Integration of Gender Equality and Language Diversity in Zimbabwe Teacher Education Curriculum

Abstract

This article explored the perceptions of lecturers on integration of gender equality and language diversity in Zimbabwe University teacher education curricula through the qualitative phenomenological design. Out of the population of forty lecturers from one State University and one church owned university in Masvingo Province, nine lecturers from the Department s of Educational Psychology, Educational Sociology and Special Needs Education were picked to participate in this study through Focus Group Discussion which was analyzed through the thematic approach. The study concluded that the challenges that face gender equality include lack of qualified lecturers to teach gender studies in universities, gender studies being elective at universities and lack of scholarly materials that deal with gender issues. These challenges negatively affect the goals of gender equality. The use of a variety of languages helps students and lecturers to socialize. However, some of the challenges that affect the effective use of a variety of languages as instruments of teaching and learning include inability of teachers to master and use all students’ languages, the lack of university course textbooks in various languages and lack of reading materials that are in vernacular languages. The study recommends that lecturers should be trained in gender equality issues through staff development programs periodically. The compulsory teaching and learning of gender studies will equip students with relevant knowledge of gender equality. Institutions of higher learning should have clear and deliberate policies of promoting women to positions of authority as a way for women empowerment. Finally, scholars should write literature in vernacular languages to enhance the use of multiple languages in teaching and learning in Zimbabwe.