The State Of Quality Of Teaching And Learning In Higher Education in South Africa: The Misalignments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v5i4.1826Keywords:
teaching and learning, university, quality, higher education, South AfricaAbstract
In the absence of adequate funding, the emphasis on enrolling a significant number of students in higher education sector often takes precedence over ensuring effective teaching and student achievement. Addressing persistent challenges such as improving academic outcomes, reducing university dropout rates, and maintaining access to quality higher education remains a critical concern in the sector. Even though admission to post-secondary education has increased, student success rates have not shown corresponding improvement. This qualitative study applied growth model theory to examine and evaluate the efficiency of tertiary education in South Africa. This research aimed to investigate the hurdles experienced by tertiary institutions in their efforts to produce graduates of high calibre. The research was guided by the question: How can misalignments within the education sector be addressed to enhance efficiency in higher education? The study sample comprised ten first-year undergraduate students. The research applied semi-structured interviews to gather evidence and thematic analysis was conducted to analyse data. In conclusion this study argues that in efforts to provide education to numerous previously disadvantaged groups, quality is often compromised in favour of quantity, creating an "articulation gap" Student unpreparedness represents a significant barrier to academic success, often resulting in high dropout rates or prolonged degree completion
References
Åhlberg, M., Äänismaa, P., & Dillon, P. (2005). Education for Sustainable Living: Integrating theory, practice, design, and development. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 49(2), 167–185. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00313830500048923
Akoojee, S., & Nkomo, M. (2007). Access and quality in South African higher education: The twin challenges of transformation. SAJHE, 21(3), 385–399. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/sabinet/high/2007/00000021/00000003/art00003
Badat, S. (2010). The challenges of transformation in higher education and training institutions in South Africa. Development Bank of South Africa. http://www.ru.ac. za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/vc/documents/ The Challenges of Transformation in Higher Education and Training Institutions in South Africa.pdf
Barber, M., & Mourshed, M. (2007). How the world’s best- performing schools systems come out on top. McKinsey & Company.
Bharuthram, S. (2012). Making a case for the teaching of reading across the curriculum in higher education. South African Journal of Education, 32(2), 205–214. https://doi.org/10.15700/201409161038.
Bokana, K. G., & Tewari, D. D. (2014). Determinants of student success at a south african university: An econometric analysis. Anthropologist, 17(1), 259–272
Center for Higher Education Trust. (2016). South African higher education open data. Center for Higher Education and Trust. http://chet.org.za/data/sahe- open-data
Chaka, J. G., & Govender, I. (2017). Students’ perceptions and readiness towards mobile learning in colleges of education: A Nigerian perspective. South African Journal of Education, 37(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10. 15700/201409161038
Chong, S. (2009). Quality teaching and learning: A quality assurance framework for initial teacher preparation programmes. Pauline Ho 3, 302–314. Int. J. Management in Education. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0a7c/fd8e8bcde69d70b32f5e43111e9b6c184814.pdf.
Citaristi, I. (2022). African Development Bank—AfDB. In The Europa Directory of International Organizations 2022 (pp. 417-423). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003292548-85/african-development-bank%E2%80%94afdb-ileana-citaristi
Cortright, J. (2001). New growth theory, new growth theory, technology and learning: Technology and learn- ing: A practitioner’s guide a practitioner’s guide. Reviews of economic development literature and practice, 1(4), 1-40. https://sta.uwi.edu/iir/nor mangirvanlibrary/sites/default/files/normangirvanli brary/
Council on Higher Education (2000). Annual report of the council on higher education 1999/2000. Council on Higher Education.
Council on Higher Education. (2013). A proposal for undergraduate curriculum reform in South Africa: The case for a flexible curriculum structure. Council on Higher Education. http://www.che.ac.za/sites/default/ files/publications/Full_Report.pdf
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). London. SAGE.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2011). The SAGE Handbook of qualitative research (4th ed.). London. SAGE.
Department of Basic Education. (2010). Education statis- tics. Department of Basic Education.
Department of Education (1997). Education white paper 3: A program for the transformation of higher education. General Notice 1196 of 1997.
Department of Education (2007). Information on the state budget for higher education 2007.
Department of Education, (MoE). (2001). Draft national plan for higher education in South Africa. Department of Education. http://scholar.google.com/scholar?
Department of Education. (2005). Teacher for the future: Meeting teacher shortages to meet teacher for all. Department of Education.
Department of Higher Education and Training (2011). South African higher education: Facts and figures. Department of Education.
Department of Higher Education and Training (2014). White paper for post-school education and training: Building an expanded, effective and integrated post school system. Department of Higher Education &Training Republic of South Africa. www.dhet.gov.za
Department of Higher Education and Training (2019). Statistics on post-school education and training in South Africa: 2017. Department of Higher Education and Training.
Department of Higher Education and Training. (2012). Green paper for post-school education and training. Department of Higher Education &Training Republic of South Africa. www.dhet.gov.za
Fisher, G., & Scott, I. (2011). Closing the skills and technology gap in South Africa Background paper 3: The role of higher education in closing the skills gap in South Africa. The World Bank Human Development Group,1–56. Africa.
Howie, S. J. (2003). Language and other background fac- tors affecting secondary pupils’ performance in mathematics in South Africa. African Journal of Research in SMTEducation,7(January2015),1–20 http://doi.org/10.1080/10288457.2003.10740545
Kaliisa, R., & Picard, M. (2017). A systematic review on mobile learning in higher education: The African perspective. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology-TOJET, 16(1), 1–18. https://eric.ed.gov/? id=EJ1124918
Kelly, D., Xie, H., Nord, C. W., Jenkins, F., Chan, J. Y., & Kastberg, D. (2014). Performance of U.S. 15-Year-Old Students in Mathematics, Science, And Reading
Killen, R. (2012). Teaching strategies for quality teaching and learning. Juta and Company Ltd.
Kizito, R., Munyakazi, J., & Basuayi, C. (2016). Factors affecting student success in a first-year mathematics course: A South African experience. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 47(1), 100–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 0020739X.2015.1057247
Kruss, G. (2004). Employment and employability: Expectations of higher education responsiveness in South Africa. Journal of Education Policy, 19(6), 673–689.
Laitin, D. D., & Ramachandran, R. (2016). Language policy and human development. American Political Science Review, 110(3), 457–480. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S0003055416 000265
Letseka, M., & Maile, S. (2008). High university drop-out rates: A threat to South Africa’s future. The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). http://www.hsrc.ac. za/uploads/pageContent/1088/Dropout rates.pdf
Lewin, T., & Mawoyo, M. (2014). Student access and suc- cess: Issues and interventions in South African uni- versities. Inyathelo.
López-pérez, M. V., Pérez-lópez, M. C., & Rodríguez-ariza, L. (2011). Computers & education blended learning in higher education: Students’ perceptions and their relation to outcomes. Computers & Education, 56(3), 818–826.
Machingambi, S. (2011). Is access to higher education a sufficient condition for social equity in South Africa? A critical analysis. The Social Science Journal, 28(1), 13–20.
Maharasoa, M., & Hay, D. (2001). Higher education and graduate employment in South Africa. Quality in Higher Education, 7(2), 139-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538320120060033
Masasi, N. J. (2012). How personal attribute affect students’ performance in undergraduate accounting course: A case of adult learner in Tanzania. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, 2(2), 89–100. http://hrmars.com/admin/pics/837.pdf
Merriam, S. B. (2017). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation.
Miño Puigcercós, R., Domingo Coscollola, M., & Sancho Gil, J. M. (2019). Transforming the teaching and learning culture in higher education from a DIY per- spective. Educación XX1.
Motala, S., & Pampallis, J. (2005). Governance and finance in the South African schooling system: The first decade of democracy. Centre for Education Policy Development.
Mouton, N., Louw, G. P., & Strydom, G. L. (2012). A historical analysis of the post- apartheid dispensation education in South Africa (1994–2011). International Business & Economics Research Journal, 11(11), 1211–1222. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/
National Commission on Higher Education. (1996). A framework for transformation: Discussion document. National Commission on Higher Education.
Nel, C., & Kistner, L. (2009). The National senior certificate: Implications for access to higher education. South African Journal of Higher Education, 23(5), 953–973. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajhe.v23i5.48810
New York. Jossey-Bass.
Omolara, B. E. (2008). Influence of work related stress on organizational commitment at Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye Ogun State Nigeria. In EABR and TLC conferences proceedings Rothenburg, Germany.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2008). Reviews of national policies for education: South Africa. OECD.
Osman, R., & Petersen, N. (2010). Students’ engagement with engagement: The case of teacher education students in higher education in South Africa. British Journal of Educational Studies, 58(4), 407–419. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2010.527665
Ramphele, M. (2009). Here, mother tongue clashes with her mother’s tongue. Sunday Times, 8, 11. https:// www.pressreader.com/south-africa/sunday-times-1107/20090308/28230 3906047196
RSA. (2012). Green paper for post-school education and training. Department of Higher Education and Training. www.dhet.gov.za
RSA. (2013). White paper for post-school education and training: Building an expanded, effective and integrated post-school system. Department of Higher Education and Training. www.dhet.gov.za
Scott, C. L., & Ivala, E. N. (2019). Transformation of higher education institutions in post-apartheid South Africa. Routledge.
Spaull, N. (2013). South Africa’s Education Crisis: The quality of education in South Africa 1994–2011. Cde, 27(October), 1–65. http://www.section27.org.za/wp- content/uploads/ 2013/10/Spaull-2013-CDE-report-South-Africas-Education-Crisis.pdf
Stake, R. E. (2017). The art of case study research. London. SAGE
Teferra, D. (2015). The shifting landscape of development cooperation: Repercussions for African Higher Education. Journal of Higher Education in Africa/Revue de l'enseignement supérieur en Afrique, 12(2), 1–28 https://www.jstor.org/stable/jhigheducafri. 12.2.1
Teise, K., & le Roux, A. (2016). Education for sustainable development in South Africa: A model case scenario. Africa Education Review, 13(3–4), 65–79. https://doi. org/10.1080/18146627.2016.1224584
Tewari, D. D. (2014). Is matric math a good predictor of student’s performance in the first year of university degree? A case study of faculty of management studies, university of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. International Journal of Educational Sciences, 6(2), 233–237. doi: 10.1080/09751122.2014.11890565
Tewari, D.D. (2016). South African Higher Education sector and its goals: Reflections and future needs. Journal of Economics and Business Law, 5(4),1–16.
UNESCO. (2002). Education for sustainable development: From Rio to Johannesburg: Lessons learned from a decade of commitment.
Voigt, L., & Hundrieser, J. (2008). Noel-Levitz retention codifications student success, retention, and graduation: Definitions, theories, practices, patterns, and trends. In National conference on law and higher education. pp. 1–22.
World Development Indicators (WDI). (2015). World development indicator 2015 Online database. World bank. https://databank.worldbank. org/source/world-development-indicators
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). London. SAGE.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nkarhi Excellent Mathebula, Mohammed Xolile Ntshangase, Selina Ramapela, Ronnie R. Maceke
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
