Browsing by Author "Maarman, Ruaan"

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    A capabilities analysis of teachers' perceptions of caps in a Cape Town low-income school community in the Western Cape Province
    (University of the Western Cape, 2017) Kileo, Mercy Kansari; Maarman, Ruaan
    Since the dawn of democracy, the South African government has set up different measures to improve education in schools, inter alia the provision of funding, resources, feeding schemes and the introduction and amendment to different curricula. The current education policy, the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), was adopted in 2012 following three other consecutive education policies that had not delivered to the desired standard in terms of educational outcome. This study focuses on the perceptions of teachers in terms of their freedom to pursue the aims of CAPS in low-income school communities. The teachers' perceptions and freedoms were explored and analyzed using the Capabilities Approach (CA) authored by Amartya Sen which forefronts the capabilities (the ability to achieve) and the functionings (real achievements). Teachers' perceptions were therefore explored and analyzed in terms of freedoms and unfreedoms they enjoy and face in the process of transferring the knowledge to learners. The thesis studied and analyzed the capabilities and perceptions of teachers in terms of their real freedoms through the deconstruction of their experiences.
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    A capability analysis of education policies in quintile 1 schools in the Frances Baard district of the Northern Cape Province
    (University of the Western Cape, 2014) Barnett, Emma Priscilla; Maarman, Ruaan
    This study examined the three education poverty alleviation policies in relation to learners’ capabilities and was grounded in the Capability Approach as a conceptual framework pioneered by the economist and philosopher, Amartya Sen. The study posits the view that the policies investigated and evaluated are essential in terms of contributing to the well-being of learners, particularly those living in poverty, as well as offering opportunities for every child, irrespective of social and/or economic background. The theoretical framework which conceptualise the dimensions of poverty, re-imagines the South African case. A local investigation was undertaken to understand the poverty dynamics in the Quintile 1 schools in the Frances Baard District of the Northern Cape Province. The empirical research was done using a mixed methodology within the pragmatic paradigm. The investigations were based on and informed by the policies and the components of the Capability Approach. An investigation into the extent and processes of the implementation of these policies, and their impact on poverty alleviation in the schools, was considered necessary in order to provide information on the successes and limitations encountered in the implementation processes. A framework is proposed including capabilities for the effective implementation of the educational poverty alleviation policies namely autonomy, knowledge and accountability.
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    A capability analysis of performance in quintile-1 schools in Cape Town
    (University of the Western Cape, 2015) Nwati, Munje Paul; Maarman, Ruaan
    Learner underperformance, especially in poor school communities has been an issue of contestation since 1994, and remains a major challenge in South Africa. Learner performance in this category of schools continues to plummet amidst government efforts to reallocate resources, and adjust policies to meet the needs of these schools, as well as efforts made by researchers to identify the causes of underperformance. The variances in performance exhibited by schools within this category, often within the same community, and with shared features indicate the need for further exploration of the phenomenon. This study examined three Quintile-1 (Q-1) schools within a particular informal settlement in Cape Town using the Capability Approach (CA) pioneered by the economist and philosopher, Amartya Sen as a conceptual framework to understand the nature of learner performance. An investigation was undertaken in the three Q-1 schools using a qualitative research paradigm. The investigation was underpinned by the constructs of the CA which include; Freedoms, Unfreedoms, Capabilities, Conversion, and Functionings. These components were used in the investigation to understand the nature of learner performance in the schools, and how each of these constructs influenced the gap between available resources and learner performance. This approach was guided by the assumption that these schools accumulate a similar amount of resources, face similar challenges and have learners from similar backgrounds. The investigation revealed that capability limitations and unfreedoms interplay to limit learner abilities to learn and perform. As such, a framework is proposed for understanding learner performance in a Q-1 school community via the capability sets of Amartya Sen. The findings of the study reveal that learner capabilities, as well as their abilities to perform, were limited by existing unfreedoms present in the school community where role players are challenged to convert resources into valued functionings. Notable was the fact that learner backgrounds and circumstances contributed to unfreedoms experienced in the classrooms. The findings also reveal that efforts made through the reallocation of resources are under pressure, because of the plethora of factors at play in the community, the school and the Department of Basic Education. The study emphasizes the usefulness of the CA in educational spaces, considering its importance in the understanding of significant variables that are often neglected in performance discourses, with a focus on the explication of capability sets.
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    Exploring capabilities of learners in a quintile 1 school in Metro Central of Cape Town
    (University of the Western Cape, 2010) Daniel-Oghenetega, Benedicta O.; Maarman, Ruaan; NULL; Faculty of Education
    This study explore the capabilities of Intermediate Phase (grades 4-6) learners in a Quintile 1 school in the Metro Central of Cape Town, through the lens of the capabilities approach theorized by Amartya Sen. This approach relates to how learners are able to utilize their capability sets to attain functionings in the face of poverty i.e. attain the freedom to live the kind of life they value. The study has chosen the capabilities approach because of its high interdisciplinary and multidimensional characteristics. This makes it appropriate to the South Africa context which is characterized by inequality, deprivation and segregation. In this regard, the study explores the features of poverty and forms of capabilities in relation to Intermediate Phase Learners in Quintile 1 Schools. Furthermore the study attempts to explain the effect of poverty on the capabilities of this group of learners in a selected Quintile 1 school in the Metro Central of Cape Town.
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    Exploring teachers' perceptions of parental involvement via the capability approach: A case of a low income school community.
    (University of the Western Cape, 2017) Ikechukwu, Oji; Maarman, Ruaan
    Parental involvement in low-income school communities in the Western Cape, South Africa, has received little attention irrespective of its significance to learner outcomes. This study explores parental involvement with regard to teachers' perceptions of parental involvement, as well as barriers and solutions to meaningful parental involvement in a low-income school community in the Western Cape. This study, in the form of a qualitative study, sought to establish how teachers perceived parental involvement, and what restricts parents with poor socio-economic backgrounds from becoming involving in their children's education. Additionally, the study sought to establish or develop ways in which parental involvement could be improved. This study adopted a qualitative method design using qualitative procedures such as semistructured interviews, focus group interviews, observation and an open-ended questionnaire. It emerged from the findings that teachers had limited understanding of parental involvement. They perceived parental involvement to be parent's school-based activities such as fund-raising and the provision of school materials for the learners. Most of the teachers were never exposed to training on how to involve parents. Teachers believed that lack of material resources and poor parental education contributed to the issue of a lack of parental involvement in the school. Furthermore, participant parents indicated that they are willing to become involved in their children's education; however, their involvement was restricted by various barrier factors such as poverty and a lack of enabling environment. Both (teachers and parents) participants also suggested programmes or useful ways in which parental involvement could be promoted, such as the provision of basic infrastructures, grant support, educational training or facilities and a supportive environment for the parents. The findings revealed that creating an enabling environment to nurture these parents' capabilities will improve parental involvement. The capability-approach framework was used not only to explain the restraining factors to parental involvement but also to propose or suggest ways or intervention measures to improve parental involvement in their children's education, especially the parents from the community of this research. The approach was use to analyse parental involvement with the view to develop parental involvement or parents' capabilities in the school community.