purposive and simple random sampling were finally used in the collection of data. The data collected indicated that the programme was useful to the eradication of illiteracy in the already mentioned Region. The classes were not being evaluated to determine their effectiveness. The findings indicated varied problems in the administration of PTCEC’s in the Region and these problems that include: very low salaries that were demotivating teachers, very low fees paid by pupils, lack of electricity in some schools, lack of vehicles for supervision purposes, no libraries, inadequate stationary and teaching aids. The PTCEC’s were further affected by the economic meltdown that was so apparent around 2008. Many of the teachers left the Region for greener pastures elsewhere around the globe. The recommendations included the need for the Ministry o Education to provide vehicles necessary for supervision particularly when it is night, the need for the programme to buy adequate learning materials and the need to improve salaries so that the evening classes could attract qualified teachers.

Keywords: Part Time Continuing Education