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Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase

Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2018.

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Other Authors: Venketsamy, Thungavel (Roy)
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2019
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Venketsamy, Thungavel (Roy)
author_browse Venketsamy, Thungavel (Roy)
author_facet Venketsamy, Thungavel (Roy)
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2018.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:40:21.476Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2019
publishDateRange 2019
publishDateSort 2019
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/69933 Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase Venketsamy, Thungavel (Roy) u11010372@tuks.co.za Bosman, Linda Beyers, Marelie UCTD Learner retention Social development Social-emotional development Retainees Development Foundation phase Teachers Experiences Bio-ecological Systems Theory Education theses SDG-01 Education theses SDG-03 Education theses SDG-04 Education theses SDG-10 Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2018. Teachers offer a unique insight into the practice of learner retention and the possible effects of retention on the academic progress and social development of retained learners. Learner retention is a custom that requires learners to repeat a school grade-level if they did not master the basic requirements stipulated by curriculum policy for a grade-level. Although the customary practice of learner retention is present in numerous school systems, internationally and within the borders of South Africa, a gap in the literature exists regarding the benefits thereof on learners’ academic progress and social development. Research studies conducted in Europe and America report the possible and observed negative effects of retention on learners’ development, with limited reported benefits. Still, it is evident in the literature that many teachers are of the belief that retention can be beneficial to struggling learners. The aim of this qualitative study was to determine possible effects of learner retention on the social development and academic progress of learners, as experienced by teachers. To this end, the study’s primary research question is: What are the perceptions of teachers regarding learner retention and its effect on the social development of learners in the foundation phase? In pursuit of an answer, semi-structured focus group interviews, which yielded meaningful findings, were held with foundation phase teachers. The study found that teachers strongly advocate for the implementation of learner retention in cases where learners do not meet the minimum curriculum requirements for a specific grade-level. Teachers report that learners perform better academically during their repeated year when compared to their initial year in that grade-level. Furthermore, teachers are more likely to implement retention if they have experienced positive results with previous learners. However, the teachers who participated in this study were aware that retention often leads to teasing amongst peers and can have negative effects on the social development of retainees. Owing to the findings of this research study, teachers, principals, parents, and policy makers are more knowledgeable of how teachers experience, justify, and implement learner retention in South African classrooms, and what the observed academic and social development effects of learner retention are within a South African context. Further research should be conducted regarding why teachers advocate for the practice of learner retention midst a literary domain that is against the practice. Also, the possibility that previous research studies overlooked possible benefits of retention on learner development or academic progress of retainees should be explored. dzm2026 Early Childhood Education MEd Unrestricted SDG-01: No poverty SDG-03: Good health and well-being SDG-04: Quality education SDG-10: Reduced inequalities 2019-06-02T11:39:30Z 2019-06-02T11:39:30Z 2019/04/18 2018 Dissertation Beyers, M 2018, Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase, MEd Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/69933> A2019 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/69933 en © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Learner retention
Social development
Social-emotional development
Retainees
Development
Foundation phase
Teachers
Experiences
Bio-ecological Systems Theory
Education theses SDG-01
Education theses SDG-03
Education theses SDG-04
Education theses SDG-10
Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase
title Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase
title_full Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase
title_fullStr Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase
title_full_unstemmed Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase
title_short Teacher experiences of learner retention in the Foundation Phase
title_sort teacher experiences of learner retention in the foundation phase
topic UCTD
Learner retention
Social development
Social-emotional development
Retainees
Development
Foundation phase
Teachers
Experiences
Bio-ecological Systems Theory
Education theses SDG-01
Education theses SDG-03
Education theses SDG-04
Education theses SDG-10
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/69933