Curriculum development in horticulture within the South African qualifications authority framework

Date
2002-12
Authors
Young, Michael Howard
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The curricula of the Technikon National Diplomas in Horticulture, Landscape Technology and Parks (Open Space) and Recreation Management have been intermittently revised since the original inception in 1972 of the NO in Horticulture. The shortcomings in the process of curriculum revision, with special reference to programmes in Horticulture, were identified. The institution of outcomes-based education (aBE) and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) followed the promulgation of the South African Qualifications Authority Act (No. 58 of 1995). All curricula are currently being written in terms of learning outcomes that qualifying learners will be expected to demonstrate. The primary aim of this research study has been based upon the proposition that a scientifically validated situational analysis is an essential precursor to the design or redesign of a curriculum for tertiary-level horticultural training. A situational analysis that includes the sectors of Amenity horticulture, Arboriculture, Floriculture, Landscape, Nursery production, Nursery retail and Turf was undertaken. The results of this analysis were to be utilised in the development of a theoretical curriculum framework, which may be used in the development of a revised curriculum. The secondary aims of the study are complementary to the primary aim as the situational analysis has led directly to the identification of the core and specific skills/competencies within the seven sectors, the degree to which horticulturists are seen to have prepared themselves for their careers, the attributes or qualities employers expect of a qualified horticulturist and the values applicable to the horticulture profession. This research is regarded as exploratory as little documentation exists regarding the competencies being applied by horticulturists within the different sectors. As it describes the characteristics of horticulture education and training and tries to understand the meaning and relevance of the data gathered, it may also be defined as descriptive. It is also an applied research study as its focus is on the sector-specific curriculum development needs in the horticulture industry. A triangulation approach to the study was followed that utilised a quantitative as well as a qualitative approach. This served to heighten the reliability and the validity of the research. In the qualitative approach, use was made of both personal and focus group interviews, which enabled the researcher to study the problem at greater depth. The mail survey, which used a self-administered questionnaire, facilitated the collection of empirical data that was used to corroborate and extend the generalisability of the qualitative findings to a national level and was the quantitative approach followed. While the situational analysis has led to an extensive amount of empirical data relative to the revision of the curricula, the development of a theoretical curriculum framework is seen as the logical conclusion of this analysis as it represents a synthesis of the most important findings of the study. Its presentation to the industry as a concept curriculum framework, upon which a revised curriculum for technikon horticulture training may be based, is recommended. The development of a framework structured in a format compatible with the NQF, aims at meeting the curriculum needs of the different sectors of the industry.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kurrikula van die Technikons se Nasionale Diplomas in Tuinbou, Landskaptegnologie en Parke- (Oopruimte) en Rekreasiebestuur is sedert die instelling van die NO in Tuinbou in 1972, by tye verander. Die tekortkominge in die proses van kurrikulumhersiening, met spesiale verwysing na programme in Tuinbou, is uitgewys. Die instelling van uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys en die Nasionale Kwalifikasieraamwerk (NKR) het op die proklamasie van die Suid Afrikaanse Kwalifikasie-Owerheid Wetsontwerp (No. 58 van 1995) gevolg. Alle kurrikula word tans in leeruitkomstes wat kwalifiserende leerders sal moet kan demonstreer, omskryf. Hierdie navorsing berus primêr op die uitgangspunt dat 'n belangrike voorvereiste vir die ontwerp of herontwerp van 'n tersiêre vlak-kurrikulum vir tuinbouopleiding op 'n geldige, wetenskaplike situasie-analise gegrond moet wees. 'n Situasie-analise wat die sektore van Baangras, Blommekweek, Boomteelt, Gemeenskapstuinbou, Kwekerykleinhandel, Kwekeryproduksie en Landskap insluit, is onderneem. Die resultate van hierdie situasie-analise sou vir die ontwikkeling van 'n teoretiese kurrikulumraamwerk tydens kurrikulumhersiening benut kon word. Die sekondêre doel van hierdie studie is aanvullend tot die primêre doel aangesien die resultate van die situasie-analise tot die identifisering van die kern- en spesifieke vaardighede/bevoegdhede binne die sewe sektore sou kon bydra. Die mate waartoe tuinboukundiges hul met sukses vir hul loopbaan voorberei het, die eienskappe wat 'n werkgewer van 'n gekwalifiseerde tuinboukundige sou kon verwag en die waardes wat op die tuinbouprofessie van toepassing is, word ook hierdeur geraak. Hierdie navorsing lsverkennend van aard aangesien daar min literatuur beskikbaar is met betrekking tot die bevoegdhede wat deur tuinboukundiges in die verskillende sektore toegepas word. Aangesien dit die eienskappe van tuinbouopvoeding en - opleiding beskryf en 'n poging is om die betekenis en relevansie van die ingesamelde data te verstaan, kan dit ook as beskrywend beskou word. Omdat die fokus op die spesifieke kurrikulumontwikkelingsbehoeftes van die tuinboubedryf geplaas is, is dit ook 'n toegepaste studie. 'n Triangulasiebenadering tot die studie is gevolg waardeur van beide 'n kwantitatiewe en 'n kwalitatiewe benadering gebruik gemaak is. Die betroubaarheid en die geldigheid van die navorsing is hierdeur verhoog. Die kwalitatiewe benadering het van persoonlike en fokusgroeponderhoude gebruik gemaak, wat aan die navorser die geleentheid gebied het om 'n diepgaande ondersoek te doen. Die kwantitatiewe benadering, waar van 'n posopname met 'n self- ingevulde vraelys gebruik gemaak is, het die insameling van empiriese data moontlik gemaak. Hierdie data kon gebruik word om die kwalitatiewe bevindinge tot by 'n nasionale vlak te verbreed. Die situasie-analise het 'n groot hoeveelheid empiriese data, wat op die hersiening van die huidige kurrikula van toepassing is, opgelewer. Die ontwikkeling van 'n teoretiese kurrikulumraamwerk word as die logiese gevolgtrekking van die analise beskou aangesien dit die sintese van die belangrikste bevindinge verteenwoordig. Die aanbieding hiervan aan die bedryf as 'n konsepkurrikulumraamwerk waarop tuinbouopleiding by technikons gebaseer kan word, word aanbeveel. Hierdie konsepraamwerk is in 'n formaat wat met die NKR verenigbaar is, ontwikkel en is geskoei op die realisering van die kurrikulumbehoeftes van die bedryf en sy afsonderlike sektore.
Description
Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
Keywords
Horticulture -- Study and teaching, Curriculum planning -- South Africa, Dissertations -- Education, Theses -- Education
Citation