Abstract:
Instructional materials utilization in early childhood care and education, factor affecting this use and
strategies to cope with challenges the case of hula woreda, sidama regional state. A descriptive
cross-sectional survey design was used. From the total of 32 government preschools found in Hula
Woreda, 22 early childhood care and education were selected by stratified random sampling
technique. The total sample size of the study was 141, participants whom 44 were teachers, 22 were
department heads, 22 were pedagogical center facilitators, 9 were cluster supervisors and 44 were
school principals. Data collection tools were focus group discussions with cluster supervisors,
interviews with school principals and department heads, and questionnaires for pedagogical center
facilitators and teachers. In addition to the above data collection tools, document analysis was also
conducted. The data analysis was carried out by Microsoft excell and SPSS version 24. whereas
qualitative data were analyzed through thematic approach and narration. The analysis of the data
revealed that extent of utilizinginstructional materials was found to below level, and to teachers
attitudes in utilizinginstructional materials was found to be low commitment, low encouragement, low
attention towords usinginstructional materials, backward handling and low follow up from school.
The major challenges affecting the practice of utilization of instructional materials by teachers
include lack of awareness, skills, training , motivation, and support from school leaders. Therefore,
the issue under discussion needs to be instructional materials proved through training, community
sensitization, coordination, motivation, experience sharing, and maintaining adequate resources are
recommended for the betterment.
