School of Education Celebrates Staffers’ PhDs Achievement

Blose’s research looked at the lived experiences of Deputy Principals across each of the five school quintiles; Hlongwa, whose thesis was written in isiZulu, explored the teaching and learning of productive skills, speaking and writing in isiZulu Second language in selected Pinetown and Umlazi district schools; Mweli explored Grade 4 teachers’ language attitudes and their lived experiences in managing the language transition in the grade; Mzimela, who lost her father and sister during her studies, soldiered on with her study which explored the teaching of a first additional language (FAL) in different geographical contexts; Shoba explored teachers’ experiences of teaching English-speaking to Second Language learners in the Intermediate Phase in township primary schools and how teachers’ experiences influence their teaching of English-speaking; while Thabethe’s research explored the learning of Mechanical Systems in a Grade 9 Technology classroom by deaf learners in KwaZulu-Natal.

Dean and Head of the School Professor Thabo Msibi said, ‘The School of Education is pleased to celebrate the graduation of the six staff members with their PhDs. This brings the total count of graduated staff in 2018 to 11. We believe that this achievement adds value to University’s new strategic plan, and we commend the staff members and their supervisors for this outstanding feat!’

Words: Melissa Mungroo

Photograph: Rogan Ward