Exploration of education and training of records and archives management staff in the public sector organisations of Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

This study was based on the education and training of records and archives management staff in the public sector organisations of Lusaka, Zambia. The population of the study was drawn from four government institutions in Lusaka. The main purpose of the study was to assess the level of records management training for the records management staff in Lusaka, Zambia. Specifically, the study assessed the level of educational training in records management assessed the knowledge levels of records management of the participants and looked at the challenges encountered in the management of records and archives by public sector organisations. A survey approach was adopted for this study and employed a quantitative approach. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the 60 participants. Data were gathered using closed-ended questionnaires and analysed statistically using Statistical Package for Social Science 23.0 (SPSS).The following findings came out of the study:65% of the participants had not attended formal training in records and archive management; 55% of the participants were not very conversant in the management of records and archives; and, finally, the study revealed that 66% of the participants encountered challenges, which included a lack of support from management, a lack of knowledge on how to appraise records and how to design the records retention and disposition schedule. However,34% of the respondents did not encounter any challenges. The study concluded by recommending what should be done to mitigate the identified challenges, such as management should facilitate further training for the members of staff managing records and archives, create more storage space for records and ensure that policies on records and archives management are updated regularly.