Assessing the performance in high schools offering tourism in Nkomazi sub-district in Mpumalanga province
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Date
2022
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University of Zululand
Abstract
In general, Tourism as a subject is regarded as an easy subject or a subject which is easy to be passed even if one does not have its background knowledge. A number of schools take the subject for granted in such a way that learners are encouraged to enrol for the subject at , without having any knowledge of the subject while in Grade 10 and 11. Some schools have failed to consider the special requirements as stipulated in the Tourism Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) before offering the subject. It has therefore become a common practice for a number of schools in the province that Tourism (as a school subject) is introduced without following the right procedure. The province has four districts: Bohlabela, Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande, and Nkangala. The study was conducted at Ehlanzeni district with the main focus on Nkomazi sub-district. The main aim of the study was to find out what could be the possible cause of underperformance of learners in high school doing Tourism at Grade 12 in Nkomazi sub-district in the Mpumalanga Province.
The key findings in this mixed methods research are as follows:
Apart from shortage and lack of recommended infrastructure (facilities), it was also found that Tourism classrooms not shared with other subjects were not available in 90% of the schools.
Scarcity of resources, absence of the internet connection, LTSM, including textbooks, maps and globes in schools were also found as impacting negatively on academic performance.
Teachers did not use a variety of teaching and learning styles, and strategies when teaching.
Assessment and assessment strategies including medium of instruction were found to be leading to misunderstanding of questions.
It was discovered also that lesson preparation is key, as it enabled the teacher to cover the content of the curriculum.
Regarding teacher qualification, 60% of the participants were of the opinion that teachers need to be qualified.
The study recommends that the Department of Education should not allow schools to offer Tourism as a school subject if the necessary infrastructure and resources are not available.There should be the internet facilities, and supply of LTSM. There should also be monitoring programmes to ensure that different teaching and learning styles are used. It is recommended that a political globe not shared with Geography should be put in place. Tourism teachers should have a qualification, and skills development programmes should include courses that will develop teachers, and give them certification. Funds may be allocated to teachers who want to have qualification in Tourism.
Description
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Recreation and Tourism, Faculty of Arts, at the University of Zululand, 2022.