Attrition of Pre-service student science teachers under the Virtual, Open and Distance Learning mode at Bindura University of Science Education in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Student science teacher attrition under VODL has been a critical concern in the field of education for many years. Student teacher attrition is another term used for student teacher turnover, which are changes in student teachers’ status from Semester to Semester. Student Teacher turnover may include Student teachers leaving the course, or Student teachers leaving the university. This study sought to find out the major reasons for student teachers’ attrition under the VODL mode of delivery at BUSE through a survey gathering the perspectives of the students who have dropped out of this mode of teaching and learning. The collected data is analysed through the IBM SPSS v. 19. Situational factors are indicated in this study as the major reasons for student attrition under VODL. There is no correlation between the cited reasons for attrition to gender, age or program of study. It is recommended that any intervention mechanisms should put lecturers in the forefront as they are perceived by the former students as the most significant others.