Browsing by Author "Nakasa, Dennis Sipho"

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    Student academic underpreparedness at some technikons in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003-12) Nakasa, Dennis Sipho; Ridge, E.; Botha, H. L.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Curriculum Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study investigates the problem of student academic underpreparedness (SAU), which constitutes one of the hindrances to academic success at technikons, at five technikons in SA. The research design and methodology outlined in Chapter 1 identify three subproblems as underpinning SAU. Subproblem one lists six SAU subtypes. The sixth subtype, in particular, was identified as a critical one in that it can perpetuate a regressionary etiology of a cycle of failure at school and technikon. Subproblem two postulates that technikon pre-entry selection criteria make implicit assumptions about student underpreparedness. Chapter 2 reviews salient literature on second language (English) acquisition (SLA) and the acquisition of scientific concepts or higher order thinking skills. Chapter 3 reviews contemporary literature on SAU reversal of academic and vocational skill impairment. The argument is presented that recognition of prior learning (RPL) experience should be extended to an acknowledgement of students' indigenous knowledge systems (lKS). Empirical data were gathered from five technikons, two from the Western Cape, two from the Eastern Cape and one from KwaZulu Natal. Quantitative and qualitative research survey methodologies were employed to gather and analyse data. Methods used were a questionnaire on student learning administered to students and interviews with technikon staff. Chapter 5 discusses the data presented in Chapter 4 in relation to the problems and hypotheses postulated in Chapter 1, as well as to second language acquisition (SLA) and scientific or higher order thinking skills acquisition. Chapter 6 reports on the findings and makes recommendations for future research. Since it seems that proximal (intrinsic) underpreparedness has a substantial effect on SAU, a longitudinal study should be undertaken so that an academic underpreparedness indicator (AUI) can be designed. Concerted expert mediation of academic tasks and \ strategies should be provided since these play a critical role in developing students' capacity for successful performance at technikon level.