An exploratory study of the information needs of secondary school students in Mdantsane Township, Eastern Cape.
Abstract
The study investigates the information needs of high school students in the
Mdantsane township in the Eastern Cape and is based on the view that high
school students have information needs other than their school-related needs.
The building of a library in the township made the investigation of this substantial
group's information needs a priority. Careful and thorough assessment of
youth's information needs was important in establishing what sort of information
service was required.
The study identifies the youth's information needs, their purposes for needing
information, their information sources and/or the providers accessed or used to
satisfy their needs for information and makes recommendations regarding
provision to the planners of the new library.
Data collection included reviewing of related literature and a descriptive survey
using self-administered questionnaires. A sample of 117 grade 11 learners was
selected from five high schools using stratified random sampling. Simple coding
sheets and content analysis were used in data reduction and analysis.
The findings of the study support the view that the school-going youth have
information needs other than their school-related needs. There is a need for
information provision on various aspects of their lives such as self-education,
reaching a decision and solving problems. The youth were found to be less
aware, or ignorant, of issues such as HIV/AIDS, sex, drugs and alcohol as also
indicated in the literature reviewed. Informal sources and/or providers such as
parents and friends were used to access information, in addition to more formal
sources such as teachers, books, newspapers and magazines. The study makes recommendations about developing information-searching
skills in the youth, providing information for their educational, social and personal
needs, and for sharing of resources and co-operation with other libraries.
Communication amongst teachers, librarians and students, and the promotion of
leisure activities by libraries, parents, teachers are recommended. It is
suggestd that the youth should be involved in the information provision process
because they are often used as a viable source of information by peers. The
promotion of media usage and other forms of audio-visual and printed material
by libraries is suggested. The development of community beliefs, values in the
youth through churches, career programmes and career guidance needs to be
prioritised as well as the provision of counselling and help groups using voluntary
workers.