Correlates of the knowledge of emotional and behavioral disturbances among teachers in crowded post-covid-19 lockdown classrooms in Kasese District, Uganda

Abstract

This study assessed secondary school teachers’ overall knowledge of emotional and behavioural disturbances (EBDs) among the growing number of students with EBDs in post-COVID-19 lockdown government-aided schools in Western Uganda. The study was quantitative, employing a correlational cross-sectional survey research design. A sample of 330 full-time teachers was drawn from three public secondary schools through stratified and simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Knowledge of Emotional and Behavioral Disturbances Questionnaire (KEBDQ) to establish relationships between variables. Pearson correlation coefficient and a stepwise linear regression were used to analyse data. Findings revealed that teachers’ overall knowledge of EBDs was very low implying that they were not aware of the characteristics of these learners and thus managing them in their crowded classrooms may be a disaster. A stepwise linear regression revealed that undergraduate courses and crowded classrooms significantly predicted teachers’ overall knowledge of EBDs in crowded classrooms after the COVID-19 lockdown. In conclusion, based on the findings, higher teacher education institutions should make undergraduate courses related to EBDs compulsory during professional training, and the Ministry of Education and Sports should reduce overcrowded classrooms for effective classroom management.