Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Social Sciences, Humanities and Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Collaborative Upskilling: Enhancing Life Science Teaching in Rural Schools
NK Ndwandwe, A Kutame, N Xaba, M Nhlumayo
ABSTRACT:
Despite numerous programs initiated by the Department of Education at the provincial level, Life Science teachers in rural secondary schools continue to face significant challenges in professional growth. The persistent underperformance of learners in critical subjects, particularly Life Science, raises concerns about these initiatives’ effectiveness and teachers’ overall competency. This study explores Life Science teachers’ perceptions of upskilling through collaboration with university experts. Using participatory action research, quantitative data were collected through questionnaires from Life Science teachers in the rural Umkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The findings revealed that some teachers harbor negative attitudes towards Life Science, stemming from rural schools’ challenges in attracting subject-matter experts. Effective collaboration should focus on three key areas: (1) understanding how students learn subject matter; (2) refining instructional practices specific to the subject and student comprehension; and (3) strengthening teachers’ content knowledge, particularly in practical components of the subject. Additionally, teachers were clearly demanding new strategies and approaches to enhance teaching and learning outcomes. The study highlights that collaborative professional development with subject experts and education department officials can significantly impact classroom practices, leading to improved student achievement. The university’s involvement successfully motivated teachers in resource-constrained rural schools, leading to sustained improvements in the quality of teaching and notable gains in matriculation results.
keywords: attitudes, education stakeholders, professional development, subject-matter content, teaching and learning