Problems affecting the management of Public Adult Learning Centres at Sabie Circuit in Mpumalanga Province South Africa

Abstract

This mini-dissertation describes the research carried out in the three Public Adult Learning Centres (PALCs) which are the cases of this study, namely: Kobeng, Dientjie and Kadishi. The aim of the study was to investigate problems which affect the management of these three PALC‟s. It was also the aim of the study to get insight into the educational background of practitioners who manage these three PALC‟s. In order to achieve the aims outlined above, I formulated the following main research questions:  What are the problems affecting the management of Kobeng, Dientjie and Kadishi Public Adult Learning Centres in the Sabie circuit? From this research question, the following sub-questions were asked:  What are the educational backgrounds of practitioners who manage these centres?  What policies are in place that govern Public Adult Learning Centre?  What are the strategies to implement the policies of these centres?  What kinds of problems are experienced during the implementation of these strategies?  What are the possibilities of addressing problems which affect the management of these three PALC‟s This study seeks answers to the above –mentioned research question. Hence it addresses problems that not only need considerable development and further inquiry for advancing the academic debate, but are also relevant for practitioners who are working in the PALC‟s and are facing these challenges. To try and answer the main question outlined above, I decided to undertake a multiple case study to investigate problems affecting the management of the three above-mentioned PALC‟s, which are the cases of the study. ii It was the objectives of this study to identify problems affecting the management of the three above-mentioned PALC‟s and to get insight into the existing qualifications of the centre managers and practitioners in these PALCs and also on how they were trained and being supported. These objectives could possibly help in recommending ways of improving the management of these PALC‟s. Chapter 2 outlines the theoretical framework of the study. Based on the readings of the relevant literature, preliminary discussions with centre managers, practitioners and adult learners in the PALC‟s, it appeared that there are management problems that make it difficult for the PALC‟s to be efficiently and effectively run and for quality teaching and learning to take place. Hence there has been a discussion about problems affecting the management of the above-mentioned three PALC‟s. Problems such as, shortage of resources, lack of infrastructure, lack of government support, unqualified and under-qualified educators and poor communication channels were discussed in detail in this chapter. This chapter concludes by definitions of concepts such as: Management and Public Adult Learning Centres. In chapter 3, I describe the design of the study. The main focus of the chapter was to discuss the tracks of data collection. The first track dealt with the reviewing of documents while the second track dealt with fieldwork in which interviews were conducted. An explanation and discussions of the instruments that were used to collect data from different role players in various phases of data collection is also given. I concluded the chapter by explaining how the data that has been collected from various phases was analysed using qualitative data analysis methods. Chapter 4 presents the empirical results of the study. It investigates and identifies problems which affect the management of the three centres which are the cases of this study. In this chapter I present an overview of Kobeng, Dientjie and Kadishi PALC‟s in the Sabie circuit in Mpumalanga Province. A description of the programmes offered and visions and missions of each of the three PALC‟s is given. This chapter further discusses issues around staffing and learners in each centre. I have also outlined in detail the views of the interviewees in relation to the problems affecting the management of these three PALC‟s as the basis of the study. The chapter concludes by discussing the findings of observations based on each PALC of the study. iii Chapter 5 is a cross-case analysis of the PALC‟s. The intention was to compare and contrast cases based on the problems affecting the management of Public Adult Learning Centres at Sabie circuit in Mpumalanga Province of the study, while trying to get ways of improving management of the centres. I have been careful in preserving each individual case‟s uniqueness with the need to understand generic practices at work across cases. The final chapter (six) presents the final conclusion and recommendations of this study. This chapter integrates the information from previous chapters in discussing problems affecting the management of PALC‟s in the Sabie circuit in Mpumalanga Province. It also provides suggestions which might contribute towards improving the way PALC‟s are managed in Sabie circuit. The chapter concludes by mentioning problems that need to be further researched, as the ABET field seems to be under-researched, particularly the area of problems affecting the management of Public Adult Learning Centres.