Just drawing: a case study of Visual Arts as a subject in an urban northern KwaZulu-Natal state high school.
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Date
2022
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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.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.