PARTICIPATORY METHOD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE PRIMARY EDUCATION

Primary education system is concerned with behavioural changes as result pupils need to participate fully ,if they are to influence others ,as well as develop skills ,attitudes ,values which make them responsible in any community set up.
Hence teaching method which enabled the learner to easily get involved in the learning process both as individual and as group is useful to be adopted.Such method of instruction is known as 'participatory method.'
According to Zimbabwe's Ministry of Education sports arts and culture's population Training manual(1997:17)defines participatory method as,''...teaching and learning method which enable the learner to actively involve in the learning process as individual or group situations. The learner explores a situation ,identifies a problem ,describes ,analyses ,interprets and appreciates the problem and then makes a decision to solve it.''
Amnesty International a Non Government Organisation which monitors humanity and conducivity to sustainable social life observes participatory method in many educational systems and approves it to be the most relevant and appropriate method which develops skills ,attitudes as well as knowledge in both adults and children.
Children become active explorers of their own immediate world around them rather than being passive recepients from their educational practitioners especially concerning their social,health or community issues.
On all these issues the emphasis on the process through which individual makes an infomed decisions after exploring different possibilities.Guided by the principle that we learn and remember things by doing.
The role of a teacher is therefore of a facilitator who helps learners to participate by exploring situations and understand them. The teacher should guide the learning environment by use of probing questions which stipulates critical thinking instead of imposing decisions and ideas on them.
Participatory methology in the child education systems has advantages to enhences self-esteem. When pupils realised that they have something positive they can contribute ,they build their confidence and instilled with a sense of responsibility over their own social life.The Greek philosopher and great thinker Alistole describes a human being as a 'social animal'.This forced him to be concerned with his social sorroundings.
As team work they develop much in group activities and build effectively on all issues of which participatory method is the centre of learning and become stronger with capacity to act and solve problems as a team.
Some examples of participatory method are:Picture code and role plays ,drama ,song,dance,poetry,debates,small groups discussions ,social forum,interactive issue drama ,brainstorming ,devil advocates ,values clarification on future's will etc.
However this method works effectively in combination with other methods of instruction which can be used in any specific lesson and it also depends with the cognitive level of learners their experiences and the advancement of instructional media which is available to them.
The teacher as facilitator should impose learners to relate to real life through the dialogue and can assist them with facts in association with meaning and actions in their community life needs and wants.