An evaluation of the implementation of Education White Paper 6 in selected full-service schools in KwaZulu-Natal

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Date
2015
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
Currently, South Africa is in phase two of implementing 50 full-service schools (FSS) and further development is said to be based on results from immediate to short-term results (DoE, 2005a). Concerns over the new development relate to whether resources are sufficient and available to further expand the provision of FSS and, overall, whether the Education White Paper 6 (EWP6) has been implemented successfully in phase one. This research therefore evaluates the implementation of EWP6 within selected phase one FSS in the Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) province. Purposive sampling was used and the researcher selected institutional-level support team (ILST) members within FSS to participate (n=43 participants). Questionnaires were self-administered and designed to address the following research questions: Have policy objectives been met in the implementation of EWP6 within FSS? What are the barriers to implementing EWP6 within FSS? And, what strategies have ILST members used to overcome these challenges? The questionnaire elicited both quantitative and qualitative data which was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software and thematic analysis. Some schools reported successes which include the enrolment of learners who experience diverse barriers to learning and optimistic attitudes among ILST members regarding possible benefits of inclusive education and their theoretical knowledge of multi-level teaching. Barriers to implementation of the EWP6 within FSS include inadequate resources (human, educational, physical and financial), inadequate support provision to FSS and ILST, inadequate training and subsequent training support and a lack of involvement from parents and communities. Many participants are unsure of how to overcome these challenges but, undoubtedly, are in need of support from communities, parents and the Department of Education (DoE).
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology) in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2015
Keywords
inclusive education --full service --education white paper 6 --barriers
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