Impact of the Learner-Educator Ratio Policy on Learner Academic Achievement in Rural Secondary Schools: A South African Case Study

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the rapid growth of learner enrolments in schools in most countries, including South Africa, has brought many challenges, such as a high learner-educator ratio (LER). The purpose of the study reported on was to explore an LER policy that can enhance learner academic achievement in physical sciences. Effective learning demands opportunities for learners to become actively involved in their physical sciences education. Thus, the physical sciences educator should not only act as a lecturer and transmitter of knowledge, but also as a facilitator, an enabler and an empowerer. The research used qualitative research and cultural-historical activity theory as the theoretical framework, viewing learning and teaching as a social process in which the interaction between the learners is the focus and smaller class size is transformative for both learners and educators. Data was collected from physical sciences teachers, principals and curriculum advisers through face-to-face interviews. The study concluded that large class sizes affect the implementation of practical activities and discipline may be adversely affected. Based on the findings of the study the following recommendation was made: the Department of Basic Education should reduce the LER to 30:1 or fewer learners in a class to allow for group activities and learner-centred science.     

高职学生社会文化能力调查与研究——以苏州市职业大学英语教育专业为例

在国际交流日益频繁的今天,提高高职学生的社会文化能力显得分外重要。以苏州市职业大学英语教育专业大一和大二两个年级的学生为研究对象,对其进行社会文化能力测试,分析后发现：学生的社会文化能力和英语语言水平基本成正比;学生的社会文化能力并未随着学习的深入而显著进步;在学生的社会文化能力中,其高级文化能力又逊于普通文化能力。     

新中国成立初期研究生教育的历史变迁过程与特点探析(1949-1966)—以早期教育史研究班为个案

中华人民共和国成立至“文化大革命”前17年间,教育史研究班在全国范围内共举办了三届:1955年,苏联专家杰普莉茨卡娅在华东师范大学开办的首届教育史研究班,1956年,华东师范大学校长孟宪承指导的中国教育史研究班,1961年,北京师范大学创办的中国教育史研究班.这三届教育史研究班作为研究生教育探索历程中的生动案例,是新中国成立初期研究生教育探索历史的一个缩影.考察和分析早期教育史研究班的创办过程及其研究生培养的各个环节,不仅展现出新中国成立初期从学习苏联到逐渐探索适合我国国情的研究生教育历史变迁过程,而且呈现出该时期研究生教育从学习模仿到初步专业规范化的历史特点.     

The Impact of Farmer Field Schools on Human and Social Capital: A Case Study from Ghana

Abstract

Based on a case study of Ghanaian cocoa farmers who attended farmer field schools (FFS), this paper explores the impact of the FFS methodology on farmers’ technical knowledge, experimentation, knowledge diffusion, group formation and social skills as a way of assessing whether the relatively high costs associated with the method is justified. We carried out focus group discussions for exploratory purposes and a formal survey of 70 FFS graduates and 70 non-FFS farmers. The superior knowledge test scores of FFS graduates relative to non-FFS farmers demonstrates the effectiveness of the method for communicating complex knowledge and information to farmers in a way that allows them to understand it and retain it. An assessment of changes in farmers’ experimental capacity showed variable results. On the one hand, a significant proportion of FFS graduates applied some of the principles and practices learned to solve productivity problems with other crops, while others did not perceive any change in their experimentation behaviour. Significantly, an important skill farmers learned in the FFS was making observations on cocoa trees and the wider ecosystem as the basis for decision-making. The case study confirmed that FFS strengthened social cohesion among cocoa farmers and enhanced individual social skills by creating new networks for knowledge exchange and support, promoting group formation and improving farmers’ confidence and ability to work more effectively in groups. The paper concludes by recommending areas for improving FFS and highlights how strengthening human and social capital in cocoa growing communities can serve as a springboard for broader development activities.     

‘I – from dreams to reality’: A Case Study of Developing Youngsters’ Self‐Efficacy and Social Skills through an Arts Educational Project in Schools

This is a case study of a one‐year arts educational project ‘I – from dreams to reality’ in which artists worked at school with teachers and learning at the school was planned through arts‐based, co‐operative teamwork during one extra school year of 10th grade students in Finnish basic education. The theme of the year was ‘I’, and so the project was designed to highlight everyone's own way of thinking and expressing art. The research task was to determine whether long‐term holistic arts pedagogy and artist co‐operation at school have any significant connection to students’ self‐efficacy and social skills. Data has been collected through students’ self‐evaluations before and after the school year. Altogether 40 students from 10th grade participated in this case study. Half of the pupils participated in an arts educational project called ‘I – from dreams to reality’ and half formed the control group. Artists worked with the test group weekly during a period of one school year (altogether nine months). Students’ self‐evaluations concerning their self‐efficacy and social behaviour were collected by e‐questionnaire. The measures used were Likert‐based evaluation scores of pupils’ self‐assessment of their self‐efficacy and social behaviour in everyday situations at school. According to the results, artist–teacher co‐operation and learning through the arts can be worthwhile experiences to develop students’ self‐efficacy and social skills.