Evaluating Impact of the Quality Learning Environment Model Implemented by Save the Children to Hwange District Rural Primary Schools in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe to Promote Quality Education

Evaluating the impact of Quality Learning Environment Model implemented by SAVE the Children to Hwange District rural primary schools in Matabeleland North Province to promote quality education.

Abstract:

The study sought to evaluate the impact of the Quality Learning Environment Model implemented by Save the Children to  selected rural primary impact schools in Hwange District in Matabeleland North Province in Zimbabwe as a way of creating a quality learning environment and improving the quality of education offered and produce the desired learning outcomes. The implementation of the Quality Learning Environment (QLE) Model which is based on five guiding principles  strives towards creating a  quality  learning  environment where teachers and learners can enjoy working together harmoniously to achieve a better academic performance. As a way of implementing the Quality Learning Environment Model, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education came up with a decentralised structures in selected districts in Zimbabwe so as to scale up this intervention strategy to promote quality education. Hwange District was selected as one  of the district in Zimbabwe  where theQuality Learning Environment model was implemented. Training was done at district level which included the District Schools Inspector, the District focal person and other district personnel on these  intervention  strategies. The DSI  and the district  focal  person  further conducted workshops which targeted the heads of schools and school focal persons from each selected rural impact schools and a representative from the School DevelopmentCommittees from the selected rural impact schools. These in turn conducted their own workshops at school level targeting teachers, learners and parents from the selected rural impact primary schools. The study employed a mixed method approach to collect both qualitative and quantitative data; therefore, the researcher found the use of questionnaires, interviews and content analysis as ideal data collection instruments for the study. The findings  indicated  that  selected schools still perform  poorly in the national examinations despite the interventions implemented. Schools were struggling to fully meet the demands of the model because of lack of financial resources and economic challenges currently prevailing in the country and that has continued to have set backs on the efforts already made and on the quality of education offered. Some teachers did not fully comprehend and contextualise the requirements of the model and lacked the knowledge and skills on how to put them into practice. Lack of motivation on the part teachers because of poor remuneration stalled the effective implementation of the interventions put in place. Parental involvement in school activities is still a challenge in most selected schools. Lack of monitoring and evaluation systems in schools have made it difficult for the already finished projects to long live to their standards. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was found not to be doing enough to complement the efforts and interventions strategies put in place by theSave the Children in these selected impact schools.

Key words: Quality learning environment, quality, quality learning environment model, quality education, rural primary school, teachers, learners, interventions.