Tafirenyika Mafugu

• Senior Lecturer at University of the Free State

Using a nested design and guided by the Social Control Theory, this study examined the factors that influence learners’ achievement in mathematics in South Africa. The researchers collected data from 32 participants through an online questionnaire with open-ended and closed-ended questions. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS to produce descr...

The purpose of this study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of integrative STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education within life sciences classrooms. To achieve this, a case study design was employed, involving three teachers from a single district in South Africa. The data collection methods included face-to-face interv...

The study aimed to investigate the curriculum leadership role of Mathematics subject advisors in enhancing Mathematics education in South Africa. Using a case study design, seven Mathematics subject advisors and ten Mathematics educators were sampled from all seven districts of the Free State province. Data collection methods included in-depth semi...

The study explored the challenges faced by pre-service teachers in executing science lessons during work-integrated learning in rural school settings. An exploratory case study methodology was employed, using interviews and an open-ended Google Form questionnaire to collect data from fourth-year primary and high school preservice teachers, training...

Work-integrated learning plays a critical role in preparing education students for the role of being competent, dynamic and knowledgeable teachers. To achieve this, higher education institutions structure their initial teacher education programmes in line with the various roles and competencies expected from pre-service teachers once they become qu...

The study aimed to investigate the competencies of 42 preservice science teachers from a rural university in crafting scientific investigations while utilising the constructivist learning theory as its theoretical foundation. Employing an explanatory sequential design, the research initially collected quantitative data through a pre-test, followed...

The expected transition in higher education from students’ school-level assignments to university-level assignments provides challenges and development prospects for students and the academic world. Academic support programs have been introduced in South African higher universities to assist under-prepared university students to benefit from lectur...

The study aimed to determine if there is a significant difference between peer and lecturer assessment scores and to explore the relationship between peer assessment scores and the study year of preservice teachers. Furthermore, the study explored the effect of Blackboard Collaborate online group presentations on the development of pedagogical skil...

The teaching of natural sciences and technology in primary schools presents an opportunity to use innovative approaches to teach STEM-based activities. The subject presents opportunities for learners to experience STEM-based instructional approaches in their early school years; therefore, it is essential that preservice primary school teachers are...

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the prohibition of gatherings threatened the education process. Learning institutions had to close. Instead, institutions had to opt for virtual teaching methods. This study investigates the implications of coronavirus-induced e-Learning on university education. As such, the main objective of the study wa...

The qualitative study, which involved a multiple case study design, focused on the issues surrounding the readiness of teachers to implement the competency-based O-Level Geography Syllabus 4022 in the Zimbabwe secondary school system. In adopting a multiple case study design, the research sought to solicit the opinions of all Geography teachers in...

The objective of the study was to assess the support provided to lecturers in the implementation of a new curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic to suggest early intervention strategies that address resources and knowledge deficiency gaps that have a negative impact on curriculum implementation. A survey design was used in the study. A representat...

The debate on the ‘resource curse’ or ‘the paradox of plenty’ has been raging for decades, albeit with no consensus. This is due to the diversity of findings from empirical literature supporting either side of the debate. The resource curse itself has been compartmentalised into several variants of the model, depending on the perceived causes and c...

The study examined the impact of coursework-only assessment, as made necessary at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, adopting a quantitative research approach with 1013 students. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 27.0 to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed significant differences between the 2019- a...

Because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an emergency shift to online learning in tertiary institutions worldwide. Here, I aimed to determine the impact of guided peer-peer interaction on students' achievement. A Biology Achievement Test was used to collect data. I used a quasi-experimental design and analysed the data using the...

Millions of lives throughout the globe are under threat due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 causes severe respiratory tract infections. In most countries COVID-19 Infections and deaths continue to soar despite the various measures put in place by the World Health Organization. These measures include limited mobility through lock down and banning...

There is prevalence of overweight and obesity in South Africa. Evidence of nutrition knowledge and challenges affecting the promotion of nutrition interventions is needed to produce more effective strategies to prevent nutrition problems in schoolchildren. The study sought to explore challenges encountered by stakeholders of the school nutrition pr...

The objective of the study was to assess adolescent learners’ nutritional knowledge to suggest early intervention strategies that address knowledge deficiency gaps that have a negative impact on personal health and productivity. A cross-sectional survey design was used in the study. One circuit was purposively selected from Pinetown District, KZN,...

Background: School Nutritional Programmes (SNP) provide meals at school to reduce hunger, nutrient deficiencies and improve class alertness among children in poor communities. The purpose of the research was to determine the challenges encountered in implementing the SNP in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa in 2017. Design and methods: A cross-s...

Background: School Nutritional Programmes (SNP) provide meals at school to reduce hunger, nutrient deficiencies and improve class alertness among children in poor communities. The purpose of the research was to determine the challenges encountered in implementing the SNP in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa in 2017. Design and methods: A cross-s...

The coronavirus pandemic has spread worldwide, causing massive deaths of people in different countries. The study sought to find successes and failures in preventing the spread of the disease. This study results would assist states in identifying practical measures that can be used to avoid the spread of the pandemic. The cross-sectional study used...

Background Poor nutrition has been associated with lack of nutrition education, which leads to chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and coronary artery diseases. The objectives of the study were to evaluate learners’ knowledge of nutrition education principles and to determine how the knowledge of nutrition principles could be impr...