Skip to main content

Rurality in Higher Education in Zimbabwe: Access, Participation and, Achievement

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Rurality, Social Justice and Education in Sub-Saharan Africa Volume II

Abstract

The quest for a parity of access, participation and success by all in higher education is threatened by the uneven distribution of resources. The Zimbabwean society is largely binarised and fragmented into categories of the privileged and the marginalised and/or underprivileged. Among the marginalised are those socially and structurally situated in rural areas: with rurality in underdeveloped Africa associated with impoverishment, reification and essentialisation. Rural schools in Zimbabwe are under-resourced in terms of critically skilled personnel, infrastructure and technology. In this chapter, we theorise and problematise rurality as an obstacle to many an entrant’s parity of participation in Zimbabwe’s higher education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arnold, M. L., Newman, J. H., Gaddy, B. B., & Dean, C. B. (2005). A look at the condition of rural education research: Setting a direction for future research. JRRE, 20(6), 1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berliner, D. C. (2004). If the underlying premise for no child left behind is false, how can that solve our problems? In K. Goodman, P. Shannon, Y. Goodman, & R. Rapoport (Eds.), Saving our schools: The case for public education in America. Oakland: PDR Bks.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, L. A., Thorn, A. A., Mulvenon, S. W., Turner, R. C., & Hughes, M. F. (2002). The transformational approach: Organisational development strategies for transforming rural schools. The Rural Educator, 24(2), 31–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chikoko, V. (2006). Negotiating roles and responsibilities in the context of decentralized school governance: A case study of one cluster of schools in Zimbabwe (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicchinelli, L., & Beesley, A. (2017). Introduction: Current state of the science in rural education research. In G. Nugent, G. Kunz, S. Sheridan, T. Glover, & L. Knoche (Eds.), Rural education research in the United States: State of the science and emerging directions (pp. 1–14). Cham: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloke, P. J. (1977). An index of rurality for England and Wales. Regional Studies, 11, 31–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cloke, P., & Johnston, R. (2005). Deconstructing human geography’s binaries. In P. Cloke & R. Johnston (Eds.), Spaces of geographical thought: Deconstructing human Geography’s binaries (pp. 1–41). London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuervo, H. (2016). Understanding social justice in rural education. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • De Young, A. J. (1991). Rural education: Issues and practices. New York: Garkland Publishing Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dekeza, C., & Kufakunesu, M. (2017). Implementation of STEM curriculum in rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy, 8(1), 11–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erwin, P. (2019). Evidence-based public health provided through local health departments: Importance of academic-practice partnerships. American Journal of Public Health, 109(5), 739–747.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (1997). Situation and outlook: Rural developments, CAP 2000. Working document of the Directorate-General of Agriculture (DG VI).

    Google Scholar 

  • Feagin, J. R., Orum, A. M., & Sjoberg, G. (Eds.). (1991). A case for the case study. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, N. (2007). Feminist politics in the age of recognition: A two-dimensional approach to gender studies. Studies in Social Justice, 1(1), 23–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, N. (2009). Scales of justice: Reimagining political space in a globalising world. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, B., & Reid, J. (2014). Teacher education for rural-regional sustainability: Changing agendas, challenging futures, chasing chimeras? Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 32(3), 255–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harber, C., & Davies, L. (2006). School management and effectiveness in developing countries. London: Cassell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, R. M., & Bentham, C. G. (1982). The effects of accessibility on general practitioner consultations, outpatient attendances and in-patient admissions in Norfolk,England. Social Sciences and Medicine, 16, 561–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hlalele, D. (2012). Social justice and rural education in South Africa. Perspectives in Education, 30(1), 111–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hlalele, D., & Alexander, G. (2012). University access and social justice. South African Journal of Higher Education, 26(3), 487–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keddie, A. (2012). Pursuing justice for refugee students: Addressing issues of cultural (mis)recognition. Journal of Inclusive Education, 16(12), 1295–1310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kûle, L. (2008). Concepts of rurality and urbanity as analytical categories in multidimensional research. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact and Applied Sciences, 62(1/2 (654/655)), 9–17. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10046-008-0004-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leibowitz, B. (2017). 1: Rurality and education. Working paper for the SARiHE project. sarihe.org.za/publications.

  • Lipsitt, L. R., & Demick, J. (2012). Theory and measurement of resilience: Views from development. In M. Ungar (Ed.), The social ecology of resilience: A handbook of theory and practice (pp. 43–52). New York: Springer Science & Business Media.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Majongwe, R. (2013, April 10). Zimbabwe education unions deplore use of temporary unqualified teachers. Sunday News. Retrieved from http:www.thestandard.co.zw/.

  • Masinire, A., Maringe, F., & Nkambule, T. (2014). Education for rural development: Embedding rural dimensions in initial teacher preparation. Perspectives in Education, 32(3), 146–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mentz, E., Bailey, R., Havenga, M., Breed, B., Govender, D., Govender, I., Dignum, F., & Dignum, V. (2012). The diverse educational needs and challenges of information technology teachers in two black rural schools. Perspectives in Education, 30(1), 70–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moletsane, R. (2012). Repositioning educational research on rurality and rural education in South Africa: Beyond deficit paradigms. Perspectives in Education, 30(1), 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monk, D. (2007). Recruiting and retaining high quality teachers in rural areas. Future Children, 17(1), 155–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreland, N., Chamberlain, J., & Artaraz, K. (2003). Rurality and higher education: A conceptual analysis. In M. Slowey & D. Watson (Eds.), Higher education and the life course (pp. 51–66). Maidenhead: OUP and SRHE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukeredzi, T. G. (2013). Professional development through teacher roles: Conceptions of professionally unqualified teachers in rural South Africa and Zimbabwe. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 28(11), 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myende, P., & Chikoko, V. (2014). School-university partnership in a South African rural context: Possibilities for an asset-based approach. Journal of Human Ecology, 46, 249–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ncube, A. C. (2014). Barriers to learner achievement in rural secondary schools in developing countries: The case of rural Zimbabwe. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies (JETERAPS), 5(1), 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyagura, L. (1993). Quantitative developments, quality and equity concerns in Zimbabwean primary and secondary education sectors. Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research, 5(1), 21–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randall, W. L., Clews, R., & Furlong, D. (2015). The tales that bind: A narrative model for living and helping in rural communities. Toronto: Toronto University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redding, S., & Walberg, H. J. (2012). Promoting learning in rural schools. Lincoln: Center on Innovation & Improvement.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, P. (2014). Researching from the standpoint of the rural. In S. White & M. Corbett (Eds.), Doing educational research in rural settings: Methodological issues, international perspectives and practical solutions (pp. 135–147). Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, P., & Green, B. (2013). Researching rural places: On social justice and rural education. Qualitative Enquiry, 19(10), 765–774.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (2012). Resilience as a dynamic concept. Development and Psychopathology, 24(2), 335–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soudien, C., Reddy, V., & Woolard, I. (2019). Poverty and inequality: Diagnosis, prognosis, Responses: State of the Nation. Cape Town: HSRC Bks.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF. (2013). Zimbabwe-statistics: Life expectancy, total adult literacy rates and primary school net enrolments.

    Google Scholar 

  • Writer, J. H. (2008). Unmasking, Exposing, and Confronting: Critical Race Theory, Tribal Critical Race Theory and Multicultural Education. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 10(2), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Nenji, S., Ndofirepi, A.P. (2020). Rurality in Higher Education in Zimbabwe: Access, Participation and, Achievement. In: Ndofirepi, A.P., Masinire, A. (eds) Rurality, Social Justice and Education in Sub-Saharan Africa Volume II. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57215-0_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57215-0_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-57214-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-57215-0

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics