Just drawing: a case study of Visual Arts as a subject in an urban northern KwaZulu-Natal state high school.

Abstract

This qualitative study investigated a well-established urban public high school that offers Visual Arts at Further Education and Training level. This was based on the aim of understanding the role and status of Visual Arts as a subject within the school curriculum. There are perceptions that Visual Arts is treated as less important than other School subjects like Maths and Science. The research addressed the main question: What is the role of Visual Arts as a school subject, and what do the perceptions and practices of stakeholders at School X reveal about the status of Visual Arts as a learning area? This investigation was a case study with the subject of Visual Arts in School X as the unit of analysis. The research instruments were documentary analysis, questionnaires, and observational evidence. This allowed triangulation of evidence by gathering data from different sources. The participants were a stratified sample including learners, educators, parents and school management. The research revealed that the perceptions and practices of stakeholders are not clearly stipulated with regards to promoting, encouraging, and informing learners and parents about Visual Arts. The school-based participants, that were the Visual Arts teacher, nonvisual arts teachers and school management, did not give clear directives about the role of this subject in the school. The study found that knowledge about the subject of Visual Arts needs to be promoted among stakeholders so that it can grow and be better resourced.