Ensuring Quality Provision of Education for All: Discovering Challenges Faced by Teachers of Students with Learning Disabilities in Regular Primary Schools in Masvingo District

Abstract

This study investigates challenges faced by teachers of students with learning disabilities in regular classes in primary schools in Masvingo district. From global perspectives, it is argued that for quality teaching and learning of learners, all teachers need to possess the necessary pedagogical knowledge and skills to meet the individual needs of each learner. This was a mixed methods study. Purposeful sampling was employed to get participants across the district, who participated by responding to closed and open-ended questionnaires, through focus groups or in interviews. The major findings of the research were that teachers lack knowledge and professional competency of teaching the students with learning disabilities in regular classes. Schools do not have enough resources like textbooks for quality teaching of students with learning disabilities and this is a major challenge to teachers. Parents have negative attitudes towards their children with learning disabilities and do not assist them to do homework, do not provide them with learning resources at home and schools and do not consult the teachers on the learning progress of their children. The Ministry of Education has to inject some funds in order to run workshops to equip all teachers with the requisite skills for handling students with learning disabilities in regular classes. Teachers’ colleges should have special needs education as a major component of their curriculum in order to equip teachers with pedagogical knowledge and skills in handling such learners. Through parents’ meetings, school heads should instil positive attitudes in parents so that they provide their children with all forms of help that promote effective learning. School heads and school development committees need to source for teaching and learning resources in order to make it easier for teachers to perform their work. School leadership should run staff development and in-service training workshops to assist teachers to gain necessary skills in teaching learners with learning disabilities.