Universities must help first-year students adjust - Pandor
Posted 7th August 2008 at 10:53 AM by NewsTracker
By Gabi Khumalo
Johannesburg – Education Minister Naledi Pandor has urged universities to do more to help first-year students adjust to the new academic learning and teaching styles they experience when they reach the tertiary level.
The minister was presenting a lecture entitled: Translating the Academic Edge into the Industrial Environment for Young Graduates: A personal Reflection at Wits University in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
She said the failure of schools to support learners in acquiring effective competence in the language of learning and teaching was among several factors contributing to the difference between success at school and success at university.
“Many first year students struggle to adjust to academic language and to cope with the high level demand of independent research and self-directed learning.
“Few schools alert learners to the changed learning context of university and for many first years, university is a deep culture shock,” Minister Pandor said.
She said that at school level, teachers devoted much time to pastoral care while at university, lecturers did not regard such support as one of their responsibilities.
The minister said this could result in students becoming anonymous failures, unrecognised, unseen and deeply troubled.
“Attention must be given to addressing this gap,” she said, adding that the department’s response to this issue included supporting academic development programmes and foundation programmes in disciplines that have been prioritised by institutions.
She further warned that South Africa should not repeat the history of other systems that have taken decades to overcome discrimination and disadvantage.
“We are also investigating the development of flexible options in the school level sector and need to move beyond compelling students to follow an academic learning pathway,” Ms Pandor said.
The lecture was part of the university’s Student Affairs’ Women’s Day celebrations and formed the Students’ Representative Council’s (SRC) Education Week. - BuaNews
Johannesburg – Education Minister Naledi Pandor has urged universities to do more to help first-year students adjust to the new academic learning and teaching styles they experience when they reach the tertiary level.
The minister was presenting a lecture entitled: Translating the Academic Edge into the Industrial Environment for Young Graduates: A personal Reflection at Wits University in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
She said the failure of schools to support learners in acquiring effective competence in the language of learning and teaching was among several factors contributing to the difference between success at school and success at university.
“Many first year students struggle to adjust to academic language and to cope with the high level demand of independent research and self-directed learning.
“Few schools alert learners to the changed learning context of university and for many first years, university is a deep culture shock,” Minister Pandor said.
She said that at school level, teachers devoted much time to pastoral care while at university, lecturers did not regard such support as one of their responsibilities.
The minister said this could result in students becoming anonymous failures, unrecognised, unseen and deeply troubled.
“Attention must be given to addressing this gap,” she said, adding that the department’s response to this issue included supporting academic development programmes and foundation programmes in disciplines that have been prioritised by institutions.
She further warned that South Africa should not repeat the history of other systems that have taken decades to overcome discrimination and disadvantage.
“We are also investigating the development of flexible options in the school level sector and need to move beyond compelling students to follow an academic learning pathway,” Ms Pandor said.
The lecture was part of the university’s Student Affairs’ Women’s Day celebrations and formed the Students’ Representative Council’s (SRC) Education Week. - BuaNews
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