An investigation into the pre-service training of secondary school mathematics teachers at colleges of education administered by the House of Representatives
- Authors: Hendricks, Mogamat Armien
- Date: 1989
- Subjects: Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Colored people (South Africa) -- Education Colored people (South Africa) -- Education (Secondary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1864 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004591
- Description: This study involves an investigatioh into the nature and effectiveness of the pre-service training, where provided, of secondary school Mathematics teachers at the 11 colleges of education administered by the House of Representatives in the Republic of South Africa. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the HDE (Secondary) course offered at some of the aforementioned colleges of education is justified, In spite of the fact that it contravenes the requirements of the Education Act, No. 73 of 1969. Three different questionnaires were designed and during 1986 were sent to heads of Mathematics departments at the aforementioned colleges of education , to Mathematics teacher educators at these colleges and to beginning secondary school Mathematics teachers, teaching at schools administered by the House of Representatives in the Eastern Cape and Natal. The findings of this study show that the secondary course for Mathematics teachers is only offered at 5 of the 11 colleges of education and only a small percentage of students take this course. During 1986 most of the Mathematics teacher educators at the colleges of education were not suitably qualified. The study also shows that the Mathematics curriculum for the training of secondary school teachers is inadequate and a revision thereof is thus recommended. An obvious conclusion drawn from the findings is that the training of secondary school Mathematics teachers at these colleges of education is still in an early stage of development. One of the main recommendations of this study is that the training of secondary school Mathematics teachers at colleges of education administered by the House of Representatives should be terminated , in view of its ineffectiveness and In accordance with Education Act , No . 73 of 1969. On the other hand, in case this is not possible, suggestions are also made for the improvement of the pre-service training of secondary school mathematics teachers at these colleges of education.
- Full Text:
Syllabus differentiation in mathematics in Ciskei : the reality as against intention
- Authors: Deliwe, Mawonga Christopher Columbus
- Date: 1989
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Ciskei
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1370 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001436
- Description: The topic of this half-thesis was conceived after the author had noted with interest, that an alarmingly high number of pupils in the Mdantsane Central District of the Ciskei were registering for Higher Grade (HG) mathematics for their final (Standard 10) year. What mattered most was that the failure rate was abnormally high. As a teacher of the subject for 14 years as at the end of 1988, the author had seen very weak pupils passing through his hands who had nevertheless insisted on registering for the examination in HG mathematics. A look through the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Report of 1971 which recommended the syllabus differentiation, revealed that the intention of the relevant HSRC Committee was to offer a subject at a level in accordance with a pupil's interest, aptitude and ability. In a survey undertaken by the author, samples of teachers, pupils and parents indeed confirmed the existence of a very high number of HG candidates, as suspected. The survey also revealed an aversion to the standard grade (SG) course by some pupils, teachers and even principals. A desire for university education was shown to be in the minds of most pupil respondents. Well sourced registration statistics clearly showed that the Department of Education and Training (DET) in the Republic of South Africa and the Department of Education in the Ciskei had by far the greatest proportion of pupils on the HG in mathematics in comparison with the other race groups.Standard 10 (Std 10) results for two years taken separately confirmed the author's suspicion that aptitude and/or ability were not taken into consideration by most pupils, in the choice of grade. The results were not good at all. In most cases the uninformed pupil was acting alone in taking the important decision, perhaps with only peer group pressure to contend with. Three independent opinions suggested that there was probably a general feeling that Black education was already inferior, even without the syllabus differentiation hence the reluctance to register for the SG option. Furthermore, the investigation indicated that there was no adequate provision for technical education for Blacks in either the RSA or Ciskei which would provide the alternative to a university career for a pupiL Amongst other things, a mild form of pupil screening and a well structured careers guidance programme are suggested in the concluding chapters
- Full Text: