Are you better off now? An investigation of perceived outcomes among teachers involved in a mentoring program

Abstract

ABSTRACT This quantitative study examined mentees’ perceptions of the support they have received from a school-based mentoring program (SBMP) in which they have been involved for three years. The study involved 341teachers in seven schools that hosted the SBMP. The findings indicated that only 45.2% of participants ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that their mentors provided expected support. According to the findings, such a low level of teachers’ satisfaction with the program benefits may have stemmed from a high teacher-mentor ratio (56 for 1), limited mentor’s content knowledge, and time constraints. The study addresses the gap in the current literature on school-based mentoring practices when it comes to the language educational policies involving the use of English as a classroom language in postcolonial contexts. In particular, the study provides education decision-makers with a body of knowledge conducive to designing and implementing school-based mentoring programs that are likely to succeed.