How does globalisation affect the professional lives and work of office-based educators? : a case study of Pinetown district office in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2008
Authors
Ngubane, Thulani Clement.
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact that globalisation has on the professional roles and work of the office-based educators (subject advisors). It was conducted as a case study in one of the districts at Ethekwini region. It involved eleven advisors that belong to the Teaching and Learning Support (TLS) section. As a theoretical foundation, I used critical theory as a lens to examine the neo-liberal agenda that globalisation has imposed upon South Africa’s new education system, particularly the impact on the role of subject advisors. The research was conducted within a qualitative approach and took the form of a case study. The data collection techniques included a questionnaire and an in-depth semi structured focus group interview. The data collected was analysed using thematic analysis to identify codes, categories and themes. These were not defined prior to analysis, but emerged during analysis. The findings revealed that advisors are frustrated by the roles that they are expected to perform. They find themselves giving less professional support to educators and spending more time administering monitoring tools to schools. The feeling is that they are de-professionalised because they no longer work as subject specialists most of the time. Finally, recommendations and limitations of this study are discussed.
Description
Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.
Keywords
Education and globalization., Curriculum consultants--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Education.