Students Perception of Teachers Qualities - A Case of Zomba Urban Secondary School; Malawi

The study is intended to find out the students perception's of both male and female teachers in Secondary Schools in Malawi. These perceptions were believed to base on the qualities the teachers possessed. These qualities were seen to be factors in the classroom environment which directly affected the students' learning. A purposely chosen sample of students was used. Form 2 and Form 3 students were involved from four (4) Secondary schools in Zomba urban. The sample comprised 32 boys and 32 girls. Interviews were conducted with each of the students at the schools. Semi-structured interview guides were used. This was to get detailed information regarding their perceptions of male and female teachers. And also discover how the perceptions affected the students' learning. The data was analysed descriptively using 'line by line' coding process. This helped to give meaning to each word the interviewees expressed. The students' perceptions of the teachers had an impact on their learning. Positive perceptions created positive learning environment and hence effective learning. The students' perceptions were found to vary depending on whether the teacher was male or female. Male teachers were perceived as hard working, punctual, able to control their classes and diligent but were not well mannered, unfriendly, not understanding, ungenerous and not associative. The female teachers were perceived as associative, well mannered, friendly understanding and generous but on the other hand they were seen as not hard working, unpunctual, unable to control their classes and not diligent In this study, it was also discovered that students could effectively learn where the environment as created by the teachers qualities was favourable. Students' positive perceptions of the teachers created conducive environment for effective learning and negative perceptions had adverse learning environment. The study recommended that the teachers should be aware of and demonstrate the qualities that create favourable learning conditions for the students. This would promote effective learning and consequently improve the students' performance in general. The teachers should also acquire the qualities lacking in them