Exploring the experiences of Zimbabwean migrant educators teaching in the Western Cape, South Africa

Date
2024-03
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study sought to explore the experiences of Zimbabwean migrant educators teaching in Western Cape, South Africa. A qualitative approach was used to interview 10 Zimbabwean educators. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied to the data and revealed three main themes: dissatisfaction with bureaucratic processes, unnecessary red tape, and permits; the precariousness of contract work; and the manifestation of otherness anti-migrant sentiments. The themes also revealed the extent of how the lives of migrant educators have become very volatile living in South Africa and this has produced a lot of uncertainty about their future in this country. Their situation is made worse by government bureaucracy pertaining to permits required for Zimbabweans in order to live and work in South Africa. These strenuous and often slow bureaucratic procedures often leave Zimbabwean migrants hopeless. This study recounts the experiences of 10 Zimbabwean educators in South Africa. The author of this study is similarly a Zimbabwean migrant educator who teaches in the Western Cape. Her contributions to the data were made in the form of a personal journal that reflected on her own experiences. These experiences formed part of the analysis presented in this research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het gepoog om die ervarings van Zimbabwiese migrante onderwysers wat skool gee in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika te verken. 'n Kwalitatiewe benadering is gebruik om onderhoude met 10 Zimbabwiese onderwysers te voer. Kwalitatiewe tematiese analise is op die data toegepas en het drie hooftemas aan die lig gebring: ontevredenheid met burokratiese prosesse, onnodige rompslomp en permitte; die onsekerheid van kontrakwerk in Suid-Afrika; en die manifestasie van andersheid wat anti-migrant sentimente veroorsaak. Die temas het ook die omvang van hoe wisselvallig die lewens van migrerende onderwysers wat in Suid-Afrika woon onthul en hoe dit baie onsekerheid oor hul toekoms in hierdie land veroorsaak. Hul situasie word vererger deur regeringsburokrasie met betrekking tot permitte wat nodig is vir Zimbabwiërs om in Suid-Afrika te kan woon en werk. Hierdie strawwe en stadige burokratiese prosedures laat Zimbabwiese migrante dikwels hopeloos. Hierdie studie vertel die ervarings van 10 Zimbabwiese opvoeders in Suid-Afrika. Die skrywer van hierdie studie is insgelyks 'n Zimbabwiese migrante-onderwyser wat in die Wes-Kaap skool gee. Haar bydraes tot die data is gemaak in die vorm van 'n persoonlike joernaal wat oor haar ervarings reflekteer het. Hierdie ervarings het deel gevorm van die analise wat in die navorsing aangebied word.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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