Abstract
D.Ed.
The purpose of this study is to determine the way in which parents, as stake
holders in their children's education, judge the new educational dispensation.
Changes occuring in our country since the democratically elected government had
come into power, also affected the educational system to a large extent. Millions
of rands coming of tax payers' money is annually allocated to education. Many of
these tax payers are parents. How do parents feel about the changes brought about
by the democratisation of education in South Africa?
A list of the most relevant and important issues regarding the democratisation
process, was compiled and operationalised in a questionnaire which was completed
by parents of grade 4, 6, 9 and 11 pupils of all races. The target market included
parents of all the official language groups in a number of primary and secondary
schools in and around Gauteng. The theory behind the new educational
process, as well as the application of the new educational process formed the
basis of the questionnaire.
The introductory chapters explain the background situation relating to the recent
political changes in South Africa. Relevant concepts are described and explained
in association with the issue at hand. One of these concepts is judgement. How
do parents judge the new dispensation? The meaning of this word, in terms of this
study, is fundamentally researched as it involves intellectual opinions, as well as
emotional contentment with the issue. Furthermore, personality is involved, as is a
person's perceptioins, self esteem, cultural background and set of values.
The research also involves a description of all the items which are included in the
questionnaire. These items center around the principles of change in the education system. Some of these matters are fundamental issues relating to the theory of
transformation, for instance the fact that all learners in the country now have equal
opportunities to education. Most of these matters, however, involve the
application of the theory; that which comprises the physical changes to the
system. An example of the latter would be the fact that most schools are now
multi-racial.
Validity of the empirical component of the investigation is based on the legal
aspects of change, in that all the questions are based upon new regulations
stipulated in the new South African School's Act.