Pre-Service Agricultural Education Programmes: Do They Impact on The Teaching of Agriculture in Secondary Schools? Case of Zimbabwe

The purpose of this study was to make a qualitative investigation on the contribution of pre service agricultural education programmes to the teaching of high school agriculture. A participatory investigation approach was used to gather data, where among other relevant stakeholders, school authorities, agricultural teachers and training institutions staff were consulted on the congruency or discrepancies between pre - service agricultural education programmes and expected competencies of a qualified agricultural teacher. Teachers displayed requisite content and pedagogical competencies in the teaching of agriculture at secondary school level gained from their pre-service agricultural education. The study established the need for continuous in-service and staff exchange course programmes for agricultural teachers in order to keep them abreast with the dynamism and technological innovations in agricultural education sector.