Department of Educational Psychology

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Browsing Department of Educational Psychology by Author "Baird, Cathryne"

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    Education interrupted: experiences of teenage mothers returning as adult students
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Baird, Cathryne; Daniels, Doria; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Educational Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Women represent more than half of the world’s population and, as such, their education is paramount to societal development worldwide. High pregnancy rates among South African school learners persist, with over 136,000 births recorded in 2020 among girls aged 10 to 19. A third of these young mothers do not resume their education after pregnancy and birth. This study sought to explore the lived experiences of teenage mothers whose education was disrupted by pregnancy and subsequently resumed and continued as adult students. This qualitative research is grounded in a social constructivist approach and uncovers the narratives of five South African cis female women enrolled in the Adult Education and Training (AET) programme as second-chance adult students. Purposive sampling was employed for participant selection and the data collection methods included individual narrative interviews, a planned focus group session, and an autobiographical mapping tool. The narratives uncovered the complexities of their educational trajectories and introduced themes that included contextual education, teenage pregnancy, educational continuity, and their envisioned future. The data were analysed through open coding and revealed the intricate dynamics embedded in the experiences of teenage mothers’ exit from formal schooling, and their re-entry into the education system as second-chance adult learners. These women encounter persistent systemic and societal barriers as they balance multiple roles and responsibilities while navigating adult education. This study advocates for an educational landscape that empowers these women to attain their educational aspirations despite the challenges they face.