An assessment of learners' appreciation of spiritual and moral values in social development studies in selected primary schools in Kafue District in Zambia

The study sought to assess learners’ appreciation of Spiritual and Moral values in Social
and Development Studies with particular focus on upper primary school learners. The
research objectives were to: explain the nature of current primary school Religious
Education; establish what is covered in primary school Religious Education which is a
component of Social and Development Studies; and assess the effectiveness of the
Religious Education component of Social and Development Studies in promoting
awareness and appreciation of spiritual and moral values among primary school learners.
The research design adopted for this study was descriptive design. The sample size
necessary to achieve the objectives of the study consisted of 105 elements. The sampling
procedure used comprised a combination of systematic sampling procedure, simple
random sampling, and judgmental or purposive sampling procedure Primary data was
collected using structured observation, projective techniques, interviews and content
analysis. The method used to collect secondary data consisted of desk research.
The major findings were that only few spiritual and moral value items were mentioned
without explanation in the teaching and learning materials; the few values mentioned in
the teaching and learning materials were not recognisable as spiritual and moral value
items by both the teachers and learners; upper primary school curriculum content
contained spiritual and moral education but teachers did not know that they were spiritual
and moral education topics.
In the light of the results of the study, the researcher recommended that the curriculum
should clearly state that a particular topic is spiritual or moral education to enable
teachers have an understanding of the various composite Religious Educational topics
they are teaching.