Educational Research (ISSN: 2141-5161) Vol. 6(2) pp. 31-38, March, 2015
DOI: http:/dx.doi.org/10.14303/er.2015.11
Available online@ http://www.interesjournals.org/ER
Copyright © 2015 International Research Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of the Attitude of Teachers and Students
towards Learner Centred Pedagogy in Secondary
Schools in Kilimanjaro Region
Victorini Salema, PhD
Mwenge Catholic University, Faculty of Education, P.0. Box 1226, Moshi, Tanzania
E: mail: victorini_salema@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This study was to assess the attitude of teachers and students on implementation of Learner Centred
Pedagogy (LCP) in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in
Tanzania revised the curriculum in 2009 and adopted LCP. Learner centred pedagogy emphasizes the
active role of learners in the process of learning to enhance creativity and critical thinking in acquiring
knowledge, skills, and competencies. This study focused to explore the attitude of teachers and
students towards the application of LCP in public and private secondary schools in Kilimanjaro region.
The researcher adopted mixed research methods for data collection and analysis. This study sampled
580 students, 115 teachers. Data collection instruments were questionnaires, in-depth interview guides
and observation guide. The findings indicated that the general attitude means scores for teachers was
3.38 and for students were 3.72 to indicate that both students and teachers had positive attitude
towards the implementation of LCP. Teachers in public schools have low attitude mean scores
compared to their counterparts private secondary school teachers.There was a significant difference
between the attitude mean scores of teachers and students on the implementation of learners centered
pedagogy in secondary schools in Kilimanjaro region. Moreover, the findings indicated that there was
no significant differences between attitudes mean scores of teachers based on their years of
experience. There was statistically significant difference between the attitude mean scores of students
in private and public secondary schools on the implementation of learner centred pedagogy.This study
recommends that all stakeholders of education to make provisions for proper implementation of LCP.
These may range from provision of adequate resources, in-service training of teachers and motivation
of teachers and students on the application of LCP.
Keywords: Pedagogy, attitude, learner, centeredness.
INTRODUCTION
The Tanzania Development Vision 2025 focused on five
important areas of concern namely: high quality
livelihood; peace, stability and unity; good governance; a
well educated and learning society and finally a strong
and competitive economy. The Tanzania Development
Vision 2025 accords high priority to the education sector,
so as to impact positively on the economic development
of the country. From the document it is stated:
Education should be treated as a strategic agent for
mind-set transformation and for the creation of a well-
educated nation, sufficiently equipped with the knowledge
needed to competently and competitively solve the
development challenges which face the Nation. In this
light, the education system should be restructured and
transformed qualitatively with a focus on promoting
creativity and problem solving (United Republic of
Tanzania, 2008).
As a reaction to the implementation of Vision 2025, the
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT)
had to review the former curriculum to ensure that it
addresses the broad national Vision. Moreover, the
Ministry had to consider external changes in educational
approaches and theories that were taking place all over
the world. The influence of globalization has caused the