Department of Educational Foundations

Chairperson- Dr H. Chinhara

Mandate overview

The Educational Foundations Department was weaned from the former Education department. The mandate of the department is to equip education students with sociological, philosophical and psychological knowledge relevant to the teaching profession in the 21st century. Research has shown that educators face challenges in handling learners with behavioural and learning problems, social problems such as gender inequality, poverty, and socio-historical and contemporary philosophical challenges; hence the need to establish this department. Graduates from the Educational Foundations department are competent in research, reflective teaching and critical thinking.

Vision

To prepare our students for rapidly changing world by equipping them with critical thinking skills, global perspective and respect for the core values of integrity, excellence, commitment, team spirit, discipline and an appreciation of diversity.

Mission

The department is committed to quality teaching to improve the students’ expertise in the educational, sociological, psychological and philosophical domains in order to meet the needs of the global competitive society.

Values

Core Values

• Learning
• Innovation
• Humility
• Commitment
• Reflection
• Competence
• Student Centeredness
• Humanity

Introduction
The department’s extension service plan draws heavily from the Bindura University of Science Education Community Engagement Plan (CEP) displaying the department’s actions and commitments to community engagement. It is embedded in the Bindura University of Science Education mission statement is the proclamation that the institution is committed to “community transformation”. The strategic plan reflects the holistic aspiration and goal of the ministry  and it resonate with the University’s vision of becoming- an internationally renowned university producing transformative and innovative graduates; and the core values- innovativeness and teamwork.

Purpose

The primary goal of community engagement is to develop societal values through research-based education and training needs, relevant to the needs of the community. The Department therefore, defines community engagement as engaging in activities with the purpose of initiating, catalysing, and/or sustaining the development of communities, using available resources (human and capital). This involves packaging, demonstration, and application of appropriate technology tools, materials, services, processes and products, generated through research and technical studies for building capacities and transforming lives in communities.

Targets
The Department of Educational Foundations’ strategic plan shall be guided by the following key goals which seek to:

1. Engaging communities through training and workshops
2. Developing and running short courses
3. Strengthening and expanding mutually beneficial partnerships

Research and Extension Services

• Critical thinking
• Gender sensitivity in Education and Society
• Inclusivity and Multiculturism in Education
• Abuse and violence in secondary schools
• Active learning processes in science Education
• Early Childhood Development as philosophy and practice
• Counselling in Schools/communities

Strategies to employ for short courses

• Designing of fliers focusing on a short course designed
• Use of fliers that will be posted to schools/district and regional offices
• Cluster visits
• Advertising on the website
• Use of national press
• Use of the local radio stations (e.g. Abiya Angu in Masvingo, Autsheni in Chiredzi etc),

Implementation strategies

• Zoom in the case of the participants are far from the institution
• Lecturers visits to individual schools/districts to staff-develop teachers/students depending on the nature of the workshop (students/teachers may need to be regrouped into small manageable groups.
• The delivery method will be participatory to enhance understanding
• Use of the activity-based method
• Employing the project method where participants work on a project in a selected school in a cluster.

Assessment strategies

• Both participants and lecturers will be important assessment tools
• Each course will have a test(s) as a measurement tool
• A participating certificate will be issued at the end

• Master of Science Education Degree in Philosophy (1 ½ years) 
• Master of Science Education Degree in Psychology (1 ½ years)
• Master of Science Education Degree in Sociology (1 ½ years)

Upcoming Events

1. ECD Short course for Centre Directors October, 2025
2. Critical thinking for school administrators November, 2025
3. Counselling for School administrators December, 2025
4. Supervision Seminar for postgraduate students January, 2025

Psychology of Education

• Dr. Makadho, R.K.  Lecturer –  (Ph.D) 

Secretary

Ms Manyika    J.