Enhancing availability and utilization of instructional materials in food production and service skills at Mukono YMCA college

Abstract

Shortage of instructional materials is a critical issue at Mukono YMCA training institution in Uganda. A situation analysis was done to examine the types and the status of instructional materials at Mukono YMCA College in Uganda. The study involved students, teachers, and administrators. The situation analysis showed that instructional materials were inadequate; therefore, a project of cooking local food and pastry products was identified as the approach to improve on the availability and utilization of instructional materials at Mukono YMCA College. The challenges during teaching and learning of food production were recorded. The study implemented, and evaluated the possible strategies to minimize the challenges of availability and utilization of instructional materials. A participatory action research (PAR) approach was used and qualitative data was collected following the experiential learning theory (ELT). Stratified sampling technique was used to select the respondents who included administrators, instructors, and students. Data was collected using interviews, observation and focus group discussion. The study revealed that; the instructional materials available such as cookers for food production course unit at Mukono YMCA College were inadequate. Using the available resources, a real-life project approach to acquire more instructional materials, was designed and implemented where students cooked local food and pastries, for sale to the college community. The initial items used in preparing the food were provided as teaching materials by the college administration. At the end of the study period, a refrigerator, cake tins, and a blender were acquired from the extra money earned from the sale of ' local food ' and pastries. The study recommended that cooking local food and pastries can be used by students as a project to get working capital as well as acquiring other missing equipment.