An investigation of the perceptions of learners and staff in respect of the dental technology extended first year programme
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Date
2007
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Abstract
This study investigates the perceptions of learners and staff of the Dental
Technology Extended First Programme (EFYP) currently offered in the
Department of Dental Services at the Durban University of Technology. The
EFYP has been offered since 1995 in order to meet the needs of under
prepared learners in the Dental Technology programme as well as to address
transformation of the programme. The Dental Technology EFYP has evolved
over a number of years and was one of the first extended programmes offered
in South African higher education. No evaluation of this programme has
occurred since its inception. Moreover, the present study is particularly
relevant as it has been conducted at a time that the Department of Education
is concerned with low throughput rates in South African tertiary education. It is
hoped that insights into this programme gained from this study will be of
benefit to educators either currently providing foundation provision or those
contemplating foundation provision in the future. It is noted that little research
into foundation provision has, to date, been conducted in South Africa.
For this study, learners currently registered in the Dental Technology
programme and staff from the programme were interviewed in semi-structured
interviews, and the main themes concerning foundation provision emerging
from the study were identified.
I conclude that the current EFYP is an academically sound programme
contributing to the academic development of individual learners as well as to
the overall success of the Dental Technology programme. Learners were
unanimous in their belief that the EFYP contributed positively towards their
academic advancement. Furthermore, learners noted the contribution that the
EFYP made to their integration into higher education through a range of
interventions such the departmental mentorship programme. Staff, also,
favourably viewed the EFYP as academically successful.
Description
Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.
Keywords
Universities and colleges--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Higher education., Mentoring in education--KwaZulu-Natal., Universities and colleges--KwaZulu-Natal., Educational change--South Africa., Education, Higher--South Africa., Educational equalization--South Africa., Student development programmes--KwaZulu-Natal.