Career Development through Open and Distance Learning: A Case of Diploma Student Teachers’ in the Institute of Adult Education in Mufindi District, Iringa Region.

The purpose of the study was to assess the personal, institutional, and situational factors mediating Diploma student teachers’ as they develop their career through Open and Distance Learning in Mufindi district. Ninety participants (teachers upgraded and upgrading their education through IAE in Mufindi district) and 15 head teachers were included in this study as sample size. Further, qualitative research approach and case study research design likewise purposive, stratified and snowball sampling techniques were involved. On the personal factor mediating the development of career and impeding the majority from completing their training, the findings revealed inappropriate learning habits, low self-confidence and lack of knowledge on using internet to access Ordinary Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education materials. On the institutional factors, it was found that inadequate educational supporting services, heavy workload, lack of security in professional development and poor academic support services mediated teachers from realizing their educational goal. Further, on the situational factors, family responsibilities, financial difficulties and negative perception on ODL mediated teachers and impeded their realization of educational goals were identified. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology should put in place a policy on career development mandate for teachers, including reducing teaching workload for teachers engaged in professional development programmes and, ODL institutions should put in place strong students’ support services to minimize academic anxiety and promote motivation among the teachers. Keywords: Adult, adult Education and Career Development