This study investigates factors that influence environmental teaching in rural
schools in the Ngqeleni District, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Focusgroup
interviews at selected schools for Grade 4 to 6 teachers were held between
7th and 22nd November 2005. The study shows that the environmental curriculum,
teacher qualifications and training, resources, attitudes of teachers and learners,
governance and the context, influence the implementation of environmental
teaching. The study reflects that teacher qualifications and training are the most
limiting factors and need to be addressed immediately because environmental
curriculum is not effectively delivered.
Recommendations provided entail that teachers need to be included during the
curriculum planning process together with curriculum experts from the Department
of Education. The Department of Education also needs to effectively plan teacher
training and extend the training period for teachers. Intersectoral collaboration
within government in terms of how teachers are trained might also be helpful for
better environmental teaching. A buddy system in which schools form
environmental support groups might be helpful to keep on building local
experience and capacity at the local level.
Teachers are supposed to be part of the pUblishing process of resource materials
to ensure relevance of resource materials to their contexts. A traveling resource
centre with DVD's, for example, for shOWing different contexts beyond local level
might also be helpful. Further training of teaching staff and the use of study trips
for the best classes of pupils might also motivate learners and teachers. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/3425 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Gxaba, Nobuntu Judith. |
| Contributors | Fincham, Robert J., Lawhon, Mary. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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