Understanding Grade 10 Life Sciences teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching topics on human reproduction

Silas, Fenni

Title: Understanding Grade 10 Life Sciences teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching topics on human reproduction
Creator: Silas, Fenni
Subject: Life sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
Subject: Human reproduction -- Cross-cultural studies
Subject: Human reproduction -- Social aspects -- Namibia -- Ohangwena
Subject: Ohangwena (Namibia) -- Moral conditions
Subject: Taboo -- Namibia -- Ohangwena
Date Issued: 2015
Date: 2015
Type: Thesis
Type: Masters
Type: MEd
Identifier: vital:2062
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020305
Description: This study was conducted in order to understand Grade 10 Life Science teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching human reproduction topics in the Ohangwena political region in the northern part of Namibia. It also explored how the culture of the majority of the inhabitants of Ohangwena region who are Oshiwambo speaking impacts the teaching of human reproduction topics. The study was prompted by the fact that the Grade 10 Life Science syllabus requires learners to learn details of human reproduction although in Oshiwambo culture such things are not discussed openly. And this section has proven to be one of the poorly answered sections in the Grade 10 national examinations. A total of thirty five (35) Grade 10 Life Science teachers participated in this study. It is a qualitative case study underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. The unit of analysis for this study was teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching the topic of human reproduction. Data were generated through document analysis, questionnaires and tape recorded semi-structured interviews. Such data were analysed inductively by sorting them into categories and then into emerging themes. Categories included teachers’ views and experiences of being taught and teaching human reproduction, how culture influenced the manner in which teaching and learning of human reproduction takes place as stated in the socio-cultural theory, and how teachers of different gender perceived and experienced the teaching of human reproduction according to the feminist standpoint theory. The emerging themes were colour coded and then developed into analytical statements. Data triangulation, member checking, and follow up interviews ensured data validity and trustworthiness. This study revealed that the cultural belief of the Owambo people that prohibits adults to talk to children about things related to sex because it encourages them to practice sex is still strong among individuals in the community including teachers themselves. As a result, teachers are not comfortable with teaching human reproduction topics. From the findings, it is recommended that teachers should be empowered to teach Life Science, specifically human reproduction topics, with confidence. Furthermore, parents should be made aware of the importance of including human reproduction topics in the school curriculum so that they can motivate their children to study it with an open mind.
Format: 176 leaves
Format: pdf
Publisher: Rhodes University
Publisher: Faculty of Education, Education
Language: English
Rights: Silas, Fenni

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