Student teachers’ perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justice

Since 1994, numerous policies promoted social justice and the transformation of the South African society. The re-curriculated Bachelor of Education (BEd) programme at the Sol Plaatje University aims to equip students with knowledge and skills to realise the aim of social justice. The aim of this st...

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Main Authors: Emma Groenewald, Anthony Mpisi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Education Association of South Africa 2022-08-01
Series:South African Journal of Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/article/view/2104/1182
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author Emma Groenewald
Anthony Mpisi
author_facet Emma Groenewald
Anthony Mpisi
author_sort Emma Groenewald
collection DOAJ
description Since 1994, numerous policies promoted social justice and the transformation of the South African society. The re-curriculated Bachelor of Education (BEd) programme at the Sol Plaatje University aims to equip students with knowledge and skills to realise the aim of social justice. The aim of this study was to explore Sol Plaatje University students’ experiences and perceptions of a curriculum that aims to promote social justice. We selected 3 education modules, with the assumption that they reflected social justice content. Four students, representative of different ethnic and language groupings at the university were chosen as participants. Data were generated through 3 reflective exercises about each of the modules, spread over a period of 3 years. The module aims, linked with the narratives of the participants’ perceptions and experiences of each module, provided an overview of their experiences of the enacted curriculum. A qualitative research design with an interpretivist approach informed by Dover’s (2013) social justice pedagogy was used. The students’ narratives shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of how the BEd curriculum worked towards social justice and revealed the students’ perceptions of otherness. From the narratives it became apparent that the 3 modules did promote a social justice orientation in prospective teachers educated at the university.
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spelling doaj-art-583cef05606c4f18af11da55d30a4e1d2025-08-20T03:31:49ZengEducation Association of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Education0256-01002076-34332022-08-0142311210.15700/saje.v42n3a2104Student teachers’ perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justiceEmma Groenewald0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6342-3145Anthony Mpisi1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9657-4444Department of Education, School of Education, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, South AfricaDepartment of Education, School of Education, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, South AfricaSince 1994, numerous policies promoted social justice and the transformation of the South African society. The re-curriculated Bachelor of Education (BEd) programme at the Sol Plaatje University aims to equip students with knowledge and skills to realise the aim of social justice. The aim of this study was to explore Sol Plaatje University students’ experiences and perceptions of a curriculum that aims to promote social justice. We selected 3 education modules, with the assumption that they reflected social justice content. Four students, representative of different ethnic and language groupings at the university were chosen as participants. Data were generated through 3 reflective exercises about each of the modules, spread over a period of 3 years. The module aims, linked with the narratives of the participants’ perceptions and experiences of each module, provided an overview of their experiences of the enacted curriculum. A qualitative research design with an interpretivist approach informed by Dover’s (2013) social justice pedagogy was used. The students’ narratives shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of how the BEd curriculum worked towards social justice and revealed the students’ perceptions of otherness. From the narratives it became apparent that the 3 modules did promote a social justice orientation in prospective teachers educated at the university.http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/article/view/2104/1182inclusionsocial justicestudent diversitystudent teachersteacher educationtransformed curriculum
spellingShingle Emma Groenewald
Anthony Mpisi
Student teachers’ perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justice
South African Journal of Education
inclusion
social justice
student diversity
student teachers
teacher education
transformed curriculum
title Student teachers’ perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justice
title_full Student teachers’ perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justice
title_fullStr Student teachers’ perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justice
title_full_unstemmed Student teachers’ perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justice
title_short Student teachers’ perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justice
title_sort student teachers perceptions and experiences of certain modules within a transformed curriculum to foster social justice
topic inclusion
social justice
student diversity
student teachers
teacher education
transformed curriculum
url http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/article/view/2104/1182
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AT anthonympisi studentteachersperceptionsandexperiencesofcertainmoduleswithinatransformedcurriculumtofostersocialjustice