Secondary School Learners' Migration Impact in Urban Schools in South Africa

Secondary School Learners’ Migration Impact in Urban Schools in South Africa

Piliso Songelwa , Thanduxolo Nomtshongwana and Andrea Buka Mqondiso

Issue: Vol.4 No.5 May 2023 Article 13 pp.653-664
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202345313 | Published online 19th May, 2023
© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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ABSTRACT

This study employed a qualitative research approach to explore the impact of learner migration in urban secondary schools of OR Tambo Inland District in the Eastern Cape Province, RSA. The study was triggered by the observation of increasing learner enrollment in urban schools whereas declining in rural schools. The study was grounded on the assumption that understanding the factors that contribute to learner migration will help to identify its impact and come up with ways of mitigating the situation. The study adopted an interpretive-constructive paradigm where a case study research design was employed. Verbatim accounts and natural meaning units were used to present and analyse data. The study found that there is an influx of learners from rural to urban schools. Learners migrate to urban schools in pursuit of better quality education in urban schools. This according to findings leads to overcrowded classes and shortages of resources in urban schools. The study recommended that attention be given to rural schools as they sometimes lack necessary resources like infrastructure and human resources. The study also recommended that urban school teachers be equipped with the necessary skills on how to deal with overcrowded classes. This research adds to the existing literature on learner migration.

Keywords: Learner Migration, Overcrowded Classes, Quality Education, Rural Schools, Urban Schools

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Piliso Songelwa holds Honors in Education Management and Policy from Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and is in pursuit of Master’s in Education Management. He is a qualified professional educator who is employed as a Deputy Principal by the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Thanduxolo Nomtshongwana is a Doctor Education student at the Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is also a fulltime professional teacher in the Department of Basic Education, Eastern Cape, South Africa. His research focuses on teachers’ stress and education leadership and management.

Andrea Mqondiso Buka is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Education in the continuing professional teacher development at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. His research focuses on inclusive education, educational management, and policy, especially psychopedagogical research.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Songelwa, P., Nomtshongwana, T. and Buka, A.M. “Secondary School Learners’ Migration Impact in Urban Schools in South Africa.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 4, no.5 (2023): 653-664. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20234513