Stakeholders' perceptions about the infusion of Secondary School Teaching subjects in the adult education programme at the University of Zambia

At the time of independence government considered Adult Education as a tool to address the great challenges of human resource that it needed in its quest to Zambianise the public sector. The Lockwood Committee recommended the establishment of the University of Zambia and urged for the introduction of Adult Education. Therefore, the Department of Adult Education and Extension Studies was established in 1967.
This study was aimed at investigating and analyzing the stakeholders’ perceptions regarding the infusion of Secondary School Teaching Subjects in the Adult Education Programme at the University of Zambia. It addressed three objectives which included exploring the meanings of Adult Education among stakeholders, determining stakeholder’s perceptions about the infusion of Secondary School Teaching Subjects in the Adult Education programme and to establish the stakeholder’s suppositions regarding the infusion of Secondary School Teaching Subjects at the University of Zambia. The study had five categories of the population and these are University of Zambia Lecturers in the Department of Adult Education and extension Studies, graduates of the Bachelor of Adult Education degree of the University of Zambia, Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (MESVTEE), the Ministry of Tradition and Chiefs Affairs and Non-Governmental programme officers. The study sample was 150.
For the purpose of obtaining data that was accurate, the researcher used both qualitative and quantitative approaches (triangulation) although the qualitative approach was used mostly. To obtain data, a descriptive survey method was employed in which a questionnaire and an interview guide were used. In order to achieve the study objectives, questionnaires were administered to students whereas, interviews were conducted among Lecturers, Staff from Government Departments, Non-Governmental Organizations and graduates. Quantitative data were analyzed using tables and pie charts whereas, qualitative data were coded and analyzed using themes.
The findings of the study revealed that there was no standard definition for the term Adult Education and that it was an issue of debate among stakeholders and scholars. On the perceptions regarding the infusion in the Adult Education Programme at the University of Zambia, it was established that it was as a result of pressure from graduates of Adult Education on MESVTEE to be employed. MESVTEE mounted pressure on the Department of Adult Education and Extension Studies at the University of Zambia to introduce teaching subjects on the programme. However, other discoveries were that the infusion had contradicted the principles of Adult Education. On the suppositions regarding the infusion, stakeholders indicated both positive and negative attributes.
Based on the revelations of the study, the following recommendations were underscored: Firstly, MESVTEE should be sensitized on what Adult Education is for them to appreciate it and thereafter, employ, promote and re-assess graduates of Adult Education without teaching subjects. Secondly, graduates of Adult Education must not look at MESVTEE as their main employer because the Department of Adult Education and Extension Studies does not train teachers but Adult Educators.