Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education with ICT

INTRODUCTION

The Bachelor of Primary Education at ZCAS University is designed for in-service teachers seeking to upgrade from certificate and diploma levels to a degree, equipping them with modern instructional skills and methodologies. The programme emphasizes literacy, numeracy, ICT integration, and innovative teaching approaches to enhance learner outcomes. It aligns with national education priorities, incorporating the Primary Reading Programme (PRP) and responding to advancements in science, technology, and personal development education.

To promote this programme, ZCAS University employs a comprehensive marketing strategy, including digital campaigns, social media outreach, partnerships with education stakeholders, alumni engagement, and targeted print materials. This initiative ensures visibility among educators looking to advance their careers while contributing to quality primary education. Enroll today and transform your teaching journey!

1.1 Rationale

Primary education is a critical level in the education system. It is a level where children cultivate life-long skills. Therefore, students are expected to influence positive changes within the classroom and the communities. As demanded by the Sustainable Development Goal 4.2, whose target is that by 2030, every government should ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education; also provided in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) of 2022-2026, 6.2. with the Development Outcome1: Improved Education and Skills Development. The Plan will focus on expanding access and improving quality of early childhood, primary. The integration of ICTs into the curriculum of learners is of immense benefit to them. In 2002 the Ministry of General Education through the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) begun to design a syllabus in computer studies for grades 1-9 and in 2013 Computer Studies was introduced as a subject at both primary and secondary school levels. ICTs have also been introduced at higher learning institutions for teacher training as a requirement for the successful implementation of the curriculum in education.

Primary education degree is relevant as it rests on the fundamentals of education that any citizen should acquire before progressing to any education level. The programme, therefore, is designed to equip student teachers with instructional skill sets in various subjects to the benefit of the learners. This qualification also incorporates new content and embraces new approaches and methodologies in teaching and learning. A key concern of the qualification is the importance of literacy in general, ICT education and numeracy to personal fulfillment. The curriculum also responds to changing needs, particularly in the areas of science and technology, social, personal and health education, and takes account of the Primary Reading Programme (PRP) to enhance literacy.

1.2 Aims of the programme

To produce graduates who are an inspirational cohort of teachers with capabilities to act professionally, knowledgeably, and effectively in the provision of Primary School education.

1.3 Objectives of the programme

Objectives of this learning programme are to:

• facilitate Primary Phase teaching and learning ethically, professionally and innovatively in both rural and urban settings.
• Enrich learning in the areas of ICT education for Primary Schools students.
• Stimulate outstanding students, teachers, and specialists to produce digital
  content that will help provide a rich learning environment for all.
• Assist in the discovery of the energies of teachers and outstanding practices in Primary School learning.
• Motivate the Teaching students to increase their ICT participation and contributions
  to an outstanding online community.

2. Curriculum

2.1 Programme Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this learning programme, students should be able to:

1. Describe the fundamental theories, concepts, principles, and practices of Primary Education.
2. Analyse, interpret, evaluate and show judgement as applied to Primary Education
3. Integrate in-depth, broad and coherent knowledge of discipline content, educational theory and practice relevant to primary teaching.
4. Apply the ICT skills in classroom practice required of a graduate Primary teacher.
5. Plan, facilitate, evaluate and critically reflect on learning programs for Primary students. and
6. Apply practical ICT strategies for creating rapport with students and managing student behaviour.

2.2 Assessment

 The assessment for courses with practical work will be marked as follows:

Continuous assessment                                   40%   

Test                                                         30%

Practical Assignment                          10%

Final examination                                                 60%

Total                                                                         100%

The test and final examination shall consist of one examination paper in each of the courses and shall normally be of two hours and three hours duration respectively.

The courses without practical work will have two assessments consisting of one (1) test and one (1) assignment making up 40% and the final examination of 60%.

3  Regulations 

 3.1 Admission Requirements

To qualify for admission to the Primary education with ICT degree programme an applicant must have any of the following:

1. Five credits at ‘O’ Level including English and Mathematics
2. Any relevant three-year Guidance and Counselling diploma from a reputable college or university
3. At least three ‘A’ level passes including Mathematics or equivalent.

3.2 Examinations

A student who is unable to sit the scheduled examinations and qualifies on compassionate grounds may be awarded a deferred examination in one or more courses. A deferred examination will be graded normally, i.e. between D and A+.

For the avoidance of doubt, all matters relating to the administration of both academic and administrative elements of the programme shall be administered by ZCAS University using its institutional framework subject to the guidance of Senate regulations.

3.3 Progression

• The programme of study shall be taken in the sequence approved by the ZCAS University Senate with lower-level foundation courses being undertaken and completed before a student proceeds to a higher level and specialized courses of study.
• A candidate who passes all the courses taken during the academic year of study shall be allowed to proceed to the next year of study.
• Every semester a full-time student shall register for and take not less than four and not more than five courses.
• A part-time student shall register for and take not more than three courses in any semester of the academic year.
• Provided that a student may, in exceptional circumstances, be permitted to take one additional course whether carried over from the previous academic year or additional in any one semester.
• A student who fails in one course may be permitted to proceed to higher level courses provided he or she repeats the course at the first available opportunity.
• A student who fails two courses in any academic year will normally proceed to Part-time studies until he or she has cleared the outstanding courses.
• A student who fails in more than two courses in his or her academic year of study will be excluded.
• Every semester an evening programme student shall register for and take three courses.
• An evening programme student who fails up to two courses in any academic year will receive the comment ‘Proceed and repeat’
• An Evening programme student who fails more than two courses in one academic year will be excluded.
• A full-time, part-time or evening student who fails a course twice is subject to exclusion but he or she may be permitted to repeat the course for the third and final time.
• Exclusion is applicable in compliance with the preceding regulations in any year of study including the final year.
• To qualify to sit for an examination the student should have passed the continuous assessment.
• Any student who fails the continuous assessment should be informed two weeks before the commencement of the examinations about their ineligibility to sit for the examination.

3.4 Degree Regulations

The course of study for the award of the degree shall be as follows:

• Completed in a period of not less than four and not more than six academic years in the case of full-time students who have satisfied the requirements of the regulations.
• Completed in a period of not less than five and not more than seven academic years in all other cases (from the date of first registration)
• Completed 32 courses prescribed in the progamme.

3.5 Degree Classification

• In calculating the grade of the degree, the following points shall be applied to the grades obtained.
• a. A+ 2.5 points
  b. A 2.0 points
  c. B+ 1.5 points
  d. B 1.0 point
  e. C+ 0.5 point
  f. C 0 point
• The grading of the programme is based on all grades obtained in the last two years (i.e. 16 courses). No points are awarded where a course has been repeated.
• The points for classification of the degree shall be as follows:

Distinction                   28 – 40 points

Merit                           20 – 27.5 points

Credit                          12 – 19.5 points

Pass                             0 – 11.5 points

APPENDIX 1: COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

YEAR 1 – COURSES

YEAR 2 COURSES

YEAR 3 COURSES

YEAR 4 COURSES