South African School Learners Research Articles

Exploring challenges that contribute towards poor annual national assessments results in Limpopo Province.

Communication is central to the education process. Language and the functions of language play a very important role in schools. Reading development in the primary schools is central to the success of learners as they progress through school. Evaluations in South Africa have shown that reading achievement in the Foundation Phase is low, especially for learners with African languages as their home language. The purpose of this study was to investigate the way in which reading is taught in Limpopo Primary Schools. The study adopted a qualitative approach and used observation, interviews and document analysis to generate data. Learners come to school from different backgrounds, language groups, cultures and socio-economic status. Learners in South African schools usually experience challenges and perform poorly with respect to literacy and numeracy. To become competitive in the global arena, there is an urgent need to raise the standards of education. Language is required for all learning, including numeracy and mathematics. There is a need for the involvement of all stakeholders in the language acquisition process of learners. The outcomes revealed that the multilingual Foundation Phase classes made it difficult to assist all learners who experienced language problems because teachers could not speak well the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) at the school.

Sexuality education in South African schools: deconstructing the dominant response to young people’s sexualities in contemporary schooling contexts

ABSTRACTSouth African schools are tasked with providing sexuality education through the Life Orientation curriculum as a means of challenging continued high rates of HIV, unwanted pregnancy and gender-based violence. While in theory schools are well positioned to provide appropriate knowledge for reproductive health and navigating sexual challenges within a gender justice framework, research on sexuality education in South African schools indicates that this is not the reality in practice. This paper draws on a growing body of qualitative studies, with both educators and learners in South African schools, to understand the issues undermining the goal of a critical and social justice pedagogy of sexuality in Life Orientation classrooms. We argue that sexuality education has been deployed to regulate and discipline young sexualities, reinforce and perpetuate gender binarisms and heteronormativity, re-establish global northern family values of the nuclear family within a pro-family discourse, and represent continued assumptions of adult authority in a civilising mission over young people. We suggest that the failure to make critical use of Life Orientation is linked to the dominance of ‘expert’-based didactic pedagogy, and argue the possibilities of sexuality education as a productive space for young people’s active participation and agency in making meaning of gender and sexualities.

Teacher and learners’ belief in a just world and perspectives of discipline of Grade 4 - 8 learners in South African schools

In the present study, we examine the personal belief in a just world (PBJW) for teachers and learners in predominantly Afrikaans-speaking South African schools, and the relationship between teachers’ PBJW and their perception of problem behaviour in the classroom. The study is informed by national debates of school violence in South African schools, and international debates on zero-tolerance policies to address school violence. Our findings suggest that teachers’ PBJW predicts their perception of problem behaviour in classroom behaviour in four areas, namely challenging authority, disrespecting rules and authority and teacher negativity. Teachers with a strong PBJW were more likely to view classroom behaviours as problematic. Children generally reported that their teachers were fair and just and liked them. However, boys were more likely to have experienced trouble with their teachers and to view them as unfair and unjust. We discuss the significance of the findings in terms of school violence and also mention gendered interpretations to school violence.

Scratching the Outside? Perspectives of Subject Advisors on their Practices in Supporting Teaching and Learning in South African Schools

Scratching the Outside? Perspectives of Subject Advisors on their Practices in Supporting Teaching and Learning in South African Schools

Collaborated understandings of context-specific psychosocial challenges facing South African school learners: a participatory approach

IntroductionLearners at under-resourced schools in South Africa face significant psychosocial challenges (Spaull, 2013) that negatively affect both their own wellness and that of the teachers, ultimately resulting in a lower quality of teaching and learning (Modisaotsile, 2012). The transition from a segregated apartheid education system, where resources were inequitably allocated according to race (Modisaotsile, 2012), to an inclusive education system has been fraught with challenges. Inequitable access to resources (Bruce, 2014; Spaull, 2013) and sectored poverty (Donald, Lazarus, & Lolwana, 2010) continue to play a role in contributing to the psychosocial challenges faced in South African under-resourced communities, which consequently affect the wellness of members of the school community in that context (Donald et al., 2010). Contextual challenges relevant to this article include poor living conditions in informal settlements with little access to basic amenities (Donald et al., 2010), poor parenting (Ward et al., 2014), poverty-related HIV/AIDS issues (Theron, 2009), socioeconomic influences on teenage sexuality (Miller et al., 2014), substance abuse (Tlale & Dreyer, 2013), school violence (Mampane, Ebersohn, Cherrington, & Moen, 2014), and poor parent participation within school structures (Joubert, Ebersohn, Ferreira, du Plessis, & Moen 2014; Khanare, 2012; Mncube, 2009). South African school teachers are inadequately prepared to support learners within such contexts (Masitsa, 2011; Motshekga, 2010), having only received very basic concepts of educational psychology and community development as part of their preservice training (Donald et al., 2010). This situation negatively impacts on the wellness of the individual teacher and on the larger school system. While workshops are conducted sporadically to improve the support skills of in-service teachers, these are inadequate for capacitating teachers to support learners in under-resourced urban black communities (Motshekga, 2010), commonly known in South Africa as townships.Inadequately prepared teachers are understandably anxious and overwhelmed by the complex challenges experienced by their learners (Masitsa, 2011; Modisaotsile, 2012), making it difficult for them to mobilise their potential agency (Freire, 1970/2005). An asset-based paradigm (McKnight & Kretzmann, 1993; Pillay, 2012) suggests that teachers possess the potential and willingness to support vulnerable learners if they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to do this (Hoadley, 2007; Malindi & Machenjedze, 2012; Mampane & Bouwer, 2006; Theron, 2009). In this article, the authors suggest that a participatory action learning and action research (PALAR, Zuber-Skerritt, 2012) process would be suitable to improve the capacity of participating teachers to support learners and thereby feel less overwhelmed and anxious. PALAR (Zuber-Skerritt, 2011) aims to improve professional practice and involves an iterative and collaborative process that allows professionals to iteratively and collaboratively reflect on their actions throughout the cyclic PALAR process (Zuber-Skerritt, 2012). By following the PALAR process as expanded on in the section on PALAR as a theoretical paradigm, teacher participants collaborated with each other to come to a better understanding of the psychosocial challenges faced by learners. The aim of this PALAR project was not merely for identifying contextual wellness challenges at school level, but also to add to existing indigenous knowledge (Kearney & ZuberSkerritt, 2012) with regard to how such contextual issues could be addressed (Zuber-Skerritt & Teare, 2013) to enhance wellness. Indigenous knowledge refers to existing systems or strategies generated in a communal way and based on the experiences of a specific group of people (Fasokun, Katahoire, & Oduaran, 2005, p. 61), which communities follow when identifying and addressing contextual challenges as a collective (Teare & Zuber-Skerritt, 2013). …

Skills training through hands-on practical activities in civil technology – a case study of three technical schools in South Africa

Skills training for Civil Technology learners in South African schools, is an aspect entrenched in the Civil Technology policy document in order to produce skilled personnel for a sustainable economy. Practical activities through the Practical Assessment Task (PAT) are national requirements for all practical-based subjects from grades 10–12 in South African schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of Civil Technology practical activities in three South African schools in the Eastern Cape Province. Purposive sampling was used to identify 41 learners and 3 teachers to participate in the study. Questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and observation as data collection methods were instruments used to collect data. The study has found that learners exit grade 12 without basic practical hands-on skills. Civil Technology practical activities were found to be inadequately offered in the three schools investigated. Educators should be well-trained by higher education institutions (HEIs) to conduct practical activities with learners so that these learners are equipped with marketable skills in order to contribute to a sustainable economy after grade 12. Technology teacher education and training should include regular exposure and visits to relevant industries in order for teachers to keep abreast with the latest technological developments. The supply of equipment to schools should be coupled with routine maintenance of the equipment.

An Investigation into the Disciplinary Measures used in South African Schools: How Effective are they to the Learners?

The gaining ground concern on the increasing cases of learner’s indiscipline in schools currently and during the past number of years has become a bone of contention in schools. This has also been observed by other researchers in this discipline who perceive that indiscipline has led to concerns about academic performance, safety and security apprehensions in schools. In addition, there have been cases of serious injuries and fatalities within school premises in some schools in South Africa (Ngcukana, 2009). The problem of learner’s indiscipline has been characterized as grave and pervasive, unconstructively affecting student’s learning (Holden, 2002). The aforesaid problem manifests itself in a variety of ways which include disruptive learners, vandalism, truancy, smoking, disobedience, intimidation, delinquency, murder, assault, rape, theft and general violence (De Wet, 2003: 168). Wilde (1995) is also disturbed by such happenings and argues that with rampant indiscipline as displayed in the various forms mentioned above, teaching and learning have become difficult. Wilde (1995) further points out inter alia that answering back, talking ‘out of turn’, getting out of seats ‘without permission’ and general rowdiness are habitual in schools. In view of this, De Wet (2003) notes that without doubt if schools encounter proliferating ill-discipline as exhibited above, the core business of teaching and learning has turned out to be difficult if not impossible. It is on these grounds that this study is eager to find ways of bringing back discipline as it is apparent that the alternatives for corporal punishment are not working. In other words, the study strives to look for alternatives to ATCP. The above doubt is based on the fact that for the better part of the twentieth century, corporal punishment was central for most teachers and learners in South African Schools (Wolfgang, 2001). But with the advent of democracy in 1994 amidst transformation, one change in the educational arena was the outlawing of Corporal punishment in all schools in terms of the South African Schools Act (Republic of South Africa 1996b). The new constitutional and legislative framework and policies had implications on how schools should maintain learner’s discipline (Ramadiro and Vally, 2005). The provisions were delineated in the constitution and other statutes amid them SASA (Zaibert, 2006). SASA provided the establishment of the code of conduct in all schools. It prohibited corporal punishment and proposed its alternatives (RSA, 1996). Hence, the Department of Education (2000) endorsed the Alternatives (ATCP) which is in place at the moment. Nevertheless, research is ambivalent concerning the usefulness of ATCP which leads this researcher to the impression that by its standard it seems not to be operative in the manner it is hailed by the DoE. This is meant to say that ATCP is not at all playing the role that corporal punishment used to play and there is need to seek other means and majors to instil discipline in our schools so that learners can become disciplined and more responsible. The main objective of this study is to capture both learners and educators’ views on the effectiveness of disciplinary measures used in schools and classrooms. The intention is to find out how the disciplinary measures used can achieve the desired goals with the view to suggest disciplinary approaches that can lead to the development of selfdiscipline and responsible behaviour in learners as compared to ATCP which is punitive in nature.

Teachers’ Use of Formative Assessment for the Teaching of Reading Comprehension in Grade 3

The low reading performance levels of Grade 3 learners in South African schools prompted this research, which was a qualitative and interpretative case study focusing on teachers’ use of formative assessment when teaching reading comprehension to Grade 3 siSwati-speaking learners. Data was collected in semi-structured interviews with seven teachers at four primary schools in the Mpumalanga province and through lesson observations and analysis of learners’ workbooks. Interviews were taped and transcribed. Data from the three sources was analysed and reported in an integrated way through themes. The conceptual framework was developed from various theories and concepts, namely Vygotsky’s theory of learning and socio-cultural perspective (1978), Engestrom’s activity system model (1987) and the formative assessment process (Harlen, 2000; Ruiz-Primo, 2011; Birenbaum, Kimron, Shilton & Shahaf-Barzilay, 2009). Evidently, effective use of formative assessment for reading comprehension requires collaboration between teachers and learners, teachers who possess the requisite knowledge of teaching reading comprehension as well as of pedagogy, and the involvement of learners in the assessment. Numerous impediments to effective formative assessment were identified: teachers’ lack of knowledge of teaching reading comprehension and formative assessment, failure to plan its use, to set clear goals and to explain how to reach them, lack of feedback to learners and no development of learner self-assessment. External factors included a lack of materials for teaching reading to siSwati-speaking learners. It is recommended that the respective departments of education should train Foundation Phase teachers in the necessary skills to teach reading comprehension and provide a variety of suitable reading materials. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n7p468

“I Touch Girls to Feel What They Are Selling”: Sexual Harassment of Female Learners in South African Schools

“I Touch Girls to Feel What They Are Selling”: Sexual Harassment of Female Learners in South African Schools

“I Touch Girls to Feel What They Are Selling”: Sexual Harassment of Female Learners in South African Schools

This article focuses on sexual harassment of female learners by male learners as a dynamic of school violence in the South African secondary schools. This research is based on a mixed method resear...

Practice as policy in ICT for education: Catalysing communities of practice in education in South Africa

The e-Education policy was introduced into schools with the intention of “transforming learning and teaching” ([14], p. 1). The policy places an obligation on education to use educational technology to deliver on expectations of quality education for economic growth and social development. Utilising a case study approach and backward mapping principles to policy implementation, this study sets out to explore how teachers appropriate11Appropriation focuses on the way teachers “take-in” and incorporate elements of policy into their existing frames of reference. information and communication technology (ICT) policy to influence teaching and learning in South African schools. Qualitative methods were employed to capture data through classroom observations, interviews and document analysis. Data was analysed using grounded theory methods. Findings that are unique to the South African context were fivefold. First, the national e-Education policy existed as an invisible policy within the school context. Second, there was a lack of policy support and district presence in schools. Third, districts and schools had conflicting ideas of establishing collaborative support. Fourth, teachers' beliefs, attitudes and agency promoted ICT practice as policy. And fifth, the absence of district support catalysed the emergence of communities of practice. This study asserts the notion that for policy to be implemented teachers should be instrumental partners in the formulation of policy. Teachers should be encouraged to form ICT communities of practice to support their teaching practice and foster policy implementation.

Teachers’ perceptions of the influence of learners’ undisciplined behaviour on their working life and of the support of role-players

Unacceptable behaviour by learners in South African schools is a major concern for all stakeholders in the teaching profession. This explains the increased interest in the role and responsibility of teachers in managing problem behaviour and the effect of this behaviour on educators’ quality of life in the workplace. This research posed the following questions: Does inappropriate student behaviour affect teachers’ working life, and if so, to what extent? Is the prevalence of undisciplined behaviour higher amongst boys and in multicultural schools? What is the influence of learners’ disruptive behaviour on teachers? How do teachers experience support from role-players? A questionnaire was used to obtain information for answering these questions. Although the findings of this research indicated that not all teachers experience excessive emotional reactions that may contribute to stress, it appeared that undisciplined behaviour was the source of irritation, made demands on teachers’ temper and caused aggression. The majority of teachers reported that they enjoyed sufficient support from the school’s governing body, but they were not satisfied with the support from parents and the department of education. In spite of the high percentage of teachers who indicated that undisciplined behaviour impacted on their job satisfaction, the majority do not consider leaving the teaching profession.

Associations of MC3R Polymorphisms With Physical Activity in South African Adolescents

There is evidence demonstrating that the contribution of sedentary behavior and effect of physical activity on metabolic phenotypes is mediated by polymorphisms in genes. The type and frequency of physical activity was assessed by means of structured questionnaires in 1555 South African school learners. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipids were measured using standard procedures. The effect of different types and frequency of physical activity on obesity-related traits was assessed in relation to MC3R T6K and V81I genotypes in 430 of the learners. Levels of total cholesterol were significantly lower in learners carrying the MC3R T6K and V81I minor alleles, after adjusting for age, race, gender, and each specific physical activity category. An activity-by-genotype interaction was also detected: learners heterozygous for the V81I polymorphism and performed house chores often had reduced total cholesterol. Though no association was observed between frequency of physical activity and BMI, television viewing was significantly associated with an increase in height, weight and marginally with waist circumference. Our findings suggest that physical activity even in the form of house chores has a positive effect on metabolic traits and this effect is further enhanced in the presence of MC3R polymorphisms.

Continued professional development of teachers to facilitate language used in numeracy and mathematics

Learners in South African schools have been found to perform poorly in mathematics because they do not understand the language used in solving mathematical problems. In order to improve academic performance teachers need to be made aware of the importance of language in the development of numeracy. A continued professional development (CPD) programme addressed this need. The purpose of the research was to understand how the participants implemented the strategies developed during the programme and how they perceived the support provided by the programme. The research was conducted over 2 years in semi-rural and urban contexts. As part of a more comprehensive mixed method study, the qualitative data referred to in this article were obtained through open-ended questions in questionnaires, focus groups,I reflections in portfolios, and a research diary. Results showed that numeracy terminology was often used by learners that differed from standard terminology prescribed by the curriculum. The participants themselves did not necessarily understand the numeracy terminology and thus found it a challenge to implement curriculum outcomes. Issues related to language use of the participants in teaching numeracy were associated with the lack of resources available in the language of learning and teaching (LoLT). Some of the participants taught numeracy in English, rather than LoLT. The results indicated low teacher expectations of the learners. The CPD programme was considered valuable and effective. SLPs in schools need to be expand their role to provide CPD opportunities for teachers.

Continued professional development of teachers to facilitate language used in numeracy and mathematics

Learners in South African schools have been found to perform poorly in mathematics because they do not understand the language used in solving mathematical problems. In order to improve academic performance teachers need to be made aware of the importance of language in the development of numeracy. A continued professional development (CPD) programme addressed this need. The purpose of the research was to understand how the participants implemented the strategies developed during the programme and how they perceived the support provided by the programme. The research was conducted over 2 years in semi-rural and urban contexts. As part of a more comprehensive mixed method study, the qualitative data referred to in this article were obtained through open-ended questions in questionnaires, focus groups,I reflections in portfolios, and a research diary. Results showed that numeracy terminology was often used by learners that differed from standard terminology prescribed by the curriculum. The participants themselves did not necessarily understand the numeracy terminology and thus found it a challenge to implement curriculum outcomes. Issues related to language use of the participants in teaching numeracy were associated with the lack of resources available in the language of learning and teaching (LoLT). Some of the participants taught numeracy in English, rather than LoLT. The results indicated low teacher expectations of the learners. The CPD programme was considered valuable and effective. SLPs in schools need to be expand their role to provide CPD opportunities for teachers.

Classroom assessment of reading comprehension: How are preservice Foundation Phase teachers being prepared?

A number of assessment studies in recent years have shown that the educational achievement of learners in South African schools is unacceptably poor. The Department of Education’s systemic evaluations, conducted in Grade 3 (first cycle in 2001, second cycle in 2007) show very low levels of literacy among learners. Reading comprehension and writing scores averaged 39% for the first and 36% for the second cycle. Research indicates that less attention has been given to children’s reading comprehension skills compared to decoding skills. Teacher preparation programmes should provide candidates with a rigorous, research-based curriculum and opportunities to practise a range of predefined skills and knowledge. The demands of competent literacy instruction and assessment, and the training experiences necessary to learn it, have been seriously underestimated by universities. Teacher education programmes should ensure that teachers, amongst other crucial aspects, know how to assess the progress of every student and change instruction when it is not working and also know how to communicate results of assessments to various stakeholders, especially parents. The purpose of this article is to report on the training that pre-service teachers receive, related to reading comprehension assessment practices, within a BEd foundation phase teacher preparation programme.

How does a Culture of Learning Impact on Student Behaviour?

Problem statement: Despite the need for a culture of learning in South African schools, research reveal that it is not generally encountered. Research also indicates the manifestation of student behavior problems constraining effective learning. Approach: This research study was directed at determining if a link existed between behavior problems and a lack of a culture of learning. The research approach adopted constituted a literature study and a qualitative based, narrative inquiry at a school within a traditionally disadvantaged community. The literature study was undertaken to gain an understanding of the concept “culture of learning” and its impact as a behavioral determinant. Caring schools as a means to address the problem formed part of the study. Results: Important research findings relate to the correlation between characteristics that give rise to behavioral problems and those associated with a lack of a culture of learning, the role played by “caring schools” in nurturing a culture of learning and the importance of addressing students’ emotional needs for dealing with behavioral problems. Conclusion: The significance of the research is the guidelines proposed for dealing with behavior problems by establishing a culture of learning. Recommended is in-service training of all key stakeholders in the dynamics of establishing a culture of learning and the realization of learner’s unmeet emotional needs.

First additional language teaching in the foundation phase of schools in disadvantaged areas

Second language learning in South African schools is of supreme importance given the multilingual nature of the country. However, there is no certainty that teachers in the foundation phase of schools in poor environments have the skills to teach literacy in the first additional language and produce competent learners. This investigation revealed that the methods that teachers used to teach English, as the first additional language did not develop children’s comprehension and communication skills. It argues that if teachers do not use methods that encourage children to communicate in English the children might not acquire the competence needed to use English as the language for learning in Grade 4. Policy makers are advised to monitor the implementation of the first additional language policy and to oversee the development of an English literacy-training programme in the foundation phase that could provide teachers with the necessary skills and appropriate approaches for teaching the target language.

Exploring safety in township secondary schools in the Free State province

Research overwhelmingly suggests that effective teaching and learning can occur only in a safe and secure school environment. However, despite the plethora of laws and acts protecting teachers and learners in South African schools, scores of them are still unsafe. This study examines the safety of teachers and learners in township secondary schools in the Free State province, South Africa. The sample of study consisted of 396 teachers who were randomly selected from 44 township secondary schools across the province. The sample completed a questionnaire based on the safety of teachers and learners in their schools. Prior to completion, the questionnaire was tested for reliability using the Cronbach alpha coefficient and it was found to have a reliability score of .885, indicating an acceptable reliability coefficient. The questionnaire was computer analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Primer Version 12. The results of the analysis revealed that both teachers and learners are not safe in their schools, either during or after school hours. The causes of a lack of safety in these schools reside within and without the schools, implying that learners are sometimes the culprits. The study concludes with recommendations on addressing the problem. Keywords: crime; exploration; school safety; teachers’ and learners’ rights; township secondary schools; violence

The impact of teachers’ limited English proficiency on English second language learners in South African schools

The importance of the role of language in teacher education programmes and in children’s learning is crucial. This study focuses on the use of English as the language of learning and teaching and its impact on the language development of English second language (ESL) student teachers and ESL learners. Against the background of major theories in second language (L2) acquisition and learning, this topic is contextualized within the South African education system. An empirical inquiry was carried out in which portfolios (evidence of practical teaching including lesson plans and learners’ work) submitted by final year student teachers enrolled at a large distance teaching university for the Advanced Certificate in Education: Inclusive Education were scrutinised. A comparison of teacher and learner written errors was made. Based on the findings, a questionnaire was designed to determine the extent of the impact of teachers’ limited English proficiency on learners’ English proficiency. The findings of the questionnaire responses are presented. Recommendations are made on how student teachers can improve their teaching practice to ensure quality ESL teacher input and ESL learner performance. Keywords: English second language; input; learners; limited English proficiency; student teachers