The impact of high teacher pupil ratio in rural and peri-urban government schools in Goromonzi District in Mashonaland East Province.

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to assess the impact of high teacher pupil ratio in rural and peri urban government schools in Goromonzi district in Mashonaland province. The objectives of this study were (a) to establish if the recommended teacher pupil ratio exists in rural and peri urban government schools,(b)to determine whether high teacher pupil ratio influences performance of pupils in rural and peri urban government primary schools,(c)to identify the major challenges faced in the maintaining of the recommended teacher pupil ratio in rural ad peri urban government primary schools,(d)to suggest measures that can be put in place to attain the ideal teacher pupil ratio in primary schools,(e)to assess the impact of high teacher pupil ratio on performance in national examinations. The study targeted 70 public primary schools in the District, in which a total of 2 peri urban and 3 rural schools were sampled for the study. Purposive sampling design was used as the research design for the study. The questionnaires were administered to all heads, grade 7 teachers of sampled school and district personnel. Piloting of the research instruments was conducted prior to the actual data collection to determine the validity and reliability of the tools. Research permit was obtained from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mashonaland East Provincial office and Goromonzi District office .The data collected was processed and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The relationship between teacher pupil ratio and performance was worked using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient, the value r calculated was -0, 53.this negative correlation between teacher pupil ratio and performance indicated that as teacher pupil ratio increases performance decreases and vice vesa. The study recommended to the government to employ more teachers to schools with lower pupil teacher ratio and ease workload. It also recommended to the government to fund schools adequately and to ensure equity distribution of teachers where teacher pupil ratio is high.