| dc.description.abstract | Development of children's competences depends greatly on how they are involved in learning
activities during the learning process. Different studies suggest that children, especially in low
income countries like Uganda in many instances stay in class passively as teachers do all
activities on their behalf. Children aged 3-5 years were found to show lack of participation
during class time even when they were given materials to use. It was not clear whether this
practice was by design or it was as a result of teacher competences. The purpose of the study was
to find out why children participation in kindergarten classes is not satisfactory yet teachers are
competent. The objectives of the study were; to discover the methodology teachers were using to
promote children participation, to assess the role of teacher's content knowledge in promoting
children participation and to find out the relationship between teacher competence and children
participation. The study was conducted in Kampala Central Division among 395 respondents.
The study used the cross-sectional survey using questionnaire, interview guide and observation
protocol. Simple random sampling and Purposive sampling were used for the study. Quantitative
data was entered into the computer using SPSS programme while qualitative data was analyzed
using frequencies, percentages, correlations and cross tabulations. The main findings of the study
were that teachers are competent enough to promote adequate participation in their classrooms.
Children do not participate in class because of other factors such as pressure from parents on
teaching reading, writing and arithmetic, lack of support from the administrators, lack of
teaching aids to mention but a few. However, teachers need Professional Development to polish
their teaching skills and methodology to have participation in their classrooms. Teachers have
the qualifications needed to teach young children though they lack concrete knowledge on
Participation. Kindergarten classes are dominated by academic work which includes written
exercises in books and few hands on activities. In conclusion, the study observed that there is a
weak relationship between teacher competence and children participation in Kindergarten
classes. The study recommends that teachers need to modify their teaching methods in order to
accommodate and promote children participation. The government should support building of
solid structures and systems within and outside schools to encourage and support Professional
Development. Parents should be educated on the benefits of children participation and active
involvement during classroom time. | en_US |
