Effectiveness of Private Secondary Schools in Mutare Urban Educational District, Of Manicaland in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study was designed to examine stakeholders’ views on the mushrooming of private secondary schools in Mutare. Very little investigation has so far been done on this problem by universities, hence the researcher decided to seek answers on the question how and why they has been a rapid mushrooming of private secondary schools. A sample of 45 participants was used to collect information. Data collection was mainly through the questionnaire sent to 45 respondents made up of principals and teachers in 5 private secondary schools in Mutare Urban. Interviews were carried out with a District Staffing Officer. The data collected was organized into tables, pie charts and bar graphs. The results were expressed as percentages to facilitate adequate interpretation and discussion of the results. Conclusions from the study revealed that weak and dubious Educational Policies in Zimbabwe excited the mushrooming of private secondary schools. Major in adequacies at the private colleges were the poor or insufficient physical resources for teaching, and learning materials like desks, chalks, buildings, and libraries were general of low standards and the general absence of sporting and recreational facilities. Recommendations are that private secondary schools should continue to give opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills and that private secondary schools should be registered, monitored and regulated with the Ministry of Education, Sport, Art and Culture. They must also be monitored and regulated by the government of Zimbabwe and not left unchecked to plunder and short change their resources.