Papers by Robinson Mambwe
International journal of research and innovation in social science, 2024
Journal of law and social sciences, 2024
This qualitative study investigated the complex issues and dynamics associated with the transitio... more This qualitative study investigated the complex issues and dynamics associated with the transitions in early childhood education (ECE) within Kabwe, Kapiri, and Choma districts of Zambia. Utilising an exploratory methodology, the research thoroughly explored the various factors that impacted school preparedness and the progression from early childhood education to primary schools. Diverse perspectives from parents, educators, community leaders, and legislators were examined through in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observations. The results of this study shed light on several significant factors such as limited parental involvement arising from knowledge gaps and financial constraints, digital inequality affecting children's adaptability, and the absence of well-structured transition programmes leading to mismatches in instructional approaches. Thematic analysis reveals nuanced insights, emphasising the crucial role of digital inclusion initiatives, programmes promoting parental engagement, and collaborative efforts between ECE institutions and primary schools.
Journal of law and social sciences, 2024
This research examined the incorporation of play-based learning in Early Childhood Education (ECE... more This research examined the incorporation of play-based learning in Early Childhood Education (ECE) policies across Zambia and twenty other diverse countries. Through document analysis, it uncovers commonalities and disparities in play-based learning principles. While both Zambian and global documents emphasise the significance of play in child development, they differ in scope, regional practices, and emphasis on global advocacy and cultural variations. Zambia's documents highlight specific practices, while global perspectives offer a broader international view. Both stress the multifaceted benefits of play in physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth. In summary, the findings underscored a global consensus on the significance of play-based learning in early childhood education, emphasising its role in holistic child development. Additionally, they highlighted the imperative of recognising cultural diversity and aligning policies with child rights, particularly in the Zambian context. Furthermore, the recommendations were aimed at bolstering the effectiveness of play-based pedagogies in early childhood education. They advocated for celebrating diversity, fostering holistic development, and ensuring the availability of appropriate resources and guidelines to support this approach. These recommendations ultimately seek to enhance the quality of early childhood education in Zambia by embracing cultural diversity, promoting global collaboration, and aligning play-based pedagogies with local and international best practices.
Journal of law and social sciences, 2024
This systematic review is based on studies that explored school readiness and transition through ... more This systematic review is based on studies that explored school readiness and transition through play-based pedagogies in Early Childhood and Primary Education. Relevant literature involved global literature whose search was conducted by independent researchers following the keyword string, which included among others, stakeholders' roles in school readiness, transition, and play-based pedagogies. The literature search was done from May to August 2022 following the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA). Twenty peer-reviewed studies were identified, appraised, and included in the review. Findings from international literature showed that teachers' implementation of play-based pedagogy revealed a significant and positive relationship to all domains of children's holistic development. Learner assessment for school readiness and transitioning from pre-primary to primary through play-based pedagogies included academic, social, and personal learning during periods of play. The types of play-based assessments for school readiness identified included: (1) withdrawal assessment, (2) observational assessment, (3) embedded assessment, (4) teacher questioning/interview, (5) Photographs/videos and (6) documentation walls. While literature showed a positive connection between parental involvement and a child's readiness for school including successful transition from preprimary to primary school, there was limited evidence pointing specifically to the influence of parental involvement in play-based pedagogies for school transitioning.
Journal of law and social sciences, 2024
While several studies have been done on parental involvement in early childhood education, gaps s... more While several studies have been done on parental involvement in early childhood education, gaps still exists relating to the conceptualisation of play and play-based learning in different contexts. The various perceptions of play and playbased learning have a strong influence on their involvement in play-based learning activities involving children in Early Childhood Education. Using a qualitative approach, framed within the interpretive research paradigm, this study revealed a disjuncture between the positive perception held by the stakeholders on play and PBL to the reality of play-based learning in the ECE schools. The researchers asked three questions: 1. What are the perceptions of parents, community, and school administrators (teachers and administrators) regarding play and play-based learning? 2. How do these stakeholders get involved in PBL? 3. And what factors influence their involvement? The researchers collected data through key informant interviews (KII), focus group discussions and classroom observations. The study established that the involvement in PBL varied among stakeholders. For parents and community members their involvement was often based on solicitation by the school administrators and external development agencies-as opposed to volunteering postulated by Epstein's theory of parental involvement employed in the study. Among the factors that influenced their participation was a general lack of a clear understanding of PBL and their role and functions in PBL and ECE in general. Thus, the study recommends capacity building in PBL for parents, community members and school administrators.
IAFOR Journal of Education
Upcoming changes in the teacher labor supply will have an impact on nations that provide governme... more Upcoming changes in the teacher labor supply will have an impact on nations that provide government-based education for their youth. Faced with a significant global shortfall of educators, most countries have taken steps to incentivize teaching as a profession and ensure that qualified teachers are available to students in all locations – particularly in rural environments. To understand these initiatives more thoroughly, a short-term policy analysis focused on incentives for teacher labor through a lens of governmental policy implementation has been completed. This resulted in a review of the efforts three nations (Australia, the United States and Zambia) have undertaken to ensure a viable and consistent teacher workforce in rural areas. While each nation has specific factors that contribute to current and projected shortages, each also provides unique solutions to assist in resolving this ongoing issue. Through the examination of multiple hiring factors and incentives used in each...
Multidisciplinary Journal of Language and Social Sciences Education (2664-083X, Online ISSN: Print ISSN: 2616-4736), Oct 2, 2021
Action research in education is known for improving the teachers and administrators' professional... more Action research in education is known for improving the teachers and administrators' professional practice and deemed favourable by most educationists for solving problems in education. It is a formative study usually conducted by teachers and administrators in schools. Action research is a cyclical or spiral process that includes problem identification (by a teacher, a group of teachers or administrators) taking action and fact finding about the result of the action taken. Action research in education helps the teachers to adopt or craft the most appropriate strategies within teaching-learning environments. Teachers around the world employ action research in their classrooms and schools, as part of their teaching and research. In this article we discuss action research in education, show the differences between action research and traditional research and we have illustrated forms of action research in education. The paper has also made an attempt at describing the steps in action research. In the concluding section we have discussed the importance of action research to the teacher and all involved in education. All in all, we will labour to present a literature review of what action research is, its elements and the critical role it plays in perfecting the art of teaching.
African Journal of Teacher Education, 2017
This study investigated the preparation level, survival skills, and entrepreneurial knowledge amo... more This study investigated the preparation level, survival skills, and entrepreneurial knowledge among retired teachers in Zambia, as well as the success of their post-retirement business ventures. Descriptive survey design utilising both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed through use of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Convenient and purposive sampling techniques were utilised in sampling. The conclusion shows that most retired teachers lack survival and entrepreneurial skills to manage their business ventures. Lack of pre-retirement entrepreneurial training, lack of pre-retirement counselling, and poor planning for retirement life were found to be the major hindrances to retired teachers’ success in managing their business ventures. The article points to the need for major reforms in teacher training and in pensions scheme policies in Zambia to accommodate issues of financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills among teachers as a way of preparing teache...
Journal of Curriculum and Teaching, 2021
The Ministry of General Education (Zambia) introduced subject specialisation at primary school. H... more The Ministry of General Education (Zambia) introduced subject specialisation at primary school. However, researchers have not yet sufficiently interrogated the concepts and modalities of subject specialisation at the primary school level to build a basis for an informed position and implementation. The paper aimed to review the literature and international practice relevant to subject specialisation at the primary school level. Interpretive techniques were applied while conducting secondary data analyses. The review established that there were different models of specialisation in education. There were also mixed experiences of subject specialisation in teaching and learning at primary school levels from the countries accessed. Nonetheless, intentional narrowed practice tended to contribute to the competent delivery of service in education. The paper, thus, welcomed differentiated types of specialisation based on school circumstances, learner grade level, staff numbers and teaching ...
The study explored social studies student teachers’ views on the implementation of learner-centre... more The study explored social studies student teachers’ views on the implementation of learner-centred teaching and learning approach in Zambian primary schools. Triangulation research design which collected both quantitative and qualitative data was used. This involved survey questionnaires which were distributed to 600 third year student teachers who were randomly sampled from 6 primary colleges of education using class registers provided by respective college registrars. Out of 600 questionnaires, 561 were returned back representing a return rate of 93.5%. Face to face interviews were also conducted with student teachers who were conveniently sampled from three colleges. The total students who participated in the interviews were 21. The interviews collected detailed qualitative narratives regarding student teachers’ experience with implementation of learner-centred approach. The findings of this study pointed to the fact that the policy emphasis on using learner-centred approach in t...
Journal of Curriculum and Teaching
The Ministry of General Education (Zambia) introduced subject specialisation at primary school. H... more The Ministry of General Education (Zambia) introduced subject specialisation at primary school. However, researchers have not yet sufficiently interrogated the concepts and modalities of subject specialisation at the primary school level to build a basis for an informed position and implementation. The paper aimed to review the literature and international practice relevant to subject specialisation at the primary school level. Interpretive techniques were applied while conducting secondary data analyses. The review established that there were different models of specialisation in education. There were also mixed experiences of subject specialisation in teaching and learning at primary school levels from the countries accessed. Nonetheless, intentional narrowed practice tended to contribute to the competent delivery of service in education. The paper, thus, welcomed differentiated types of specialisation based on school circumstances, learner grade level, staff numbers and teaching ...
Journal of Curriculum and Teaching
The Ministry of General Education (Zambia) introduced subject specialisation at primary school. H... more The Ministry of General Education (Zambia) introduced subject specialisation at primary school. However, researchers have not yet sufficiently interrogated the concepts and modalities of subject specialisation at the primary school level to build a basis for an informed position and implementation. The paper aimed to review the literature and international practice relevant to subject specialisation at the primary school level. Interpretive techniques were applied while conducting secondary data analyses. The review established that there were different models of specialisation in education. There were also mixed experiences of subject specialisation in teaching and learning at primary school levels from the countries accessed. Nonetheless, intentional narrowed practice tended to contribute to the competent delivery of service in education. The paper, thus, welcomed differentiated types of specialisation based on school circumstances, learner grade level, staff numbers and teaching ...
24th March , 2019
The study explored social studies student teachers' views on the implementation of learner-centre... more The study explored social studies student teachers' views on the implementation of learner-centred teaching and learning approach in Zambian primary schools. Triangulation research design which collected both quantitative and qualitative data was used. This involved survey questionnaires which were distributed to 600 third year student teachers who were randomly sampled from 6 primary colleges of education using class registers provided by respective college registrars. Out of 600 questionnaires, 561 were returned back representing a return rate of 93.5%. Face to face interviews were also conducted with student teachers who were conveniently sampled from three colleges. The total students who participated in the interviews were 21. The interviews collected detailed qualitative narratives regarding student teachers' experience with implementation of learner-centred approach. The findings of this study pointed to the fact that the policy emphasis on using learner-centred approach in the teaching learning process has not really taken off in Zambian Primary Schools.Most student teachers reported that the traditional teacher led classrooms still dominate and characterise classroom in primary schools. A number of challenges ranging from low literacy levels, over enrolments (high number of pupils per class), inadequate time allocated per subject lesson per day, and lack of teaching and learning materials were cited for the non-implementation of leaner-centred approaches. The teachers however expressed positive attitude towards learner-centred approach citing among other benefits promotion of learner participation, improved retention of knowledge among learners, development of problem solving skills, motivation of learners and ownership of the learning process by learners. Since the fundamental goal of teaching social studies through learner-centred approach in schools is to help students become responsible, critical, reflective, and active citizens who can make informed and reasoned decisions about the societal issues confronting the local, state, and global community respectively (Yilmaz, 2008), the study concluded that the views of primary teachers did not inspire the realisation of this goal. The study recommends school based programmes aimed at capacity building on how apply learner-centred methods in classroom situations with high numbers of pupils and low literacy levels among other deterrent factors.
The study explored student teachers' self-efficacy beliefs about Inductive Teaching Learning Meth... more The study explored student teachers' self-efficacy beliefs about Inductive Teaching Learning Methods. These are Inquiry teaching, Problem-based teaching, Project-based, Field work, and Survey. Concurrent triangulation research design was used. Participants included both third year pre-service and in-service student teachers and were randomly sampled from 6 primary colleges of education. Survey questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data. Ethical issues including obtaining permission from college authorities and consent from participants were adhered to. SPSS version 23 was used to analyse the quantitative data by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analysed along the study objectives by identifying common themes that emerged from participants' narratives. The study found low self-efficacy beliefs among student teachers regarding inductive teaching methods. There was also no significant difference between pre-service and in-service student teachers in self-efficacy beliefs on the five selected inductive teaching methods. In line with the findings, the following were recommended. Teacher preparation should prepare students in inductive methods if governments' policy shift from positivist oriented teaching (teacher-centred) to constructivist based teaching and learning is to be translated into practice in classrooms. There is also need to allocate more time to pedagogical teaching and learning experiences in colleges of education and to limit classroom enrolments because this emerged as one of the contributing factor to student teachers not being given enough opportunities to practice how to teach and was also a factor that compromised time allocated to students during practices and experiences meant to enhance their pedagogical knowledge and skills.
This study investigated the preparation level, survival skills, and entrepreneurial knowledge amo... more This study investigated the preparation level, survival skills, and entrepreneurial knowledge among retired teachers in Zambia, as well as the success of their post-retirement business ventures. Descriptive survey design utilising both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed through use of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Convenient and purposive sampling techniques were utilised in sampling. The conclusion shows that most retired teachers lack survival and entrepreneurial skills to manage their business ventures. Lack of pre-retirement entrepreneurial training, lack of pre-retirement counselling, and poor planning for retirement life were found to be the major hindrances to retired teachers' success in managing their business ventures. The article points to the need for major reforms in teacher training and in pensions scheme policies in Zambia to accommodate issues of financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills among teachers as a way of preparing teachers and other civil servants for life after formal employment.
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Papers by Robinson Mambwe