FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRACTICE OF PRE-SCHOOL DUCATION PROGRAM IN SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS AT DUNA WOREDA HADIYA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the factors affecting the practices of pre-school education program in Duna Woreda Hadiya Zone. The study used concurrent design from mixed research approach and 79 respondents were participated in the study. Purposive and available sampling techniques were used to select the sample. Quantitative data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics like frequency, mean, and standard deviation by applying SPSS version-20 and one way ANOVA was used to compare the mean score difference between the responses of respondents. The finding of the study revealed that the practices of “O-class” program education were affected by environment related factors such as in appropriate buildings, un conducive in-door and out-door learning environments and up down of playing field, economic related factors such as: shortage of resources, socio-economic background of parents and growing condition of children and cultural related factors such as, lack of organized environment based on local context, limitation of indigenous produced teaching and inability of using first language of children. The study concluded that unfavorable school environment,inappropriate buildings, socioeconomic status of parents, lack of indigenous pro duced teaching materials were among the environmental and socioeconomicrelated factors th at affect the practices of ”O class" education in government primary schools. The study reco mmended that, the concerned bodies like pre-school teachers, principal’s, PTA, supervisors, experts should working in collaboration with others such as: community, volunteers, NGOs, parents and private investors to minimize factors affecting the practices of “O-class” education program in selected primary schools of Duna Woreda.