scholarly journals Parental involvement in raising Grade 12 achievement in South African rural secondary schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 91-99
Author(s):  
Paul Karel Triegaardt ◽  
Veronica Mapaseka Monamoledi
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Parental Involvement ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
South African ◽  
Rural Schools ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Mpumalanga Province ◽  
The Right ◽  
South African Schools Act

The South African Schools Act No.84 of 1996 obliges parents to bring their children to school from the first day of their schooling. This means that the legislation gives parents the right to be fully involved in their children’s education for better academic achievement. This study examined parental involvement in raising Grade 12 achievement in South African rural schools. A qualitative study was done at three secondary schools in the Mkhuhlu circuit in the Bohlabela region of the Mpumalanga Province. Data were collected in the form of interviews from the principal, teachers, parents and Grade 12 learners at each of the three schools. The study found that at all three schools, parents were not aware of their importance to motivate learners to learn, the need to attend school regularly and the development of their own literacy skills to raise the results in Grade 12. Therefore, the study recommends that parents must be empowered by both teachers and principals in order for them to be able to execute their roles effectively.

scholarly journals THE RIGHT TO MOTHER-TONGUE EDUCATION: PRACTICABLE OR NOT?

Obiter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrizell Chürr
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
The South ◽  
National Education ◽  
Mother Tongue Education ◽  
South African Constitution ◽  
The Right ◽  
South African Schools Act

Mother-tongue and mother-tongue education are recognized worldwide as one of the most efficient ways to function cognitively and socially. This article addresses the role of proper mother-tongue education with an emphasis on the importance of “language” since language is vital to a child’s right to a basic education in all its dimensions. Without mother-tongue education, every child’s right to learn and to become a skilful adult, able to participate independently in society, is at risk. The cumulative effect of the South African Constitution, the National Education Policy Act, the South African Schools Act, several international instruments and a number of ground-breaking cases, as well as the interaction between them on mother-tongue education will be examined. The implementation of certain education models will also be proposed.

scholarly journals Perceptions of eating practices and physical activity among Malaysian adolescents in secondary schools: a qualitative study with multi-stakeholders

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shooka Mohammadi ◽  
Tin Tin Su ◽  
Angeliki Papadaki ◽  
Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin ◽  
Maznah Dahlui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Rural Schools ◽  
School Based ◽  
Adolescent Participation ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Malaysian Adolescents

Abstract Objective: To conduct formative research using qualitative methods among stakeholders of secondary schools to explore their perceptions, barriers and facilitators related to healthy eating and physical activity (PA) among Malaysian adolescents. Design: A qualitative study involving eight focus groups and twelve in-depth interviews. Focus groups and interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. Setting: Four secondary schools in Perak and Selangor states (two urban and two rural schools) in Malaysia. Participants: Focus groups were conducted with seventy-six adolescents aged 13–14 years, and in-depth interviews were conducted with four headmasters, four PA education teachers and four food canteen operators. Results: Stakeholders thought that adolescents’ misperceptions, limited availability of healthy options, unhealthy food preferences and affordability were important challenges preventing healthy eating at school. Low-quality physical education (PE) classes, limited adolescent participation and teachers’ commitment during lessons were perceived as barriers to adolescents being active at school. Affordability was the main challenge for adolescents from rural schools. Stakeholders perceived that a future school-based intervention should improve the availability and subsidies for healthy foods, provide health education/training for both adolescents and PE teachers, enhance active adolescent participation in PE and develop social support mechanisms to facilitate engagement with PA. Conclusions: These findings provide important insights into developing school-based lifestyle interventions to improve healthy eating and strengthening PA of Malaysian adolescents.

scholarly journals IMPROVING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF SCIENCE LEARNERS IN RURAL SCHOOLS THROUGH ASSESSMENT PRACTICES: A SOUTH AFRICAN CASE STUDY

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-531
Author(s):  
Rekai Zenda ◽  
Johanna G. Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Activity Theory ◽  
South African ◽  
Rural Schools ◽  
Science Achievement ◽  
Physical Sciences ◽  
Informal Assessment ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Group Interviews

This research was embarked on to explore the underperformance of Physical Sciences learners and the subsequent increasing unpopularity of the subject in South African rural schools. As poor academic achievement in science is a concern in many countries and not only in South Africa, qualitative research was undertaken to determine whether assessment can contribute to the improvement of learners’ academic achievement in this particular school subject. The research uses the Cultural and Historical Activity Theory as theoretical lens to analyse how assessment can improve the academic achievement of learners. Data were collected by means of face-to-face interviews with teachers, school principals and subject advisers, the “community” as advocated by the Activity Theory, while focus-group interviews were held with the learners who are the “subjects” in the Activity Theory. Verbatim findings highlight the views of participants and reveal that though efforts are made to incorporate a variety of informal assessment methods, key issues such as poor formulation of questions, weak comprehension skills and unsatisfactory interpretation of questions, remain a problem. Based on these findings, recommendations for improvement are proposed. Key words: case study; improving science achievement; physical sciences assessment; rural schools

scholarly journals The Effect of Home Environmental Factors on Students’ Academic Achievement: A Case of Community Secondary Schools in Monduli District, Tanzania

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. p354
Author(s):  
Baraka M. Ngussa, PhD ◽  
Adam J. Gundula
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Parental Involvement ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Academic Affairs ◽  
Social Economic Status ◽  
Monduli District ◽  
To Come

This study investigated on the effect of home environmental factors on students’ academic achievement among secondary schools in Monduli District, Tanzania using a descriptive design. A sample of 318 students from seven schools participated by filling the questionnaire. Validity of the instrument was ensured through expert judgment and the Cronbach’s Alpha in all three variables was above 0.6. Analysis of data employed descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established existence of parental involvement in pupils’ academic affairs. This was indicated by the facts that parents were committed to monitor students’ learning activities and give all kind of supports needed. Parents’ social economic status afforded to facilitate school needs of their children. Lastly, the study established a direct correlation between parental involvement and academic achievement, between social economic status and academic achievement and between social economic status and parental involvement. Based on these conclusions the researchers recommend that there is need to encourage parents to continue their parental involvement in their children’s academic affairs as this is a way of improving academic achievement. Furthermore, parents should be encouraged to come up with strategies that will help to improve their income, as this will enable sustainable provision of basic and school needs.

scholarly journals Analysing annual financial statements of public ordinary secondary schools in the Tshwane north district, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-258
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Doussy ◽  
Frank Doussy
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
South African ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
The South ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Accounting Practice ◽  
South African Schools Act

This paper presents the results from an analysis of the annual financial statements of public ordinary secondary schools in the Tshwane North District, South Africa. The analysis was done to assess the quality of these annual financial statements as well as the apparent usefulness thereof for the parents of the learners in the school. These users are probably most concerned with the quality and usefulness of information presented to them for providing the necessary assurance that the funds received by the school are properly accounted for and used to the advantage of their children. The results suggest that assurance in this regard is lacking as audits are not done at all, or are of an extremely poor quality. The quality of the financial statements is also poor, with scant regard for Generally Accepted Accounting Practice or the South African Schools Act. Urgent intervention from the Education Departments is needed to ensure that the South African Schools Act is adhered to and that proper audits are conducted by suitably qualified accountants and auditors. The South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA) should also play a more positive role in this regard by ensuring that audit practices are enforced and quality annual financial statements are presented.

scholarly journals #Schools on fire: Criminal justice responses to protests that impede the right to basic education

2017 ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
Ann Skelton ◽  
Martin Nsibirwa
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
South African ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
The South ◽  
Right To Education ◽  
The Right ◽  
South African Schools Act ◽  
School Property

  In recent years, schools have borne the brunt of protesters’ frustrations with the lack of access to services in South Africa. A 2016 investigative hearing by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) explored the causes of the protests and examined the failure to prevent the destruction of school property. It found that no one was held accountable for the protest-related damage. This article explores the competing constitutionally protected rights of protest and education. Although the right to protest is central in a democracy, it must be exercised peacefully with minimal disruptions to the right to education. Protest action that causes destruction should be criminally sanctioned; however, action that impedes access to education through threats and intimidation is difficult to deal with in the criminal justice system. This article questions the applicability of section 3(6) of the South African Schools Act, which makes it an offence to stop children attending school, and considers the proposed amendments to the Act in light of these critiques. The article explores possible prosecution relying on the Intimidation Act, and finds that the Act is under constitutional challenge. The article concludes that the focus on prevention as contained in the SAHRC report is not misplaced, given the challenges in holding protesters accountable under criminal law.

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