Skills Lecturers Possess for Quality Delivery of the Clothing and Textiles Curriculum

Abstract

The delivery of the Clothing and Textiles in Zimbabwean universities has been marred by a lot of challenges and lecturer competency is one of the crippling factors. This study sought to establish how lecturer competency impact on the delivery of the Clothing and Textiles curriculum. The study employed a mixed method research paradigm. The sample comprised 60 respondents (32 lecturers, 2 Heads of Department, 24 students and 2 Operations managers). Questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, observations and document analysis were used as data collection instruments. Qualitative data was analysed through the use of themes and quantitative data was analysed using the SPSS software. Findings revealed that lecturers were finding difficulties in teaching the core courses in Clothing and Textiles due to incompetency. This study concedes that although lecturers have the suitable minimum requirements to teach in universities, that is Masters and PhD academic qualifications; it is the professional aspect on the delivery of Clothing and Textiles which is a source of the concern. The study recommended that in order to accurately inform early recognition, intervention and training programmes for lecturers who are not competent enough to deliver Clothing and Textiles, their areas of weakness should be identified first so as to enable university administrators to plan accordingly. The quality of the existing lecturing force must be improved mainly through extensive staff development training programmes, including those lecturers who trained long back to acquaint them with technical skills that are in line with the new technologies and global trends.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n16p446