Value and belief systems in outcomes based education in a diverse school environment

Date
2003-04
Authors
Rhodes, B. D. (Bernard David)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The introduction of Outcomes Based Education in the South African school system brought about a new approach to education. The existing system of a multitude of subjects was replaced by a curriculum with eight learning areas. In this curriculum the focus is on attitudes, skills and values which replaced a content based approach with a process-based approach. Educators thereby became facilitators in the educational process. With the barriers of segregation removed in the South African society the diversity of the population created multi-cultural classrooms. Schools became the meeting place of many cultures and belief systems. Educators who facilitated learning in schools were not always prepared for the task of managing a multi-cultural and multi-religious school environment. This change within the school system required that educators make a paradigm shift regarding their role as educators. The introduction of Curriculum 2005 (1997); The Revised National Curriculum (2001) and the National Curriculum Statement (2002) was not without problems in South Africa. Many educators resisted change and had negative perceptions about the implementation of Outcomes Based Education in schools. These perceptions stemmed from inadequate training of educators for the implementation phase of the curriculum. The lack of skills to facilitate the content of the curriculum was also visible in the educators' inability to identify values in the curriculum. The multi-cultural and multi-religious classroom confronted educators with values from the different value and belief systems of learners. It is, therefore, important that educators should be able to identify values in order to attain the outcomes of the curriculum. Previous research indicated that educators did not play an active role in the teaching of values in schools. Neither were the educators participating in this research able to either identify or promote the values identified in the curriculum. The aim of this research was to develop an instrument to assist educators in identifying values from different belief systems in C2005 (1997); The Revised National Curriculum (2001) and the National Curriculum Statement (2002). Guidelines were developed for the facilitation of the identified values within the OBE curriculum. An empirical research was undertaken regarding the management of values in schools in the Western Cape during June 1999. Possible methods and approaches to values in education in general were identified and the suggested instrument and guidelines to assist educators with the identification of values was developed. The relevance of this study is to assist in-service and pre-service educators In identifying and facilitating different belief and value systems in an OBE education system.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys (UGO) in die Suid-Afrikaanse skoolstelsel het 'n nuwe benadering tot onderwys gebring. Die veelvoudige vakkeuses van die vorige kurrikulum is vervang deur een met agt leerareas. 'n Nuwe kurrikulum wat gefokus is op gesindhede, vaardighede en waardes het op sy beurt die inhoudgebaseerde kurrikulum met 'n prosesbenadering vervang. Opvoeders het nou fasiliteerders van die leerproses geword. Die verwydering van skeidslyne in die Suid Afrikaanse samelewing het tot gevolg gehad dat die diversiteit van die S.A. bevolking tot multikulturele klaskamers gelei het. Skole het die ontmoetingsplek van vele kulture en waardestelsels geword. Die opvoeders wat die leerproses in skole moet fasiliteer, is nie altyd voorbereid op die multikulturele en multireligieuse skoolomgewing nie. Die verandering in die skoolwese vereis dat opvoeders 'n paradigmaskuif betreffende hulle rol as opvoeders moet maak. Die implementering van Kurrikulum 2005(Curriculum 2005,1997; Hersiene Nasionale Kurrikulum (Revised National Curriculum, 2001); Nasionale Kurrikulum Stelling (National Curriculum Statement, 2002) was geensins sonder probleme nie. Heelwat opvoeders het weerstand gebied en baie negatiewe persepsies is behou in verband met die implementering van Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys in skole. Die persepsies van opvoeders ten opsigte van die implementeringsfase van die kurrikulum word gemotiveer as gevolg van die onvoldoende opleiding in die voorbereidingsproses .. Die gebrek aan vaardighede om die inhoud van die kurrikulum te fasiliteer, is sigbaar in die opvoeders se onvermoë om waardes in die kurrikulum te identifiseer. Die multikulturele en multireligieuse klaskamer het opvoeders konfronteer met die leerders se waardes vanuit hul verskillende waarde- en oriënteringsomgewings. (belief systems). Dit word belangrik geag dat opvoeders hierdie waardes kan identifiseer sodat die uitkomste van die kurrikulum behaal kan word. Vorige navorsing het aangedui dat opvoeders nie 'n aktiewe rol in die fasilitering van waardes in die skool speel nie. Die opvoeders wat deel was van hierdie navorsing, kon ook nie waardes in die kurrikulum identifiseer of bevorder nie. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om 'n instrument te ontwerp om opvoeders te help met die identifisering van waardes van die verskillende oriënteringsomgewings (belief systems) in C200S (1997); RNC (2001); NCS(2002) Riglyne is ontwerp vir fasilitering van die geïdentifiseerde waardes in die UGO kurrikulum. Empiriese ondersoek is onderneem met die doelom die hantering van waardes in Wes-Kaapse skole na te vors. Moontlike metodes en benaderings tot waardes in onderwys in die algemeen is geïdentifiseer en 'n instrument om opvoeders te help met die identifisering van waardes, is ontwikkel. Riglyne word voorgestelom opvoeders te help in hulle benadering tot waardes in die kurrikulum. Die waarde van die studie lê daarin om sowel voor- as indiensopvoeders te help met die identifisering en fasilitering van waardes vanuit die verskillende waarde en oriënteringsomgewings in 'n Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwysstelsel.
Description
Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.
Keywords
Competency-based education -- South Africa, Educational change -- South Africa, Dissertations -- Education, Theses -- Education
Citation