Igniting a revolution at point zero? Exploring the barriers to early learning access in South Africa and the possibility of the social economy : a comparative analysis and study of Smartstart
- Authors: McCann, Claire Mary
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Early childhood education South Africa , Social economy South Africa , Smart Start , Education and state South Africa , Social democracy , Dual economy South Africa , South Africa Economic conditions 1991-
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403080 , vital:69920
- Description: Economic theory suggests that the greatest return to education investment is in the earliest years; early learning and childcare may enhance skill accumulation and mothers’ labour market choices. These services may be catalytic, igniting a revolution at point zero that transforms family outcomes and aids development. In South Africa, however, early learning deficits persist. This thesis explores barriers to quality early learning access and the possibility social economy initiatives offer, focusing on social franchises like SmartStart. Document analysis, comparative analysis, and interviews with SmartStart leaders suggest two key barriers. Firstly, where private firms are dominant and ability to pay for services is limited, low-income areas are under-served. For this reason, Polanyi claims that markets should be embedded in institutions. A post-Polanyian approach emphasises the role of social investment states, which focus spending on education and where social protection scaffolds markets, in this regard. The South African state seems to embrace this approach as ECD policy frames early learning as a public good and social investment. However, a second barrier is that an insulated state enables technocratic over democratic embeddedness, with powerful rights-based discourse but poor implementation. In particular, it seems that the state lacks a framework to progressively realise the right to quality early learning. Attempts to enforce high standards are not accompanied by sufficient resources, capacity or collaboration, resulting in sub-standard services and barriers to entry. Even in better resourced contexts (e.g., Basic Education), top-down, technocratic models (re)produce failing systems, where those with means exit in favour of market alternatives. An exploration of other developing countries suggests that this failure, with variations, prevails, but also that possibility exists. In these contexts, states seem more coordinated and responsive when partnering with civil society. In South Africa, the SmartStart model is based on partnership. SmartStart frames itself as a delivery platform, building relationships with local NGOs to simultaneously scale and deepen early learning. Partnerships with communities are crucial, to build demand in a sector whose association with social reproduction means that its economic significance may be overlooked. In addition, SmartStart puts forward a child-centred approach based on a prefigurative vision but also responsive to the realities of under-resourced contexts, aiming to progressively realise rights. Though with some limitations, SmartStart’s least-cost innovation for scale provides lessons for the state. As the state’s ECD mandate shifts to Basic Education, these findings serve to inform a more effective implementation model, leveraging resources that already exist. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: McCann, Claire Mary
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Early childhood education South Africa , Social economy South Africa , Smart Start , Education and state South Africa , Social democracy , Dual economy South Africa , South Africa Economic conditions 1991-
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403080 , vital:69920
- Description: Economic theory suggests that the greatest return to education investment is in the earliest years; early learning and childcare may enhance skill accumulation and mothers’ labour market choices. These services may be catalytic, igniting a revolution at point zero that transforms family outcomes and aids development. In South Africa, however, early learning deficits persist. This thesis explores barriers to quality early learning access and the possibility social economy initiatives offer, focusing on social franchises like SmartStart. Document analysis, comparative analysis, and interviews with SmartStart leaders suggest two key barriers. Firstly, where private firms are dominant and ability to pay for services is limited, low-income areas are under-served. For this reason, Polanyi claims that markets should be embedded in institutions. A post-Polanyian approach emphasises the role of social investment states, which focus spending on education and where social protection scaffolds markets, in this regard. The South African state seems to embrace this approach as ECD policy frames early learning as a public good and social investment. However, a second barrier is that an insulated state enables technocratic over democratic embeddedness, with powerful rights-based discourse but poor implementation. In particular, it seems that the state lacks a framework to progressively realise the right to quality early learning. Attempts to enforce high standards are not accompanied by sufficient resources, capacity or collaboration, resulting in sub-standard services and barriers to entry. Even in better resourced contexts (e.g., Basic Education), top-down, technocratic models (re)produce failing systems, where those with means exit in favour of market alternatives. An exploration of other developing countries suggests that this failure, with variations, prevails, but also that possibility exists. In these contexts, states seem more coordinated and responsive when partnering with civil society. In South Africa, the SmartStart model is based on partnership. SmartStart frames itself as a delivery platform, building relationships with local NGOs to simultaneously scale and deepen early learning. Partnerships with communities are crucial, to build demand in a sector whose association with social reproduction means that its economic significance may be overlooked. In addition, SmartStart puts forward a child-centred approach based on a prefigurative vision but also responsive to the realities of under-resourced contexts, aiming to progressively realise rights. Though with some limitations, SmartStart’s least-cost innovation for scale provides lessons for the state. As the state’s ECD mandate shifts to Basic Education, these findings serve to inform a more effective implementation model, leveraging resources that already exist. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
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An exploration of how schools and teachers interpret and implement the Language in Education Policy for their classroom practice: a case study
- Authors: Sibanda, Sikhumbuzo
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Language policy South Africa , Education and state South Africa , Critical discourse analysis , Native language and education South Africa Kuruman , Educational change South Africa , South Africa Colonial influence , South African Language in Education Policy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192035 , vital:45190
- Description: This case study explored how schools and teachers interpret and implement the Language in Education Policy for their classroom practices. Scholars like Alexander and Block (2012) note that the South African Language in Education Policy (LiEP) is one of the advanced policies globally. Other scholars like Perry (2015) and Ngcobo (2015) state that the policy in South Africa has failed when it comes to implementation. It is against this background that the research explored how schools and teachers interpret and implement the Language in Education Policy for their classroom practice in three primary schools in Kuruman, Northern Cape. The research methodology was qualitative and it used a case study approach. The study is informed and framed by the Language Policy framework and the CDA (Critical Discourse Analysis). The research sites were three Grade 4 classes and the participants were three teachers, three principals and three SGB Chairpersons from three different schools (one school in deep rural, another in semi-urban and the third in urban) in Kuruman. This case study, located in the interpretive paradigm, employed individual semi-structured interviews, non-participant classroom observations, document analyses and field notes for data collection. The study revealed that teachers are not versed in LiEP and their classroom practice is therefore not based on policy but on their own perceptions. Classroom practices were incongruent with what the Language in Education Policy requires. Even other documents which support the Language in Education Policy like the school language policies, were not used as guiding documents for classroom practice. Lastly, this study revealed that, despite a plethora of literature on how practice engages and disengages with Language in Education Policy (LiEP), the deconstruction of colonial and apartheid education is still a challenge especially in language use, perceptions of mother tongue instruction and the hegemony of English. One of the recommendations of this study is that teachers must be taught to use Languages of Learning and teaching required in their areas and they should also be given continuous professional development courses on policies so as to improve their practice. Language Policy Units should be set up within the provincial and district Departments of Education that would support the implementation of LiEP. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
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- Authors: Sibanda, Sikhumbuzo
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Language policy South Africa , Education and state South Africa , Critical discourse analysis , Native language and education South Africa Kuruman , Educational change South Africa , South Africa Colonial influence , South African Language in Education Policy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192035 , vital:45190
- Description: This case study explored how schools and teachers interpret and implement the Language in Education Policy for their classroom practices. Scholars like Alexander and Block (2012) note that the South African Language in Education Policy (LiEP) is one of the advanced policies globally. Other scholars like Perry (2015) and Ngcobo (2015) state that the policy in South Africa has failed when it comes to implementation. It is against this background that the research explored how schools and teachers interpret and implement the Language in Education Policy for their classroom practice in three primary schools in Kuruman, Northern Cape. The research methodology was qualitative and it used a case study approach. The study is informed and framed by the Language Policy framework and the CDA (Critical Discourse Analysis). The research sites were three Grade 4 classes and the participants were three teachers, three principals and three SGB Chairpersons from three different schools (one school in deep rural, another in semi-urban and the third in urban) in Kuruman. This case study, located in the interpretive paradigm, employed individual semi-structured interviews, non-participant classroom observations, document analyses and field notes for data collection. The study revealed that teachers are not versed in LiEP and their classroom practice is therefore not based on policy but on their own perceptions. Classroom practices were incongruent with what the Language in Education Policy requires. Even other documents which support the Language in Education Policy like the school language policies, were not used as guiding documents for classroom practice. Lastly, this study revealed that, despite a plethora of literature on how practice engages and disengages with Language in Education Policy (LiEP), the deconstruction of colonial and apartheid education is still a challenge especially in language use, perceptions of mother tongue instruction and the hegemony of English. One of the recommendations of this study is that teachers must be taught to use Languages of Learning and teaching required in their areas and they should also be given continuous professional development courses on policies so as to improve their practice. Language Policy Units should be set up within the provincial and district Departments of Education that would support the implementation of LiEP. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
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