Abstract:
The education sector in South Africa is in a process of transformation and
learners attend schools of choice. Currently, educational statutes prohibit
discrimination in any form in schools. The Constitution of the Republic of South
Africa (Act no 108 of 1996) gives everyone the right to basic education without
being discriminated against by the management of any school. The South African
Schools (Act No 84 of 1996) that ensures equal education for all learners further
advances this basic right. This has therefore encouraged parents to enroll
children in schools of their choice. Racial integration is a way of life that promotes
multiculturalism and diversity of the entire society and schools in particular.
An exploration study was conducted with the aim of exploring to what extent
integration has been realised among learners in selected multiracial public
schools in the Limpopo Province. The snowball sampling method in the form of
interviews was used in this study. Teachers and learners participated in this
interview process. The observation method was also used in data collection.
The study was motivated by the researcher’s observation of conflicts among
learners from different racial backgrounds attending multiracial schools. These
conflicts have been constantly reported in the media. In most cases, such
conflicts are racially motivated and schools experience problems in handling and
managing such conflicts.
The results of this study show that most learners who participated in the interview
process are positive towards integration. They indicated that they learn more
about cultural diversity. However, some white learners still have a problem of
integrating with black learners. Parents, who are not willing to accept change in
this country, at times fail to motivate their children to accept and understand
other racial groups. Most white learners leave such schools to attend Afrikaansonly
or private whites-only schools in order to avoid being racially integrated into
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multiracial public schools. During data collection, it was revealed that the problem
in some schools is compounded by lack of tolerance among members of the
teaching staff who come from different racial and cultural backgrounds.
This study recommended among others, that more workshops on cultural
diversity should be conducted on a continuous basis to assist both teachers and
learners to understand and accept one another better. Furthermore, schools
should develop integration programmes that will motivate everyone to
understand different racial groups. Through these programmes it is hoped that
schools will be assisted to overcome their differences and conflicts will be
minimized. All racial groups will be united and transformation in the education
sector will be promoted. White learners leaving multiracial schools will be
motivated and encouraged to understand different racial groups who live in this
democratic country.
