Advantages/ Benefits

and Challenges of
Multigrade Classes

Learners
Advantages/Benefits
● Maximum social interaction
between/among peers
● Cooperative learning is
predominant
● Will learn to be independent,
self-directed leaners can learn
to be more resourceful
2
Challenges
● Requires more discipline, greater
concentration and more focus in
order to benefit from effective
strategies e.g. peer teaching,
group work, self-directed
● Less reliance on direct
supervision by teacher

● Prepared for real-life
situations where there is
constant interaction between
people of different ages,
varied skills, abilities
● Can learn to assume leading
or supporting roles as needed
in different work situations
3
● Requires more initiative and
resourcefulness to function
effectively in a multi-grade class
● May receive less individual
attention from a less experienced
teacher or one who is not well-
trained in multi-grade teaching
 4

● Stigma associated with

failure and repetition is
removed
● Girls who are often expected
to stay home or at least close
to home to take care of
younger siblings or the
household will have more
chances to go to school since
schools are located within the
community
 5

● Evidence suggests that multi-

grade students can attain
higher achievement levels
especially in math, science,
and language

Teachers
Advantages/Benefits
● Can make the most of inter-
age, multi-level situation to
facilitate learning
● Can get to know students more
and carefully assess their
needs and adopt appropriate
teaching strategies
6
Challenges
● Requires more preparation of
curriculum, learning materials
● Requires more careful study of
learner’s developmental
characteristics across the age
levels involved on the class,
approaches and strategies that
are effective and viable within a
multi-grade class

● Can innovate and experiment
with different age groups and
deal with curriculum content
across subject areas
● Shares responsibility for
facilitating learning with
pupils, parents, other
community members
7
● More investment in organization
of the classroom as a learning
environment
● More meticulous and systematic
record-keeping to keep track of
student’s progress, curriculum
development and implementation
 8

● More opportunities for

activity-centered, experience-
based approaches rather
than whole-group,
lecture/drill/ rote methods of
teaching
 9

Community and School System

Advantages/Benefits Challenges
● Efficient means of providing ● Student achievement may be
educational services in poor if programs do not have the
populated areas and remote required resources and teachers
communities are not properly trained
● Efficient means of using
limited educational resources
such as trained teachers,
classrooms, materials
 10

Community and School System

● Requires investment in training

of teachers, supervised
administrative personnel to
prepare them for the demands of
multi-grade teaching and
administration of multi-grade
schools
11
 12

Thanks!