Understanding the Quality of Education and Support Services Received by Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Epworth/ Mabvuku/Tafara Public Primary Schools in Harare (2018 to 2022)

Abstract

The study sought to unearth the quality of education and support services received by orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Epworth, Mabvuku, Tafara public primary schools in Harare.The study adopted a qualitative phenomenological approach in which phenomenological research design was also used to study OVC in public primary schools in their natural settings. The population for the study comprised OVC in schools, school heads teachers and counselors. From this population, a sample of one hundred participants was purposively selected. Data was collected from the participants in ten sampled public primary schools through in-depth interviews with school heads, teachers and also through focus group discussions with OVC in schools. Interpretative phenomenology analysis was used to analyse data. The findings of the study revealed that the participants were not aware of critical child-related policies and international instruments. The study further revealed that public primary schools’ capacity to cater for the needs of OVC in schools was regarded ineffective by participants due to factors that in clouded in adequate financial, human and material resources. This inadequacy was manifest in the lack of professional school counsellors, teaching-learning materials, staff development workshops funds to initiate school-based projects aimed at assisting OVC and lack of comprehensive school-feeding programmes. Those factors compromised the quality of education and support services for OVC in public primary schools. The study recommends that the government should increase funds allocated for the BEAM programme in order to cater for more OVC in schools. It is further recommended that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should revive the School Psychological Services Department by making sure that it is well-staffed and adequately funded to effectively carry out its responsibilities of assisting orphan and vulnerable children who face psychological problems.