Browsing by Author "Kihwele, Jimmy E."

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    Assessing the effect of curricula variation in mathematics teacher education on teaching competency
    (Journal of Research and Development (MJRD), 2023) Kihwele, Jimmy E. ; Mgata, Fred
    Curriculum development processes at universities are decentralized, resulting in varying subject-matter mastery levels among graduates. The paper examined the effect of teacher education curricula variation on mathematics teachers’ competencies. The study employed a case study design with 18 mathematics teacher graduates from nine teacher education institutions working in the Manyara region. The study used in-depth interviews, open-ended questionnaires, and documentary review methods to collect data. The findings revealed that despite mathematics teachers’ mastery of the subject matter, their competence slightly varied in some topics. There are mismatches between courses at different universities and topics in secondary schools that affect teaching competencies among teachers. Decentralized curriculum development at teacher training institutions results in dissonant curricula that produce different qualities in teachers. Despite various capacity-building mechanisms, teachers inadequately elevate their competencies. The study recommends the development of compulsory modules across teacher education institutions to reflect secondary curriculum requirements
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    Understanding pre-service teachers' mental health problems and resilience mechanisms during teaching practice at Mzumbe University.
    (Journal of Adult Education in Tanzania ( JAET), 2025-06) Kihwele, Jimmy E.; Mmbando, Gladness; Mwego, Caleb
    The world is experiencing the proliferation of mental health problem that affects productivity in many aspects. Pre-service teachers also experience mental health problems due to various contextual and work environments. Using Bowlby's attachment theory, the study explored pre-service teachers' resilience to mental health problems during teaching practices. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design with a sample size of 96 respondents who were randomly selected from pre-service teachers studying at Mzumbe University. The data collection method used a questionnaire. The findings reveal that pre-service teachers experienced mental health problems during teaching practice caused by a lack of mental health literacy (60%) and anxiety about evaluations (65%). However, RII (0.579) indicates that most factors moderately caused mental health problems. Mental health problems affect pre-service teachers, as 61% contemplated leaving the teaching profession and 61% faced challenges in engagement with students in teaching practices, and the RII (0.4873) indicates a low importance level. Further, findings show that pre-service teachers devised resilience mechanisms, such as 75% used stress-relief techniques like exercise and being calm and 73% made self-reflection and adjustment, where the RII (0.0.7451) indicates these mechanisms provided moderate support in coping with causes of mental health problems. Findings imply the need to devise mental health support systems for pre-service teachers to ensure their well-being and career success. The study recommends that teacher training institutions integrate mental health training into curricula and devise mentorship programs to equip pre-service teachers with the knowledge and skills to identify and manage mental health problems in their work environment