Perceptions of Teachers on the Removal of School Fees: A Study of Selected Secondary Schools of Kapiri Mposhi District

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the teachers’ perceptions on the removal of school fees in the secondary schoolsof Kapiri Mposhi district in Central province. The study was guided by the following research objectives: to find out the teachers’ perceptions on the removal of school fees in the selected secondary schools of Kapiri Mposhi district, to analyse the benefits of removing school fees in the selected secondary schools of Kapiri Mposhi district, to explore views on challenges due to the removal of school fees in the selected secondary schools of Kapiri Mposhi district and to suggest measures on challenges due to the removal of schools fees in the selected secondary schools of Kapiri Mposhi district. The study employed both the qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect, integrate and analyze data. The study utilized descriptive research design. The target population were subject teachers and school heads of departments from the five selected secondary schools. The sample size for the study was 40 respondents. Purposive sampling was used to select heads of departments. The research instruments used in the study were questionnaires and interview guides. Data was collected through questionnaire and interview methods. Content analysis was used to analyse collected data. The study shows that that the removal of school fees in schools lead to an increase in class sizes, lead to an incease of the school overall enrolment, lead to shortages of classrooms and compromise the lead to poor academic performance among learners. The removal of school fees would lead to reduction of learners’ dropouts in secondary schools. contribute to reduction of financial burdens among parents, lead to equal access to education in society, reduce the financial challenges on schools as schools are paid by government at once and the removal of school fees would lead minimize of absenteeism among learners.