Pre-School Education: Unpacking Dilemmas and Challenges Experienced by Caregivers: A Case of Private Sectors in Mutare Urban-Zimbabwe

Abstract

Despite the remarkable awareness in Zimbabwe of the importance of Early Childhood Development and Education (ECD), there is insufficient motivation for communities, local authorities and central government to make strategic plans for universal position. The study was to unpack dilemmas and challenges related to the implementation of the ECD program and describe how they override them in support of the government policy of developing the whole child. The qualitative case study design was adopted and data was generated through interviews with semi structured questions, through open-ended questionnaire, direct observation, through institutional artefacts and document analysis,  The study  used a purposeful sample of 20 participants from private preschool sector who shared similar characteristics and the same geographical area (Mutare urban)  when implementing the curriculum. Little is known about dilemmas and challenges affecting the pre-school private sectors to effectively implement the curriculum in-line with the national policy. The data were analysed descriptively using theme identification methods to solicit emerging issues from the data. The grounded theory, constructivism and Interpretivism theories guided the research .the specific challenges included: lack of trained ECD specialists with expertise in special education, shortage of equipment and material resources. The study recommended that there be a coordinated plan for the training of para-professionals and there should be cooperation of government and community in providing facilities.