A Survey of Secondary School Pupils' Vocational and Technical Subjects Preferences in the Makonde District of Zimbabwe.

Abstract

The study was conducted to establish secondary school pupils' vocational and technical subject preferences, factors accounting for preference distribution and the extent to which schools are meeting pupils' preferences. A descriptive survey was employed to collect data from a purposive sample of eight schools. A sample of 640 pupils drawn from forms one to four responded to questionnaires and interviews held at their schools. The study revealed that pupils preferred the following vocational and technical subjects: Computer Studies, Fashion and Fabrics, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Wood-work, Building Studies, Metalwork, Technical Drawing, and Art. The majority of schools are offering Fashion and Fabrics, Agriculture, Building and only one school offers Metalwork. Pupils' ranking of subjects is influenced by employment opportunities attached to the subject combinations. 9.4% of the respondents were not doing any vocational/technical subject contrary to Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture Circular Number 3 of 2002. Schools are not meeting pupils' vocational and technical subjects' preferences due to non-availability of preferred subjects or imposition of vocational and technical subjects on students. The study recommends a national survey on pupils' subject preferences and a decentralised vocational curriculum encompassing pupils' preferences.