International Journal of Educational Development in Africa

Exploring the Value and Affordances of Psychoanalysis in the Teaching of English Literary Texts in South African Secondary Education

John Simango — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Teachers and learners at South African secondary schools face a variety of challenges, of which some are psychological, emotional, and hidden from the untrained eye. It is, therefore, crucial to search for methods or theories to help learners with emotional and psychological challenges. The study explored and interrogated one overlooked theory that could help in this regard: the psychoanalytic theory. This Freudian theory is believed to offer a different kind of literary criticism which focuses on the subconscious mental activities and unusual behaviours in literary texts to resolve psychological challenges in education and society. The study investigated the nature, affordances, teaching methods, and challenges and solutions associated with the theory. The study also revealed some practical benefits of the theory for English literary education and life in general. Additionally, the study found that the theory is valuable in equipping teachers and learners with psychoanalytic knowledge and skills to critically analyse English literary content. The study also established that psychoanalytic abilities can help identify and resolve psychological challenges in an educational environment and society in general.

Peace Studies, Knowledge and Learner Achievement

Vuyisile Msila — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

All conscientious school leaders as well as parents aspire for peaceful schools where knowledge about peace will thrive, and role-players will be conscious human rights. Research has demonstrated that when learners have learnt about peace they are able to reshape their thinking as they consciously build optimism about the world. Arguably, all countries would embrace schools that promote peace within the curriculum. Yet, apart from promoting reflection and dialogue on peace, few studies have examined the link between peace and learner achievement. As such this study examined the impact of peace studies on learner achievement. The qualitative study was conducted in four high schools that had been riddled by violence over a period of two years. Teachers in these schools had undergone informal peace training in attempts to lessen violence. The findings revealed that learners learned about handling conflicts, understanding the concept of good values as well as respect and knowledge. It was also found that learners whose schools have run critical programmes in peace studies are likely to use positive school climate, useful knowledge, and maximisation of positive learner behavior for their success. Peace may therefore be a little recognised factor that may support learner success and minimise the dropout rates. Finally, the study showed that peace and progress go hand in hand when teachers and their learners do not have to focus on addressing violence. The schools become more prosperous when they use stability to enhance a positive climate and promote peace and learners’ achievement.

Like an Inflatable Raft on Rapid Tides: Barriers to Community-Gown Projects at an Emerging Rural University in Zimbabwe

Bonginkosi Hardy Mutongoza — Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Community-gown projects are primarily intended to address the multi-faceted challenges in the developing world where vices such as poverty and inequality are exceptionally high. These projects thus present developing communities and the Global South as a whole with a potential pathway to development because their proponents argue that they are aimed at helping stakeholders actively participate in building sustainable communities. It is contended that universities are strategically poised to deliver sustainable development goals through knowledge production, dissemination, and research by promoting active citizenship and fostering responsible actions. This study examines the obstacles to community-gown projects at a newly established institution in Zimbabwe. To achieve this, the study employed a qualitative research approach through which data were collected using interviews with students, lecturers, and deans involved in community development projects at the university. Essential insights included that undertaking community-gown projects were being impeded by financial constraints, infrastructural inadequacies, and issues surrounding community access and accessibility, among other factors. The researcher recommends that universities consider regular auditing of the impacts of their projects in host communities and also have clear-cut policies on funding and the regulation of community-gown projects.

Teaching Citizenship Education in Ghana Basic Schools: The Quest to Achieve Patriotism and Democracy

Ruth Donkoh, Wing On Lee, Josephine Donkor — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In Ghana, citizenship education aims to inculcate in pupils the behaviours, values and attitudes that enhance democracy and patriotism to produce efficient global citizens. However, Ghana is confronted with numerous social vices and atrocities due to pseudo-citizens who suppress the achievement of the country’s citizenship education objectives. Moreover, the reasons why citizenship education has not been able to achieve its objectives are unfounded. Using John Rawls’ theory for civic education, this study sought to identify the reasons for teaching citizenship education; assess if the teaching of citizenship education has achieved its objectives; identify the challenges that militate against the teaching of citizenship education; and identify the strategies that need to be adopted to improve the teaching of citizenship education. A triangulation mixed-methods approach was adopted. Quantitatively, 456 teachers from 72 schools participated in a questionnaire survey. Qualitatively, eight teachers participated in a semi-structured interview. In addition, there was a content analysis of the citizenship education syllabus objectives and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) objectives. The results revealed that teaching citizenship education can help promote democracy and patriotism, but the objectives of teaching citizenship education are yet to be achieved. Moreover, challenges, such as a lack of trained teachers to teach citizenship education lessons and teaching-learning materials, militate against teaching citizenship education. However, it was found that providing specially trained teachers to teach citizenship education could salvage the situation. Moreover, it is recommended that the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), development partners, and volunteers should provide resources for the NCCE and institutions and assign specially trained teachers to teach citizenship education lessons in schools. Furthermore, the citizenship education syllabus needs to elaborate on the social vices in society to nurture citizens of noble character for posterity.

Grade 9 Learners’ Perceptions of the Influence of Peer Relationships on Their Mathematics Performance in Tshwane Municipality Secondary Schools

Bamidele Segun Donald Odeyemi, Rasheed Ajani Idowu — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study explored the grade 9 learners’ perceptions of the influence of peer relationships on their mathematics performance in Tshwane municipality secondary schools, South Africa. The study engaged a mixed method approach and applied a descriptive survey design. The sample consisted of 400 learners (280 females and 120 males). A self-fashioned questionnaire was used for data collection, as well as a few open ended questions. The learners’ termly result in mathematics was also used to ascertain their level of achievement. Quantitative data were analysed using the Pearson product moment correlation, while qualitative data were analysed in a narrative form. One null hypothesis was tested for the study and it was rejected. The study disclosed that grade 9 learners’ perceptions of peer relationships was not a statistically significant factor influencing their mathematics performance. The study concluded that peer relationships were poorly appraised, hence could not have influenced grade 9 learners’ mathematics performance. The study recommends that teachers and stakeholders in schools should consider the advocacy of positive peer relationships among learners to help foster acceptability among learners. Furthermore, advocacy for cooperative and interactive learning is recommended to enable learners to learn from each other effectively; this will foster peer mentoring.

The Role of Educational Stakeholders in Mitigating Socio-Economic Shocks Causing Students to Drop Out of School in East Shewa, Ethiopia

Endalew Kufi — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyses the role that key education stakeholders play in mitigating socio-economic shocks causing students to drop out of school. The study investigated the role of teachers, parents, support providers, and administrators in four districts of East Shewa zone in Oromia Region, Ethiopia, with respect to their understanding of the severity of school drop-out, collaborative actions to combat it, and context-based handling of shocks. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was employed. Pertinent data were collected from second-cycle primary schools in the areas of Adea, Dugda, Gimbichu, and Fentalle, which were selected based on cluster sampling. Semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions were utilised for the purposively selected participants and a binary-mode questionnaire for the randomly selected groups of teachers in the targeted schools. Data were collected and analysed systematically by means of percentage points and thematic analysis. The findings show that though causes of school drop-out were diverse from place to place in accordance with the socio-economic conditions of the respective communities, the actions taken to combat school drop-out were not cognisant of the communities’ socio-economic conditions as they did not consider the varied nature of shocks. While school drop-out was understood to be a misfortune among supportive groups, teachers, and supervisors, it was not equally understood so by parents, who appeared as representatives of the community. Strategies that different education stakeholders used to combat factors leading to school drop-out were not focused and context friendly.

Exploring Strategies for Rebranding of Technical and Vocational Education in Developing Countries: A Case of Ghanaian Tutors and Administrators

Ernest Kissi, Micheal Adesi, Alex Acheampong, Ivy Maame Abu — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the persistent request from educational stakeholders to embrace technical and vocational education training (TVET) for sustainable livelihood and development, enrolment in TVET institutions in developing countries is still very low. This study, therefore, seeks to explore factors for the rebranding of TVET in Ghana. This quantitative study proposed five key strategies to be adopted in rebranding TVET in Ghana: government; training providers; parents and guardians; donor and development partners; and employer-related rebranding strategies. The study reveals that governmental strategies perceived to be critical in the rebranding of TVET in Ghana include offering legislative backing to national TVET policy, mainstreaming vocational education into the general education system, and setting up venture capital to support TVET graduates. Trainers should develop business plans to support training activities, networking, and benchmarking with other providers, and establish strong linkages and collaboration with employers and industry. The findings of this study are critical to the development of Ghana and other developing countries as TVET significantly contributes to developing the skill base of any country and increases the employment rate. Rebranding TVET is a step in the right direction towards implementing government policies.