MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

NAME : CHIGURU ROSEMARY

REG. NO. : R1811308B

MODE OF ENTRY : HARARE VISITING

LEVEL : 2.2

DEGREE PROGRAM : BCOM IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

TOPIC: An investigation into challenges facing poor performance of the girl child in
Ordinary Level Metal work subject in Zimbabwe. Case study: Kuwadzana High School,
Harare.

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CONTENTS

Working title………………………………………………………. 3
Introduction…………………………………………………………3
Background of study……………………………………………….. 3
Statement of the problem…………………………………………... 4
Statement of hypothesis……………………………………………. 4
Research objectives…………………………………………………4.
Research questions……………………………………………….....5
Significance of study………………………………………………. 5
Delimitations………………………………………………………..5
Limitations………………………………………………………….6
Research assumption………………………………………………..6
Definition of key terms…………………………………………….. 6
Preliminary literature review………………………………………..7
Research design……………………………………………………. 7
Work plan………………………………………………………….. 8
Referencing………………………………………………………… 10

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1. Work Title

An investigation into the challenges causing poor performance of the girl child in Ordinary
Level Metal work in Zimbabwe –Case study Kuwadzana High 1

2. Introduction

Metal is a very important subject as it equips students with necessary technical skills they can
use in future as a means of bringing bread on the table. The research will aim at investigating the
causes of poor performance at Ordinary Level Metalwork by a girl child. Areas to be covered in
this proposal include Background of the problem, Statement of problem, Statement of
hypothesis, Research objectives, Research questions, Significance of the study, Delimitations,
Limitations, Research Assumptions, Preliminary literature Review, Research design and Work
plan.

3. Background to the Study

Education is an essential aspect all over the world. This is viewed differently due to factors like
levels of social status. The subjects offered at school can be viewed differently which definitely
will affect the performance of the students [Gora, 2013]. Education should fulfil the demands
and aspirations of populace to have children educated and emerged from poverty into improved
livelihood [Dumisani 2013] .The presidential commission of enquiry headed by Nziramasanga
[1999] says the state is required to change and innovate its educational curriculum. Ndava [2012]
states that for any curriculum to remain relevant to the people it serves, it has to continue to serve
the needs and interest of the people. Practical subjects like Metalwork formed a part of the core
curriculum with learners being offered to select one depending on what the school can be able to
offer. Practical subjects should be compulsory for all learners so as to attach technical skills that
will not cause them to look for employment after completion of studies but to be self employed

At Kuwadzana High 1 School there are six practical subjects offered which are Metalwork,
Agriculture Woodwork, Building, Fashion and fabrics and Food and nutrition drop the .The
researcher observed that they were very few girl doing Metalwork subjects. Some learners opt to
drop the subject or sought permission from the school authority to be transferred to other
practical subjects. From the researcher’s assessment, it was noted that when enrolling forms 1,
the school administration asked pupils to select one practical subject of their choice from those

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offered by the school. Very few girls chose metal work. The school authorities will be forced to
use their powers to force the girls to do the subjects and they will later drop them as they
continue with their studies. Poor attendance was witnessed and some will skip practical lessons
saying it is hard and tough citing difficulties due to their body building nature.

The researcher noted with disappointment that some girls were seen using delaying tactics when
it is lesson time for metal work. In other times the teachers have to look for the students to attend
the lessons. Their performance is low in both tests and exercises and they do not take their
homework seriously and continue complaining saying it’s a boy’s subject. Due to negative
attitudes towards the subject and lack of interest, the girls took time to master the concepts and
apply the skills being taught hence producing poor quality projects and failure to complete
assigned projects on time which contributed to the coursework of the final mark in the ordinary
level result. The researcher was then interested in carrying out the research so as to find out why
girls performed poorly and how the situation can be improved.

4. Statement of the problem

For the foregoing analysis, it seems there is no scholarly research on the causes of poor
performance by girls in metal work at Ordinary level that has been attempted. Therefore to be
able to respond to the causes of poor performance, it is instructive to investigate and understand
the causes of poor performance by answering the following question, what causes the girl child
to perform poorly in metal work at Ordinary level.

5. Statement of hypothesis

A hypothesis is a research statement that depicts the relationship between two or more variables.
According to Prada 1999, hypothesis can also be described as a testable prediction about what is
expected to happen in a study and can be derived from the conceptual framework, hence this
study is thus designed to assess hypothesis that challenges affect the performance of the girl
child doing metal work subject.

6. Research objectives

1. To assess the challenges affecting performance of girls in metal work at ordinary level
2. To identify factors that hinders the performance of girls in metal work at ordinary level

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 3. To establish ways of improving the performance of girls in metal work at ordinary level
4. To identify the challenges being faced by girls when doing their practical lessons, theory
lessons and home work

7. Research questions

1. What hinders the performance of girls in metal work subject at ordinary level?
2. What are the possible solutions and suggestions which are available to improve the
performance of girls

8. Significance of study

The study is expected to contribute in the following ways;

 The research will contribute and benefit quite a number of people as well as the Ministry
of education. Firstly it will benefit the researcher as it will shade more light and increase
the knowledge as well as sharpen and improve the researcher’s skills on data collection as
well as analysis of data.
 The research will also contribute to the department of Commerce Business management
at MSU hence contributing to the body of knowledge.
 It will also be used by other scholars as a reference point and benefit other scholars on
ways and methods on how they can improve their research as well.
 To the academics, this research will help in opening further research on how to empower
a girl child to take up courses such as Engineering.
 The research will also benefit many school as well as the community to improve the areas
such as social status, gender studies and provide them with insights on how they can
improve their contribution as well as reasons on why they should contribute to the good
performance of the girl child.
 The research will also be relevant to the Government education policy as it will provide
information that will be relevant to the new curriculum.

9. Delimitation

The research will be carried out in Harare at Kuwadzana 1 High School. The research will
involve the ordinary level girls who are of mixed ability groups who do metal subject, the Head

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of metal work department, teachers who teach metal work, the School Head and the
administration staff involved in the enrolling of the students. The research will be carried out
from 2018 to 2021.

10. Limitations

 Gathering of data could be delayed when some of the participants might not be available
at the needed time, for example, metal work teachers and Heads attending to other school
business or social problems. This can slow down the data collection process.
 Dishonesty is also another limitation as some respondents might have a tendency of
twisting information to their desired effect.
 Again it is also the researcher’s first research work hence the issue of experience is
another limitation.
 The collection of secondary data will be difficult as the school may try to protect its
confidential information

11. Research assumptions

It is assumed that respondents to questionnaires will be honest and truthful when completing
them

12. Definition of terms

Girl child – a young immature woman, a female child under the age of 18 years.

Learner – refers to a person who is studying a subject or a skill

Performance – this refers to accomplishing a given task

Practical – refers to actual doing or use of something rather than with theory

Secondary school level – is a level which follows after a learner finishes a primary level.

Gender roles – refers to tasks, responsibilities and activities that one does or is given by society
because one is a male or female.

Investigate – examine the facts

Education – the process of teaching, training or learning

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13. Preliminary literature review

The purpose of this chapter is to shade more light on conceptual and theoretical frame work in
which the study is based on. It is going to dwell mainly on the literature that has been provided
by earlier authors in relation to the research topic and find possible factors contributing towards
the girls’ performance. This chapter will provides literature around the participation of girl child
in Metalwork subject. It then details the education system in Zimbabwe and the main goals of the
new curriculum. It will also focus on the main obstacles faced by girls when doing Metalwork
activities which maybe as a results of gender roles ,negative influence from parents and
society, lack of qualified personal in the classroom, poor resources allocation by Ministry of
education, lack of motivation and no role models.

14. Research Design

This study is going to adopt a descriptive research design. A descriptive study is concerned with
determining the frequency with which something occurs or the relationship the relationship
between variables [Bryman and Bell, 2003] In this case the research problems were the
challenges affecting the performance of the girl child doing Metalwork subject in
Zimbabwe .Thus this approach will be appropriate for this study as it will help to describe the
state of affairs as they existed without manipulation of the variables.

14.1 Population and Sampling

Kasambira (1993 defines population as a group of individuals or item that share on or more
characteristics from which data can be gathered and analyzed. The target population is the
specific population about which information is desired. The population of interest in this study
are at Kuwadzana High 1 School in Zimbabwe. The respondents in this study are going to be
the Ordinary Level girls doing Metalwork, subject practitioners ,administration staff only
involved in the enrollment of learners Departmental head and the school head.

14.2 Data Collection

Primary and secondary data are to be used in this study. The researcher will seek permission
from the school authorities to carry out the study. Secondary data is very important because it

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provides first-hand information on the challenges discussed in preliminary literature
review .Primary data is to be gathered using questionnaire and interviews. The questionnaire are
going to be administered through drop and pick some will be distributed to respondents by
hand ,this is going to be used for clarification on some of questions probing

14.3 Data Analysis

Before processing the responses, the completed questionnaires will be edited for completeness
consistency. Quantitative data to be collected is going to be analyzed by use of descriptive
statistics and interpreted in line with the study objectives.

15. Work Plan

According to researcher‘s understanding, work plan shows the allocation of each research
activity and thus includes a budget for every research activity. As the researcher l planned to
conduct my research as follows;

15.1 PLAN

TARGET START COMPLETION

DATE DATE

Finding the library with all sources of March 2020 March 2020
information
Introduction & background April 2020 June 2020
Research design June 2020 August 2020
Methodology August 2020 November 2020
Finding & Recommendations December December 2020
2020
Conclusions January 2021 March 2021
Submission of final research April 2021 April 2021

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15.2 BUDGET

EXPENSES PRICE ($RTGS)

Transport 900
Stationery 500
Telephone 500
Data Auditing 1000
Printing 400
TOTAL 3 300

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16.0 REFERENCES

Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2003). Business Research Methods. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Dumisani, M, E. (2004). Challenges of implementing the food and nutrition curriculum in

Secondary Schools. Chivi District Zimbabwe.

Goro, S. (2003). Life in the classroom.New York Holt, Rinert & Winston, Inc.

Kasamba, K, P. (1993). Teaching methods, Gweru Modern Press.

Ndava, S. (2012). Computerisation of rural schools in Zimbabwe: Challenges and opportunities

for sustainable development. The case of Chipinge District, South East Masvingo: Great
Zimbabwe, Zimbbwe.

Nziramasanga, C. (1999). Zimbabwe report of the Presidential commission of inquiry into

education and training, Government Printers, Harare.

Prada, N, F. (1999). The value of reliability in power systems: Pricing and operating reserves,
Massachusetts, MA, Energy Laboratory.

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