‘To Be Or Not To Be An Adult Educator’: Attitudes of Non-Governmental Organizations towards the Great Zimbabwe University Adult and Continuing Education Diploma

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the attitudes of Masvingo-based Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) towards the Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education Programme offered by Great Zimbabwe University following a noticeable decline in student enrolment from 2010.The study used the qualitative design. Ten management and twenty non-management employees from ten Masvingo- based NGOs participated in the survey. Data were obtained using structured questionnaires and interviews. The findings of the research were that the respondents positively indicated that the Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education programme was relevant for training adult educators. However, it needed to add on courses that addressed the current needs of the NGO sector. The research recommends that Great Zimbabwe University should engage the NGOs in stakeholder needs analysis in order to re-align the programme with current needs of the non-governmental sector and in the marketing of future programmes.