Browsing by Author "Manyelo, Tsalane Harry"

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    The demographic profile and perceived in-service education and training needs of Biology teachers in the Limpopo Province
    (2004) Manyelo, Tsalane Harry; Dr. RC Laugksch
    The ovttall poor pen~ in the matric examinatioo in Biology in the Limpopo Province . . may among other factors be influenced by poorly qualified teachers. INSET programs can be one way of addressing the problem of inadequate teacher qualifications. However, the success of these programs depends on the information regarding demographic profiles aoo perceived INSET needs of teachers. The Limpopo Province Departmcot of Educatioo does not have up- ' to-date information on demographic profiles and has no inf-year teaching diploma, and 25% had completed a degree. Most of the responding teachers' schools had an enrolment of between 201 and 800 learners and less than four Mathematics, Physical Science and Biology teachers. Eighty-nine per-cent reported to have more than 30 learners in their largest classrooms, and 87% perceived poor resources to be available at school. Almost two-thirds of the teachers who responded identified improving teaching skills and content knowledge in Biology as their greatest professional INSET needs. Eighty percent cited lack of information, the poor quality of workshops o:ff ered, and workshops not dealing with their needs as their greatest barrier to attend INSEf workshops currently being offered T~ indicated a statistically significant need for all 47 INSET need items listed in the SfIN-NP instrument. However, teachcn indicated greater interest for certain needs, such as, for example, organising a laboratory room for Biology, maintaining laboratory equipment, and carrying out laboratory sessions. Other needs such as those dealing with improving individualised teaching approaches, demonstrating process skills, and developing own teaching materials were of comparatively low inter-est.