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- Despite high hopes that schools are institutions of integrity and are properly governed, very few have demonstrated this with distinction. With this article we argue that good governance depends on the partnership between schools and parents in times of emergency. The theoretical framework from Epstein’s theory of overlapping spheres of influence was used to alarm stakeholders to guard against overlapping one’s roles during an emergency. In the study reported on here we used a qualitative research method, which allows data to be collected using semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions as research instruments. The data were collected from stakeholders of school governing bodies (SGBs) and school management teams (SMTs) through WhatsApp and Zoom meetings. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The research findings reveal, among other problems, that most parents are digital immigrants who refuse to participate in virtual platforms for fear of endorsing remote learning, and that poor teaching and learning is due to a lack of access to digital technology, data, and poor connectivity. We recommend that parents should support remote learning for learners to achieve quality education beyond the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
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- 2020| Adonis & Abbey Publi...This study explored the challenges of retaining qualified but scarce subject teachers such as mathematics and physical sciences teachers in rural secondary schools from the lens of education stakeholders in Mutale district, Limpopo. Given the importance of education to individual and national development, particularly in meeting technology needs, knowledge of mathematics and the physical sciences are indispensable. Stemming from this concern, a qualitative research design using a case study approach was adopted to explore the views of 10 sampled stakeholders one circuit manager, three principals and six teachers in three randomly selected rural secondary schools. An unstructured face-to-face interviews was conducted to collect data on which a thematic analysis was carried out. The findings showed that there is a shortage in the supply of qualified mathematics and science teachers. The lack of social and physical infrastructures, a functional transportation system, poverty-induced learner absenteeism, and temporary employment of the few qualified teachers available were the major challenges to retaining qualified teachers in the rural schools in Mutale district, Limpopo. Pertinent suggestions were made, which include National Students Financial Aids Scheme (NSFAS) increment for mathematics and physical science education pre-service teachers in the university and teachers training institutions.
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- 2023| University of Manage...Various scholars have demonstrated the intricate and diverse nature of social disparities in South Africa. These inequalities are evident in dividing schools into urban and rural settings and distinguishing between wellequipped and inadequately equipped institutions. This division significantly impacts learners' performance across the nation's schools. Of particular disadvantage are rural schools, which grapple with constrained resources. This scarcity poses challenges for stakeholders involved in curriculum management and effective delivery within these schools. The legacy of apartheid has further compounded the hurdles faced in curriculum management within rural schools. The lingering imbalances from that era remain primarily unresolved, evident in the deficient resourcing and infrastructure prevalent in many rural schools. This study embraced an interpretivist perspective to gain insight into the experiences of 40 school principals from rural educational institutions in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. Employing semi-structured interviews, researchers analysed audio recordings through thematic analysis. The findings disclosed a pronounced need for more clarity in curriculum management as a principal impediment to efficiently handling resources and sustaining infrastructure. Moreover, the study uncovered a novel social phenomenon of collusion between principals and suppliers, which detrimentally impacts the education system by restricting access to quality and sufficient resources. Thus, the study proposes that school principals adopt pragmatic and transparent strategies in resource management. It further advocates for implementing suitable oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability and effective infrastructure utilisation in curriculum execution.
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- The Government of South Africa has declared tourism as one of the six pillars for economic growth in line with the New Growth Path. Furthermore, local economic development in South Africa has galvanised widespread attention from government, non-governmental organisations, scholars, and practitioners. The national government acknowledges that South Africa’s local economic development is the strategic enabler for national economic and development objectives and in particular of South Africa's National Development Plan Vision 2030. In addition, South Africa’s local economic development is viewed as an important potential catalytic instrument to create the necessary broad partnerships and conditions for economic development that can generate better and higher quality service delivery, decent jobs, participation and empowerment of communities, women, youth, and vulnerable groups. This study focuses on local economic development with a specific focus in tourism development) within major tourism hubs of the former Transkei region. These hubs include Coffee Bay, Port’s St John’s and Mthatha situated in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Moreover, the study contends that prioritisation of sustainable tourism development using local economic development by the former Transkei region has a potential to unlock economic sectors for the communities of OR Tambo District Municipality. In this context, local government is considered to be at the forefront of advocating for pro-poor tourism and local economic development policies. Lastly, the study employs a Participatory Action Research in diagnosing some of the bottlenecks Eastern Cape’s tourism hubs are grappling with. In conclusion, the findings of the study underscore that there is a need for a Public-Private Partnership framework that would further enable the growth of tourism using local economic development. This Public-Private Partnership framework could inform policy direction for the entire local government community in Eastern Cape. Such process will assist OR Tambo District Municipality communities in mitigating challenges of triple threat (poverty, inequality, and unemployment) through sustainable tourism and local economic development.
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- This study explored the perspectives of teachers on learners’ performance in scarce skill subjects. A qualitative approach was used to investigate the challenges of teaching and learning scarce skill subjects in King Cetshwayo District. Bronfenbrenner's theory of ecological systems was adopted as the theoretical framework to underpin the phenomenon. The theory enables the researchers to understand human development in various social, legal, economic, political, and technological environments. A semi-structured interview guide was used for the data collection for the study. Data from the face-to-face individual interviews were thematically analyzed to present interpretive findings for discussions. Findings revealed that several factors, such as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, and inadequate appointments of teachers, contributed to learners’ poor academic performance in scarce skill subjects. Seemingly, inadequate necessary support from stakeholders affects the teaching and learning of these subjects in South African high schools. The study recommends collaborative effort among all stakeholders through regular evaluation of teaching to enhance learners’ academic performance.
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- First year students in different universities in South Africa are usually confronted with series of challenges when transmitting from high schools into the universities. The environments most times are different from what exist in their high schools. The focus of this paper was to explore the academic hurdles confronting the undergraduate students at a rural university. Robert Havighurst's developmental task theory which talks about different problems faced by people at different stages of life was the theory that underpin this qualitative study. Twenty first year students were engaged in focus group in-depth interviews. Thematic content analysis of the data revealed themes that were findings of this study. Findings revealed that first year students, especially at the rural university were confronted with academic challenges such as problems of academic writing in higher education, teaching and learning in English, lack of computer knowledge or skills. Findings further indicated that the students also experience challenges in social relationships and access to support services in the universities due to their socio-economic background. The study therefore recommends that all stakeholders should provide adequate and necessary support services for the students to integrate them appropriately into the system.
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