University lecturers’ and students’ views on mass education: A case study of Great Zimbabwe University

Abstract

The study focused on university lecturers’ and students’ views on mass education at university level. The inquiry employed both a qualitative and quantitative research design in which twenty lecturers were purposively sampled and interviewed using semi-structured interview guides.A semi-structured questionnaire was also administered to fifty students. The investigation found that while some students and lecturers view mass education as a noble venture which augurs well for the country’s socioeconomic development, others view it as a negative venture which, among other demerits, lowers educational standards and is unsustainable due to failure to match such expansion with the requisite learning resources and space. The paper recommends that, in light of the fact that mass education per se is not a bad idea because it opens up opportunities for higher education to a large population, the Government should prioritise infrastructural development and resource provision at universities, so that quality is not compromised by quantity.