Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies: Home

Article Title: A Comparative Analysis of Performance of Satellite Primary Schools and their Mother Schools in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe
by Hlupo, Takesure and Tsikira, Joseph

Abstract:
The research sought to compare performance of Grade seven pupils at six satellites schools with that of six mother schools in Mwenezi District. The researchers used a survey in which questionnaires were administered to a sample of eighty respondents which comprised of six Heads of mother schools, six Teachers-in-Charge (TICs) of the satellite schools, thirty four teachers at mother schools and the other thirty four teachers at the satellite schools. Interviews were also extended to the school Heads, TICs and to one school development committee representative from each of the satellite schools. The researchers used a t-test to determine if there was any significant difference in performance between the satellite schools and their respective mother schools. Indeed, a marked difference was found to exist owing to a host of variables ranging from teachers' morale, location of the satellite school, lack of standardised infrastructure and the general attitude of parents. It is recommended that the State gives immediate attention to addressing the disparities. Furthermore, it must demonstrate unequivocally that it is determined to prioritise education at satellite schools by providing meaningful per-capita grants, working hand in glove with donors and re-introducing rural allowance to boost morale of teachers at satellite schools. Hot sitting has to be eradicated through adopting prefabricated buildings which are affordable. There is need to establish viable early childhood centres manned by competent professional teachers so as to build a strong foundation for the learners to abridge the performance gap between mother schools and satellite schools.

Keywords: satellite school, mother schools, teachers, performance gap, Mwenezi district,

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