Abstract
M.Ed.
The investigation is aimed at determining the influence of the self-esteem on the career
expectation of Learners with Special Educational Needs in the secondary school.
At present, learners in the secondary school, who are over the age of 13 years, with a low
intelligence quotient and a record of poor academic performance, are placed in a special
education class also known as a Pre-Vocational Class. These Pre-Vocational Classes are in
the mainstream secondary school. This setup adheres to the educational policy of Inclusion
and Integration.
Through qualitative observation and discussion with the teachers, learners and school
principal, it became apparent that these learners have poor self-esteem.
The research question under investigation is: Do Learners with Special Educational Needs
who are at present in Pre-Vocational Classes, have a low self-esteem and how does the
self-esteem impact significantly on their career expectations?
The research was done through the use of qualitative research strategies. The literature
review about these learners, qualitative inventories on self-esteem and career expectation
as well as principal, teacher and learner interviews, and the researcher's personal observation
have been gathered and analysed in-depth. The analysis of this data is also
represented graphically.
The research results indicated that Learners with Special Educational needs do have a low self-esteem which impacts significantly on their career expectations.
However, the results of this study may not be generalised to all other learners in special
education classes. An important aspect that was observed in this study was the influence of
the teachers and family relationships on the learners with special educational needs.
As inclusion and integration is a policy that is being promoted in our present education system,
further research needs to be carried out, especially with the learners in special education
classes in the secondary school. Both inclusionary and non-inclusionary settings of these
learners need to be researched.
"Self-esteem is not something we give kids.
It's what we have to stop taking away".
Hancock McCarty (1991)