Abstract
M.Ed.
The study explored the experiences of out-of-school youth at the Orhovelani Education Centre. Its main aim was to find out whether the programme offered by the Orhovelani
Education Centre is addressing the youths' needs. The ultimate aim is to develop guidelines from an educational psychological perspective for educators and policy makers on how to improve the effectiveness of the programme.
Research Method
A qualitative research method that aimed at the exploration and description, and reconstruction of meaning was employed. The research was conducted in two phases.
Phase one consisted of the exploration and description of the experiences expressed by the youths, as well as educators with regard to the programme offered at the Orhovelani Education Centre. In Phase two guidelines for education centres such as the Orhovelani Education Centre were developed. The research was conducted against the background of a conceptual framework that explained the parameters for conducting the research.
Research Design
In this study, a qualitative approach was deemed most suitable, as it provides the youth and educators with an opportunity of narrating their own perceptions and experiences. The research was designed to be exploratory and descriptive and thus no attempts were made to establish cause and effect relationships. Data in this research was collected by means of observation, as well as through individual and focus group interviews to understand the experience of the youths with regard to the programme. The aim of observation was to obtain a general feel of the school climate and classroom interaction. Individual interviews were conducted with educators at the Centre, and focus group interviews were conducted with the youths. Focus group interviews with the youths were used because they are specially suited to exploring the experiences and attitudes of the youths. A pilot study was conducted in order to identify any problems prior to going into the field, so that they could be eliminated.
The data analysed in this study consist of six sets of transcribed interviews as well as the field journal of observation and informal conversations. Tape recordings of the interviews, which were conducted in the respondents' home language, were transcribed and translated. The themes and categories identified through data analysis formed the basis for the development of guidelines.