An investigation of the attitudes of high school learners towards life orientation
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Date
2011
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Abstract
This study aims to investigate the attitude of High School learners towards Life
Orientation. Life Orientation is a new learning area that is being introduced into South
African schools as part of curriculum transformation in our democracy. It is intended
to equip learners with the skills to live meaningful lives in a society that requires rapid
transformation.
Our country has seen many changes lately within the context of the advancement of
democracy and education is not exempt from these changes. Parker (1998) argued that
people who will survive in society are people who have the ability to receive and
process information quickly. More than a decade later his comment still rings true.
This study of attitudes towards Life Orientation attempts to find out if knowledge that
learners receive in Life Orientation is relevant enough to make learners live
meaningful lives in a society that is so rapidly transforming.
The research was conducted in twelve high schools which were randomly selected in
and around the Pietermaritzburg and Durban Areas. Triangulation of qualitative and
quantitative data was used. Questionnaires were administered to high school learners
and key questions which inform outcomes and the content that is covered in Life
Orientation were used to:
determine learners’ attitudes towards Life Orientation through the use of
questionnaires;
establish the relationship (if any) between the nature of attitudes and respondents’
response variables such as age, gender and learner performance; and
determine the extent to which learners feel empowered by Life Orientation.
The status and practice of Life Orientation reveal that learners have a positive attitude
towards Life Orientation but they appear to attach more emphasis and display more
attitudinal reaction to such issues as HIV/AIDS, personal development as well as the
career aspects of Life Orientation. Furthermore, the study revealed that aspects of life
orientation that are peripheral to individuals such as the qualities of Ubuntu
(communality) and tolerance were considered important only later in the life of
learners.
The attitude of learners is influenced by the context they find themselves in.
Educators were found to have contributed to the attitudes of their learners as
interpreters of the curriculum. Lastly, findings also revealed qualitative development
of wisdom in learners as they progress through their grades in their high school years.
The findings of the research require attention by the Education Department to deal
with educators, so that they can impact learners’ attitudes positively towards a desired
outcome because they determine what is regarded as valuable knowledge. The need to
place equal value on other aspects of Life Orientation requires strengthening in order
to produce learners who will live meaningful lives in a society that requires rapid
transformation.
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Education (Psychology Department) at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2011.
Keywords
Life orientation - learner attitudes