The evaluation of an in-service project for black primary school teachers in South Africa in the early 1980s
The study deals with the selected aspects of the evaluation of an in-service education project (INSET), which was launched by the private sector in South Africa in 1983, with the purpose of upgrading underqualified teachers in black primary schools. INSET in South Africa lags far behind the rest of the world, particularly so in the black education systems and much of the current INSET activity is unlikely to achieve lasting and meaningful improvements in black schools. Teacher Opportunity Programmes was launched in response to this critical situation. The target group at which the programme is directed is those 'black' teachers who have had only three years of secondary schooling and two years professional training and who according to state legislation, are underqualified. The primary goal of Teacher Opportunity Programmes is to help put these teachers in a position to obtain matriculation (Standard 10) and thus to qualify them in accordance with state policy. Not only does this raise their status, but it sets them on a career path in education that enables them to enjoy the same salary benefits as the white teachers. A secondary goal is to assist them in their professional development as teachers. The study therefore evaluates how successfully Teacher Opportunity Programmes helps these teachers to upgrade themselves academically and professionally.
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