An assessment of the effectiveness of the preventive maintenance policy in enhancing quality assurance in education provision: A case of selected primary schools in Chibombo District, Zambia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate on an assessment of the effectiveness of the preventive maintenance policy in enhancing quality assurance in education provision: a case of selected schools in Chibombo district. The study employed a mixed paradigm and descriptive survey design that sampled DEBS officials, Head teachers, PMS coordinators, teachers and pupils. Data was obtained from respondents by means of interviews, questionnaires and observation checklist. The target population was 1280 respondents while the sample size was 128 respondents. Frequency, percentages, tables, graphs and pie-charts were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data obtained. Data was then analyzed manually in some cases and also, a combination of software MS Access and MS Excel. According to the findings, the study found that the activities which was in place was general cleaning one day per week. The study also found that discontinuity was the biggest challenge administrators experienced, and that many projects were abandoned. Unfortunately, the motto that "prevention is better than cure" was not evident among teachers and learners. The conclusion of this study with respect to the application of ethical theories to the findings is that the inner ethical motivation required for adequate care of property in teachers and learners is missing. The study therefore recommended that there is a need for greater emphasis to be placed on character formation in education as is specified in the Zambian Document Educating Our Future. Also, the spirit of the PMS policy directives needs to be more greatly emphasized in order to motivate action, rather than the more exclusive legal dimension which does not suffice to ensure the implementation of the policy.