Towards the development of African psychometric tests

A research paper on the development of Psychometric Tests for Africa.Test development and psychometric principles are among the more difficult topics for Psychology students in Africa. In this article, a look at how psychometric tests designed in Western countries and used in African countries is made. Thirty six masters degree students from past educational psychology programmes were given an assignment to develop a psychometric test to replace the WISC-R using African cultural norms. The students were asked to conceptualise tests, write items, administer the tests, perform item analysis on the data, and calculate the instruments' reliability and validity. At the end they came up with a draft psychometric instrument to replace the WISC-R which was to be finalized and pilot-tested on a sample of2000pupils aged between 12 and 13 years which is in keeping with international best practices. The success of the adapted WISC-R, which was named the ZIPE lest, would determine further adaptations of other psychometric instruments such as Personality, Aptitude and Interest Inventories

Pupil Assessment Techniques in Zimbabwe's secondary schools (1984-1987)

A ZJER article on pupil assessment techniques/methods in Zimbabwe's secondary schools in the period 1984-1987.Interview and questionnaire data from 334 teachers and 100 school and department heads in 48 Zimbabwean secondary schools were used to determine current assessment practices, attitudes toward assessment alternatives and the impact of staff training in pupil assessment. The research was organized in three phases: 1. interviews and questionnaires to determine existing assessment practice in schools; 2. a training and evaluation programme for teachers and heads in schools identified as showing poor practice; and 3. another survey in both ‘good practice’ and 'bad practice’ schools to establish present thinking and attitudes towards psychometric testing with a view to disseminating useful information to other schools

A Comparison In Performance Between Mature Entry Students And Traditional (A-Level) Entry Students At The University Of Zimbabwe

A ZJER article on the comparison between mature students and youthful students.The degree results of Business Studies and Law students who had entered the University of Zimbabwe through ‘mature entry' between 1990 and 1999 were compared with those of students who had entered university through the traditional A-level entry route. These students were matched for sex and the subjects studied. No significant differences were found for age or sex. The conclusion drawn from these results is that since there was no interaction between the two variables of mature entry and traditional entry there is no difference in performance between mature entry students and (traditional) A-level entry students at the University of Zimbabwe

Education For All: Towards Inclusive Education Policy Development In Zimbabwe

A ZJER article on inclusive education.In this paper, the author discusses his understanding of inclusive education and suggests various ways in which it may be demystified. It is argued that the inclusive education policy in Zimbabwe should take into account the needs of all marginalized, socially disadvantaged and oppressed pupils. Furthermore, the author argues that the Zimbabwe education system should-take heed, of the Salamanca Statement, and enroll all the children in mainstream classrooms, while providing appropriate teacher-training for would-be-teachers

Celebrating 60 years of university expansion in Zimbabwe

A research paper on university education expansion in Zimbabwe during the period 1956 to 2016.In the spirit of celebrating Zimbabwe’s higher education and the inspiration coming from the University of Zimbabwe, the country's first university, which is currently enjoying 60 years of existence since its inception, this article focuses on the history of university expansion throughout Zimbabwe. In recent years, expansion of university education has been widespread throughout Africa despite the significant economic demands and constraints such expansion places upon government budgets. Both cases for and against university expansion are compelling. This paper examines the rising tide of university expansion, giving the argument supporting and opposing such a move from economic, social, and political points of view. The need for a national dialogue on the future of tertiary education is suggested in the conclusion

An Investigation into Sleeping Patterns of Blind Children

|A ZJER investigation into the sleeping patterns of blind children.Ten congenitally blind primary school children aged between 7 and 12 years were investigated and observed for a reduction or absence of photic input to the hypothalamus, which is required to entrain circadian rhythms which may lead to sleeping problems. As it was not dear whether sleeping problems are associated with blindness per se. Other characteristics of the pupils and their social environment were taken into account. A group of 10 matched controls were observed. Interviews were conducted with parents and teachers of the 10 congenitally blind pupils, together with the matched controls. An interview schedule and self-report measures were used to collect information about the nature arid type of sleep problems experienced by the children in this study, the parents ’ acceptance of their blind child, marital satisfaction, social support and parental stress. The study revealed that light has a significant role to p!ay as an entrainment mechanism of circadian rhythms which have an effect on the quality of sleep. Results are discussed with reference to the application of a behavioral intervention approach (for example, a balanced diet, social support from both teachers and parents) with a view to improving sleeping problems in blind children

Experimental Substance Use Among Rural And Urban Teenagers In Zimbabwe

A Journal Article.A total of2000 randomly selected teenagers of both sexes from 40 urban and rural schools responded to questionnaire items which assessed attitudes, influence and experience with alcohol, mbanje (marijuana), inhalants and other drugs. The differences in behavior attitude and experience between rural and urban teenagers were determined through the use of the chi-square and t-tests. Initial results showed that 93% of the 2000respondents had had some experience with substance use. Frequencies of experience with the more sophisticated drugs and western-style alcoholic drinks were consistently higher among urban teenagers than among rural teenagers, but no differences in attitude, behavior and experience with substance were observed at the 0, 05 level between the two groups. A follow-up study with a substance education package designed for prevention and/or intervention of substance use was administered two months later to 50 per cent of the same teenagers, while the other 50 per cent acted as controls. Re-administration of the questionnaire after six months again showed no significant change in attitude, behavior and experience despite the fact that 50% of the pupils had received a substance education programme. Implications for identifying adolescents "at risk” and the tailoring of stronger prevention/intervention efforts are addressed