Full Text Available

Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.

A critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic South Africa

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Goddard, Martiana
Other Authors: Adams-Jack, Ubanesia
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2018
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1867614113884012544
access_status_str Open Access
author Goddard, Martiana
author2 Adams-Jack, Ubanesia
author_browse Adams-Jack, Ubanesia
Goddard, Martiana
author_facet Adams-Jack, Ubanesia
Goddard, Martiana
author_sort Goddard, Martiana
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/104904
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:46:52.985Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2018
publishDateRange 2018
publishDateSort 2018
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/104904 A critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic South Africa Goddard, Martiana Adams-Jack, Ubanesia Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. Education Policy -- South Africa Basic education -- South Africa WPR approach Post-structuralism Postmodernism UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2018. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis critically analyses problem representations identified within basic education policy documents, dated between 1995 and 2015. These policy documents are identified in the thesis as: the White Paper on Education and Training of 1995, the Plan of Action: Improving access to free and quality basic education for all, and lastly, the Action Plan to 2019: Towards the realisation of schooling 2030. Problem representations, in the thesis, refer to the explicit and implicit representations of problems, as termed by Bacchi (1999). Bacchi’s (2009) “What’s the problem represented to be?” (WPR) approach is the foundation and the analytical tool utilised within the thesis, and is set apart from conventional forms of policy analysis. Part of its unconventional approach to policy analysis is its post-structuralism philosophy, which also underpins the direction of this thesis. The thesis considers global trends in approaching policy analyses, and then focuses more on the South African context. An in-depth analysis of literature reveals dominant themes and approaches in education policy analysis in South Africa, which also indicates that the WPR approach has never before been applied to education policy in South Africa. The WPR approach in the thesis is the analytical tool that is applied, and it supports the qualitative approach undertaken in the research. The explicit and implicit representation of problems reveal patterns that are observed across all three policy documents, namely; the provision of physical infrastructure, compulsory and free educations, management of the system and learner performance, early childhood development, teacher training and job satisfaction, and finally, the legacy of the past and inequality. Identification of problem representations and the application of the WPR approach show the underlying assumptions made by policy documents that are embedded within the explicit and implicit representations of problems. These assumptions bring about different meanings and interpretations of what is classified as the ‘problem’. The thesis emphasises the legacy of apartheid within the education system, and concludes that the democratic system expects learners who were previously disadvantaged – through the system of apartheid – and who are disadvantaged now – through socio-economic inequalities – to achieve the same learner performance outcomes as those who do not experience disadvantages in any of these forms. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die proefskrif ontleed kritiese probleemvoorstellings wat in die beleidsdokumente van onderwys geïdentifiseer is, wat tussen 1995 en 2015 gedateer is. Hierdie beleidsdokumente word in die proefskrif geïdentifiseer as die Witskrif oor Onderwys en Opleiding van 1995, die Plan van Aksie: Verbetering van toegang tot gratis en kwaliteit basiese onderwys vir almal en ten slotte die Aksieplan tot 2019: na die besef van onderwys 2030. Probleemvoorstellings is die eksplisiete en implisiete voorstellings van probleme soos genoem deur Bacchi (1999). Bacchi (2009) se "Wat is die probleem wat voorgestel word?" (WPR) benadering is die grondslag en die analitiese instrument wat binne die proefskrif gebruik word, en word afgesonder van konvensionele vorms van beleidsanalise. Deel van die onkonvensionele benadering tot beleid analise is die poststrukturalisme-filosofie, wat ook die rigting van hierdie proefskrif ondersteun. Die proefskrif oorweeg globale neigings in die benadering van beleidsontledings en vernou dit tot die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. 'n In-diepte analise van literatuur toon dominante temas en benaderings in onderwysbeleidsanalise in Suid-Afrika aan, wat ook aandui dat die WPRbenadering nog nooit van toepassing is op onderwysbeleid in Suid-Afrika nie. Die WPRbenadering in die proefskrif is die analitiese instrument wat toegepas word en ondersteun die kwalitatiewe benadering wat in die navorsing onderneem word. Die eksplisiete en implisiete voorstelling van probleme toon patrone wat in al drie beleidsdokumente waargeneem word, naamlik; die voorsiening van fisiese infrastruktuur, verpligte en gratis opvoeding, bestuur van die stelsel en leerderprestasie, vroeë kinderontwikkeling, onderwyseropleiding en werkstevredenheid, en laastens die nalatenskap van die verlede en ongelykheid. Identifisering van probleemvoorstellings en die toepassing van die WPR-benadering toon die onderliggende aannames wat gemaak word deur beleidsdokumente wat ingebed is in die eksplisiete en implisiete voorstellings van probleme. Hierdie aannames bring verskillende betekenisse en interpretasies van wat as die 'probleem' geklassifiseer word. Die proefskrif beklemtoon die nalatenskap van apartheid binne die onderwysstelsel en kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die demokratiese stelsel van leerders verwag, wat voorheen benadeel is deur die stelsel van apartheid en wat nou benadeel word deur sosio-ekonomiese ongelykhede, om dieselfde leerderprestasie-uitkomste te bereik as diegene wat nie nadele ervaar in enige van hierdie vorms nie. Masters 2018-11-14T06:44:45Z 2018-12-07T06:49:52Z 2018-11-14T06:44:45Z 2018-12-07T06:49:52Z 2018-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/104904 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 99 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Education Policy -- South Africa
Basic education -- South Africa
WPR approach
Post-structuralism
Postmodernism
UCTD
Goddard, Martiana
A critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic South Africa
title A critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic South Africa
title_full A critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic South Africa
title_fullStr A critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic South Africa
title_full_unstemmed A critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic South Africa
title_short A critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic South Africa
title_sort critical analysis of problem representations in basic education policy in the democratic south africa
topic Education Policy -- South Africa
Basic education -- South Africa
WPR approach
Post-structuralism
Postmodernism
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/104904
work_keys_str_mv AT goddardmartiana acriticalanalysisofproblemrepresentationsinbasiceducationpolicyinthedemocraticsouthafrica
AT goddardmartiana criticalanalysisofproblemrepresentationsinbasiceducationpolicyinthedemocraticsouthafrica