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The role of heads of departments in the teaching of mathematics in primary schools of the Eastern Cape Province

The study sought to investigate the role of Heads of Departments (HoDs) in the
teaching of mathematics in primary schools of the Eastern Cape Province in the OR
Tambo Inland District using a qualitative approach and a case study design in
particular. Data was collected using both semi-structured and focus group interviews
with eight purposively selected heads of departments in the district in six schools. Data
was analysed using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis from which three themes
emerged.
The first one was that the current performance management system interfered with
the roles and responsibilities of the HoDs in schools in their daily activities and in the
organisation of their work. Second, the barriers in achieving learners’ good
performance in mathematics interfered with the HoDs’ responsibilities to achieve good
learner performance in the subject. Third, a weak support system and inadequate
resources interfered with the learners’ performance in the subject.
The results here indicate that HoDs for mathematics experience various obstacles,
which affect subject teachers’ implementation to yield positive results, ultimately
leading to poor teaching and learning of the subject. These include the admission of
learners without the necessary foundations in mathematics which was viewed as an
obstacle to learner performance. The study further suggested that the HoDs of
mathematics should be capacitated on use of teaching aids, management and
administration to improve learner performance in the subject. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/27143
Date01 March 2021
CreatorsZide, Nkosinati Kennedy
ContributorsLekhetho, Mapheleba
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDissertation
Format1 online resource (xi, 104 leaves) : illustrations, color graphs, application/pdf

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