Strategies employed by educational leaders in alleviating psycho-social challenges affecting orphans at primary schools in Mbare/Hatfield, Cluster 11

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the strategies employed by educational leaders as a way to alleviate psycho social challenges affecting orphans. Further, the study sought to establish the psycho social challenges faced by orphans and how they can be or have been overcome. In order to better illustrate a more detailed picture of the strategies employed by educational leaders, a mixed method research design was implemented where data was collected using both qualitative and quantitative design. A survey was conducted, where twelve teachers from four schools purposefully selected were asked to fill in a questionnaire whilst interviews were conducted with twelve teachers, four school heads and twelve orphaned children. From this study, it was found that strategies employed by educational leaders are all not alleviating psycho social challenges for example BEAM, free treatment orders in hospitals, Zimbabwe National Action Plan and the child protection and adoption act. It was found that communities have taken it upon themselves to alleviate the psycho social challenges in schools through donations in schools. However some of the psycho social challenges being faced by orphaned children include other learners behaviours, attitudes and actions, sexual harassment, verbal abuse and being bullied. The teachers also indicated that they were failing to render psycho social support due to lack of space and time, lack of resources to further assist the orphaned learners. There was a resolution that Government should ensure that there is adequate funding for the BEAM program, for the medical treatments and seek donations from NGOs to ensure they alleviate the psycho social challenges. Furthermore, there is need for training of teachers in order to render psycho social support correctly despite the challenges being faced.