International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 2834-7919   |  e-ISSN: 1554-5210
International Journal of Progressive Education
International Association of Educators

Original article | International Journal of Progressive Education 2022, Vol. 18(6) 29-41

Investigating how School Ecologies Mediate Sexuality Education: A Cybernetic Analysis Within the Free State Province, South Africa

Eben Swanepoel & Christa Beyers

pp. 29 - 41   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijpe.2022.477.3   |  Manu. Number: MANU-2103-27-0001.R3

Published online: December 11, 2022  |   Number of Views: 137  |  Number of Download: 285

Save PDF

Abstract

Sexuality education has become the cornerstone to curbing risky adolescent behaviour as a means to decrease the spread of unsafe sexual practices and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. While the implementation thereof has shown effectiveness in practice, the desired change at the community level remains a challenge, especially in relation to multicultural norms and disparities with which educators are faced in different school contexts in Southern Africa. This paper raises the question: How do schools mediate sexuality education in Free State provincial schools to accommodate contextual challenges? In order to investigate how schools mediate uniform national- and curriculum-based benchmarks, 10 participants from five schools within the Free State province were purposefully sampled. Data from semi-structured interviews with participants were coded and themed, with this paper specifically reflecting on the theme of school and community boundaries influencing the implementation of sexuality education. Through a First and Second Order Cybernetic perspective, it was found that challenges of gender and race are among the barriers prohibiting positive feedback within school structures, as well as the need to allow communities and parents to become stakeholders in tailoring sexuality education to be relevant to expected national standards as well as contextual and relevant cultural and traditional values.

Keywords: Cybernetics; Sexuality Education; Social Justice; Systems; First Order Cybernetics

How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Swanepoel, E. & Beyers, C. (2022). Investigating how School Ecologies Mediate Sexuality Education: A Cybernetic Analysis Within the Free State Province, South Africa . International Journal of Progressive Education, 18(6), 29-41. doi: 10.29329/ijpe.2022.477.3

Harvard
Swanepoel, E. and Beyers, C. (2022). Investigating how School Ecologies Mediate Sexuality Education: A Cybernetic Analysis Within the Free State Province, South Africa . International Journal of Progressive Education, 18(6), pp. 29-41.

Chicago 16th edition
Swanepoel, Eben and Christa Beyers (2022). "Investigating how School Ecologies Mediate Sexuality Education: A Cybernetic Analysis Within the Free State Province, South Africa ". International Journal of Progressive Education 18 (6):29-41. doi:10.29329/ijpe.2022.477.3.
References
  1. Ahmed, N., Flisher, A. J., Mathews, C., Mũkoma, W., & Jansen, S. (2009). HIV education in South African schools: The dilemma and conflicts of educators. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 37(Supplement 2), 48-54. [Google Scholar]
  2. Alexander, G. (2016). Reflections on the state of multicultural education in historically white South African schools. Journal of Education Sciences, 13(1), 118-128. [Google Scholar]
  3. Asher, N. (2007). Made in the (multicultural) USA: Unpacking tensions of race, culture, gender, and sexuality in education. Educational Researcher, 36(2), 65-73. [Google Scholar]
  4. Becvar, D. S., & Becvar, R. J. (2012). Family therapy: A systemic integration. Pearson Higher Ed. [Google Scholar]
  5. Beyers, C. (2011). Sexuality education in South Africa: A sociocultural perspective. Acta Academica, 43(3), 192-209.  [Google Scholar]
  6. Bhana, D., & Pattman, R. (2009). Researching South African youth, gender and sexuality within the context of HIV/AIDS. Development, 52(1), 68-74. [Google Scholar]
  7. Bhana, D. (2012). Understanding and addressing homophobia in schools: A view from teachers. South African Journal of Education, 32(3), 307-318. [Google Scholar]
  8. Blanche, M. J. T., Blanche, M. T., Durrheim, K., & Painter, D. (Eds.). (2011). Research in practice: Applied methods for the social science. Cape Town: Juta. [Google Scholar]
  9. Chabilall, J. (2012). Educators’ roles in developing adolescent HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes within school culture. South African Journal of Education, 32(1). [Google Scholar]
  10. Chick, J. K. (2002). Constructing a multicultural national identity: South African classrooms as sites of struggle between competing discourses. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 23(6), 462-478. [Google Scholar]
  11. Davids, M. N. (2014). Using Foucauldian 'discursive practices' as conceptual framework for the study of teachers' discourses of HIV and sexuality. Perspectives in Education, 32(3). [Google Scholar]
  12. DePalma, R., & Francis, D. (2014). Silence, nostalgia, violence, poverty…: What does ‘culture’ mean for South African sexuality educators? Culture, Health & Sexuality, 16(5), 547-561. [Google Scholar]
  13. Department of Basic Education. (2011). Protecting the right to innocence: The importance of Sexuality Education. Pretoria: Government Printers. [Google Scholar]
  14. Donohue, D., & Bornman, J. (2014). The challenges of realising inclusive education in South Africa. South African Journal of Education, 34(2), 1-14. [Google Scholar]
  15. Engelbrecht, P. (2006). The implementation of inclusive education in South Africa after ten years of democracy. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 21(3), 253-264. [Google Scholar]
  16. Epstein, D., & Morrell, R. (2012). Approaching southern theory: Explorations of gender in South African education. Gender and Education, 24(5), 469-482. [Google Scholar]
  17. Francis, D. (2013). Sexuality education in South Africa: Whose values are we teaching?. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 22(2), 69-76. [Google Scholar]
  18. Goldman, J. D. (2008). Responding to parental objections to school sexuality education: A selection of 12 objections. Sex Education, 8(4), 415-438. [Google Scholar]
  19. Glanville, R. (2002). Second order cybernetics. Systems Science and Cybernetics, 3, 59-85. [Google Scholar]
  20. Jacobs, A. (2011). Life Orientation as experienced by learners: A qualitative study in North-West Province. South African Journal of Education, 31(2), 212-223. [Google Scholar]
  21. Jonck, P., & Swanepoel, E. (2015). Exploring the theoretical link between cultural and emotional intelligence: A system analysis for human resource management. South African Journal of Business Management, 46(4), 77-84. [Google Scholar]
  22. Kaufman, C. E., Clark, S., Manzini, N., & May, J. (2004). Communities, opportunities, and adolescents’ sexual behavior in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. Studies in Family Planning, 35(4), 261-274. [Google Scholar]
  23. Kendall, D. (2011). Sociology in our times. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. Chapter 11. [Google Scholar]
  24. Keogh, S. C., Stillman, M., Awusabo-Asare, K., Sidze, E., Monzón, A. S., Motta, A., & Leong, E. (2018). Challenges to implementing national comprehensive sexuality education curricula in low-and middle-income countries: Case studies of Ghana, Kenya, Peru and Guatemala. PloS one, 13(7), e0200513. [Google Scholar]
  25. Mayeza, E., & Vincent, L. (2019). Learners’ perspectives on Life Orientation sexuality education in South Africa. Sex Education, 19(4), 472-485. [Google Scholar]
  26. Meier, C., & Hartell, C. (2009). Handling cultural diversity in education in South Africa. SA-eDUC Journal, 6(2), 180-192. [Google Scholar]
  27. Moletsane, R. (2011). Culture, nostalgia, and sexuality education in the age of AIDS in South Africa. Memory and Pedagogy, 193-208. [Google Scholar]
  28. Mpondo, F., Ruiter, R. A., Schaafsma, D., Van den Borne, B., & Reddy, P. S. (2018). Understanding the role played by parents, culture and the school curriculum in socializing young women on sexual health issues in rural South African communities. SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, 15(1), 42-49. [Google Scholar]
  29. Prinsloo, E. (2007). Implementation of life orientation programmes in the new curriculum in South African schools: perceptions of principals and life orientation teachers. South African journal of education, 27(1), 155-170. [Google Scholar]
  30. Rooth, E. (2005). An investigation of the status and practice of Life Orientation in South African schools in two provinces (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa. [Google Scholar]
  31. Shefer, T., & Macleod, C. (2015). Life Orientation sexuality education in South Africa: Gendered norms, justice and transformation. Perspectives in Education, 33(2), 1-10. [Google Scholar]
  32. Shefer, T., & Ngabaza, S. (2015). 'And I have been told that there is nothing fun about having sex while you are still in high school': Dominant discourses on women's sexual practices and desires in Life Orientation programmes at school. Perspectives in Education, 33(2), 63-76. [Google Scholar]
  33. Shefer, T., Kruger, L. M., Macleod, C., Vincent, L., & Baxen, J. (2015). '... a huge monster that should be feared and not done': Lessons learned in sexuality education classes in South Africa. African Safety Promotion, 13(1), 71-87. [Google Scholar]
  34. Soudien, C. (2004). ‘Constituting the class’: An analysis of the process of ‘integration’ in South African schools. Changing Class: Education and Social Change in Post-Apartheid South Africa, 89-114. [Google Scholar]
  35. Stromquist, N. P., & Monkman, K. (Eds.). (2014). Globalization and education: Integration and contestation across cultures. R&L Education. [Google Scholar]
  36. Spreen, C.A., & Vally, S. (2012). The curriculum and citizenship education in the context of inequality: Seeking a praxis of hope. Perspectives in Education, 30(4), 88-97. [Google Scholar]
  37. Swanepoel, E., & Beyers, C. (2015). From personal sexuality bias to the life orientation classroom: Bridging the gap with cultural intelligence. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 25(2), 164-169. [Google Scholar]
  38. Tesch, R. (1992). Qualitative research: Analysis types and software tools. Hampshire: Falmer Press. [Google Scholar]
  39. The Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. (1996). Government Gazette. (No. 17678). [Google Scholar]
  40. Unterhalter, E. (2003). The capabilities approach and gendered education: An examination of South African complexities. School Field, 1(1), 7-22. [Google Scholar]
  41. Van Wyk, N. (2004). School governing bodies: The experiences of South African educators. South African Journal of Education, 24(1), 49-54. [Google Scholar]
  42. Weeks, F. H. (2012). The quest for a culture of learning: A South African schools perspective. South African Journal of Education, 32(1), 1-14. [Google Scholar]
  43. Wood, S. Y., Rogow, D., & Stines, F. (2015). Preparing teachers to deliver gender-focused sexuality/HIV education: A case study from Nigeria. Sex Education, 15(6), 671-685. [Google Scholar]
  44. Zulu, J. M., Blystad, A., Haaland, M. E., Michelo, C., Haukanes, H., & Moland, K. M. (2019). Why teach sexuality education in school? Teacher discretion in implementing comprehensive sexuality education in rural Zambia. International journal for equity in health, 18(1), 1-10. [Google Scholar]
Download
Metric
History
Related

Volume 18 Issue 6

December 2022

All Articles

International Journal of Progressive Education

International Association of Educators.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License.
Privacy policy     |     Terms of Use     |     Use of Cookies
Creative Commons Lisansı
© 2012 - 2024 - THDSoft e-Journal Management System.