This dissertation is entitled, "The Awareness of Wildlife Conservation by learners and educators in
the Bojanala District". Following a national initiative driven by the Department of Education, the
entire School Curriculum is being changed. Since 1998 there has been a shift from the traditional
system of individual, unrelated subjects to an emphasis on integrated themes. The subject of
environment was to be incorporated into the new curriculum, particularly at the primary school
level, through these themes. The Environmental Education, particularly wildlife conservation topics
are therefore likely to receive more attention than it has in the past. However the system has not yet
been designed to cater for such topics, which can educate learners on how to preserve, protect and
conserve their wildlife species. It is unclear how effective education around environmental issues
will be.
The study sought to answer the following research questions:
• Does the National Curriculum Statement cater for Environmental Education,
particularly for the wildlife conservation topics in Bojanala District?
• Do educators in schools and other NGO'S promote wildlife conservation in Bojanala
District?
• What learners' and educators' activities and natural traits endanger wildlife?
• Can game animals be managed sustainably?
The study drew its population and sample from the Bojanala District area which included both
Bojanala West and Bojanala East. The data collected through questionnaire and interviews were
subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analysis.
The literature search revealed that wildlife extinction comes about when the birth rate of an
established population remains less than its death rate for a sufficiently long time interval to allow
random fluctuations in the yearly death rate to diminish the population size to zero. Findings on the
view of people were also noted. Learners and educators, including other community members
around the Bojanala District area, particularly in the rural areas, have unquestionably contributed to
the high rate of extinction of many modem species either directly through hunting or indirectly
through habitat destruction. Most of the learners lack information as far as wildlife conservation is
concerned.
Concerning the remedies, environmentalists and NGO'S around the Bojanala District areas should
ensure and encourage the conservation organizations to collaborate their conservation projects
together with the local schools to ensure proper understanding as far as wildlife conservation is
concerned and to educate both learners and educators on how to protect wildlife species.
Finally, to ensure success in trying to deal with the problem caused by lack of knowledge in wildlife
conservation matters or projects, the study expressed the need for further research to be conducted
on the Curriculum Development, to find out why Environmental Education programmes,
particularly wildlife conservation topics are not yet included or integrated into other school learning
areas. / Thesis (M.Ed) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2010
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/15751 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Khumalo, Ramanakana Frederick |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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