Student academic underpreparedness at some technikons in South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study investigates the problem of student academic underpreparedness (SAU),which constitutes one of the hindrances to academic success at technikons, at fivetechnikons in SA.The research design and methodology outlined in Chapter 1 identify three subproblemsas underpinning SAU. Subproblem one lists six SAU subtypes. The sixth subtype, inparticular, was identified as a critical one in that it can perpetuate a regressionaryetiology of a cycle of failure at school and technikon. Subproblem two postulates thattechnikon pre-entry selection criteria make implicit assumptions about studentunderpreparedness.Chapter 2 reviews salient literature on second language (English) acquisition (SLA) andthe acquisition of scientific concepts or higher order thinking skills. Chapter 3 reviewscontemporary literature on SAU reversal of academic and vocational skill impairment.The argument is presented that recognition of prior learning (RPL) experience should beextended to an acknowledgement of students' indigenous knowledge systems (lKS).Empirical data were gathered from five technikons, two from the Western Cape, twofrom the Eastern Cape and one from KwaZulu Natal. Quantitative and qualitativeresearch survey methodologies were employed to gather and analyse data. Methodsused 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 tothe problems and hypotheses postulated in Chapter 1, as well as to second languageacquisition (SLA) and scientific or higher order thinking skills acquisition. Chapter 6reports on the findings and makes recommendations for future research. Since itseems that proximal (intrinsic) underpreparedness has a substantial effect on SAU, alongitudinal study should be undertaken so that an academic underpreparednessindicator (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.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University