Action research in developing African education systems: is the glass half full or half empty?

Abstract

Action research is being introduced to Africa, where it has to adapt to very different professional contexts and to resource-constrained schools. The study reports how heads, qualified and untrained teachers in six Malawi schools responded to an action research intervention over a 6-month period. It concludes that most teachers found the process useful, but that much support is needed from the facilitators, particularly where basic resources, professional background training and a critical approach are lacking.