An analysis of the physical science results in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the 2008 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinination.
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Date
2009
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Abstract
This study examined the performance of the first cohort of learners writing Physical
Science in the National Senior Certificate examinations. The critical question that the
researcher addressed was: How can the results produced in Physical Science in the
province of KwaZulu-Natal in the 2008 NSC examination be used to give an
understanding of the academic performance of learners? Using the mixed method
approach, two data cohorts, namely the results produced by learners in Physical Science
and the interview data, were subjected to analysis through the lens of phenomenology and
semiotics. Findings of the study reveal that the education system still carries with it the
inequalities of the past, with quality Physical Science to a few learners who were fortunate
enough to attend privileged schools, identified by their high quintile ranking (5), in the
predominately urban areas. The results of learners in poor, predominately rural schools,
ranked quintile 1 and quintile 2, reveal that the “cycle of mediocrity” (Khan, 1995, p.128)
still prevails.
Description
Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.
Keywords
Examinations--KwaZulu-Natal--Interpretation., Physics--Study and teaching (Secondary)--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Education.