Browsing by Author "Shikongo, Helena Naambo"

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    Investigating the benefits of art education as a core subject at a school in the Khomas region in Namibia
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Shikongo, Helena Naambo; Costandius, Elmarie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Visual Arts.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis argues for the importance of incorporating the arts as a core subject in public schools in Namibia. Arts education is key to improving learners’ learning experiences, but the Namibian government does not currently recognise the value of arts subjects in its public schools. It is evident that the arts have been overlooked and deemed less important when compared to other subjects at schools in Namibia. A qualitative and interpretive research approach and a case study research design were used to investigate and explore the benefits of the arts within learning environments. The study was conducted at a school in the Khomas region in Namibia. A questionnaire and interviews were used as the data collection methods. Three Grade 8 teachers and three Grade 9 teachers from four departments (Language, Science, Commerce, and Social Science) were given a questionnaire to complete. A total of 45 students from different Fashion and Fabrics classes were interviewed and observed. Inductive qualitative content analysis was used to guide the analysis in this research. The theoretical perspectives of experiential learning and constructivism were used as a framework for the research. The benefits of art education for improving general performance in schools both locally and internationally were also explored. The role of indigenous knowledge and art education was investigated to assess the influence of colonialism and Western practices on current art curricula at the school, and ways in which indigenous art practices can be used to enhance academic performance were explored. The result of the study showed that the arts have the potential to help learners to develop reasoning skills, and to promote self-motivation and imagination. Art could also assist learners in task perseverance, confidence building, and adhering to instructions given. The arts also created space for learners to understand things differently and come to new insights through their experiences. Learners could then potentially become progressive thinkers and independent decision makers and improve their overall performance in school.