A socio-educational evaluation of the pre-school initiatives in the Nongoma District of KwaZulu Natal

[摘要] English: This research presents a socia-educational evaluation of the pre-schoolinitiatives in the Nongoma district of KwaZulu-Natal.The researcher is of the opinion that socio-educatienat environmental factors inthe rural areas do not support the successful implementation of pre-schoolinginitiatives.The historical background, in this research highlights certain socialenvironmental factors in the rural areas. These factors translate into the schoolsituation and consequently influence the educational effort. The literaturereview has shown that these factors can positively or negatively affect theeducational efforts including the pre-school initiatives.The responses of the emperical research revealed that on the social scene,societal living conditions characterised by poverty, low educational attainmentsby the parents, ignorance of pre-school benefits, and poor communicationchannels across the social spectrum limit parental participation in a meaningfuland far-reaching way. This research indicates that the educators in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natallack adequate skills needed to effectively handle pre-schooling in themanagement domain as well as in the classroom situation. Educators do notreceive sustained support from the Education Department, as well as from theiziphathimandla (i.e. people in authority such as inkosi of the tribe, or theinduna of an area). Remoteness of the rural areas from the urban areas andthe lack of resources further complicate problems experienced by the ruralteachers, and may negatively affect school initiatives, including pre-schooling.In the light of the findings, this research recommends that the socio-educationalproblems surrounding pre-school initiatives be addressed in the following way:education stakeholders are urged to encourage community participation inschool initiatives, as well as stress governmental equitable distribution ofavailable educational resources.

[发布机构] University of the Free State