Step children of the science department? The neglect of the Grade 8 and 9 natural sciences teachers in South African secondary schools

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-247
Author(s):  
Cynthia B Malinga ◽  
Loyiso C Jita

To date, little research has been conducted on subject leadership by primary and/or junior secondary school heads of department (HODs). Unlike their senior secondary school counterparts, South African science HODs have the more complex task of leading in the multidisciplinary context of natural sciences (NS 1 ). Such leadership comes in addition to the complications of role ambiguity, limited time and authority that are inherent in the HOD position. Using interviews and 360° multi-rater by four teachers and subject meeting observations, data were transcribed and categorised into themes that describe the instructional leadership practices of three NS HODs in South Africa. This paper is part of a more comprehensive PhD study. It suggests that providing leadership for NS teaching is more complex in practice than has been reported to date. In the context of increasing focus on accountability and national testing, the unintended consequence has been the neglect of the junior secondary NS teachers by the HODs. Furthermore, the data suggest that the HODs tend to limit their attention to areas of their own specialisation. The paper concludes with a conceptual framework that provides guidance for improving instructional leadership by the HODs in such multidisciplinary contexts, especially for the junior secondary school levels. It also recommends the restructuring of the conglomerate departments to make them more effective.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-357
Author(s):  
A. Abdullahi ◽  
M. K. Anigo ◽  
A. O. Owolabi ◽  
U. Alhassan ◽  
A. B. Sallau ◽  
...  

Studies on the nutritional status of adolescents in Dankande community of Kaduna metropolis were carried out. Adolescence is a period between 10 to 19 years of age. This period is a critical period where a healthy diet is needed for proper growth, development, academic performances and human capital development. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to assessed socio-demographic characteristic of the adolescent caregivers and dietary pattern of the adolescent while weight, height and BMI were used to assess the anthropometry indices of adolescent. 37.2% of adolescents were between age 10-14 years while 62.8% were between 15-19 years. Also, 5.1% of the adolescents were married, 88.5 were single and 6.4% windowed. (19.2%) of adolescents has no formal education, (2.6%) completed primary school, (29.5%) uncompleted primary school, (2.6%) completed Junior Secondary School, (19.2%) uncompleted Junior Secondary School, while (1.3%) completed Senior Secondary and (25.6%) did not complete Senior Secondary respectively. However, on average (35.9%) of adolescent were dieting and (64.1%) were not dieting while (32.1%) were concerned about their weight and (67.9%) were not concerned about their weight. Few adolescents were losing control of their weight (24.4%) while the majority had their weight in check (75.6%), they engaged in physical activity (85.9%), while many adolescents spent more than two hours per day watching tv/games (69.2%).  17.9% engage in smoking while (5.1%) are involved in drinking alcohol, beer or wine. The nutritional status of adolescents of Dankande community of Kaduna state (56.4%) is good when compared with the national average


2021 ◽  
pp. 49-64
Author(s):  
Graeme Miller

This paper reports on a 2016-2019 study of 123 students in the most academic Year 9 class in a large, high-achieving New Zealand state boys’ secondary school. The study asked the question: “What aspects of society, schools and teachers, home environment and your own intrapersonal qualities helped or hindered your achievement in at least one academic subject?” Data were gathered through the completion of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, either in focus groups, or individually. Arguably, the most important findings related to participant perceptions of the greatest influence supporting achievement and the single most common factor identified as hindering achievement. The greatest help was identified to be students’ own intrapersonal characteristics, and the greatest hindrance was identified to be schools and teachers. This paper reports on the main findings of the research with particular emphasis on those with relevance to educators. It also considers what the major implications are for educational practice in New Zealand schools.


2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Peltzer

The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting HIV risk reduction among junior secondary school pupils in South Africa. Opsomming Die doel van hierdie studie was om HIV risiko reduksie faktore onder junior sekondêre skool leerlinge in Suid-Afrika te identifiseer. *Please note: This is a reduced version of the abstract. Please refer to PDF for full text.


2013 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadir, Jl ◽  
Mayjen S. Parman

Mathematical communication skills of junior secondary school students in coastal area are still considered low due to the lack of contextual problem technique in the teaching of mathematics. The various potencies of the coastal area have been damaged without any concern. It is interesting to investigate the contextual problem in mathematics teaching because it can be identified, required, and related to everyday life. The objective of this study is to enhance mathematical communication skills of junior secondary school students in the coastal area. Using coastal-based contextual teaching and learning (CCTL) can enhance: (1) students’ mathematical communication skills better than conventional teaching and learning (CVTL); and (2) the students’ learning activity, fluency of argument in problem solving process, advanced question skills, and knowledge of coastal area potencies and problems.


Author(s):  
Latifah Mutiara Sari ◽  
Sarwaji Surwandi ◽  
Sahid Teguh Widodo

This study aims to interpret ekokritik literary theory by expressing the value of environmental wisdom focused on respect for nature of fo Alas Kobong Folklore in Pacitan Regency. Ekokritik literature to examine the application of this folklore is through data classification based on the moral principles of environmental wisdom focused on respect for nature. The shape of this research is descriptive qualitative with an interactive approach to data sources transcript of interviews about Alas Kobong folklore of participants in Pacitan Regency. Data were collected through interviews, observation, documentation, field notes and transcriptions. There are three aspects of data analysis techniques, namely the description, analysis, and interpretation. The results of this study found five data contained in a respectful attitude towards nature which is included in the value of environmental wisdom of  Alas Kobong folklore in Pacitan Regency. In addition, the folklore of Alas Kobong can also implies learning literature junior secondary school Adiwiyata curriculum.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document