Unfreedoms of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms: A capability perspective
This study explored the unfreedom of Grade 10 isiXhosa learners, highlighting the complex language, teaching, and assessment dynamics in Afrikaans classrooms. The study draws on the Capability Approach (CA) of Sen (1999) to assess the unfreedoms of learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms. It unde...
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University of the Free State
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Perspectives in Education |
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| Online Access: | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/7979 |
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| author | Chantelle August-Mowers |
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This study explored the unfreedom of Grade 10 isiXhosa learners, highlighting the complex language, teaching, and assessment dynamics in Afrikaans classrooms. The study draws on the Capability Approach (CA) of Sen (1999) to assess the unfreedoms of learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms. It underscores the experiences of isiXhosa learners and the limitations imposed on them. Unfreedoms in CA are those hindrances to people’s or institutions’ capacity or ability to achieve. Although multilingualism is acknowledged globally and in South Africa as an inevitable reality, the limitations for isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans classrooms contradict the opportunities and possibilities in a limited educational space. A qualitative approach and case study design were used, and two Grade 10 classes were used to illustrate the case. The study conducted individual, focused group interviews and questionnaires to explore the experiences and views of isiXhosa learners placed in Grade 10 Afrikaans classrooms. The study revealed unfreedoms (limitations for isiXhosa learners enrolled in Afrikaans classrooms and the contributing factors that compound these unfreedoms to the learners’ ability to achieve educational objectives. Factors such as teachers’ frustrations with isiXhosa learners, lack of support, and teachers’ negative attitudes towards accommodating isiXhosa learners in the classroom were highlighted. Not limited to
parental perceptions about the Afrikaans language as a language of opportunity, further constraints the learner’s enrolment choice.The lack of available space in public schools also forces parents to enrol students where there is available space, even if it means putting isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans home language classrooms to achieve access to education. The research recommends a translanguaging intervention model as it presents a promising avenue to
address underperformance.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-40141334f31c4c4ab71751ad403faa84 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0258-2236 2519-593X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
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| series | Perspectives in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-40141334f31c4c4ab71751ad403faa842025-08-20T03:10:32ZengUniversity of the Free StatePerspectives in Education0258-22362519-593X2025-05-0143110.38140/pie.v43i1.7979Unfreedoms of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms: A capability perspectiveChantelle August-Mowers 0Education, Two Oceans Graduate Institute, South Africa This study explored the unfreedom of Grade 10 isiXhosa learners, highlighting the complex language, teaching, and assessment dynamics in Afrikaans classrooms. The study draws on the Capability Approach (CA) of Sen (1999) to assess the unfreedoms of learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms. It underscores the experiences of isiXhosa learners and the limitations imposed on them. Unfreedoms in CA are those hindrances to people’s or institutions’ capacity or ability to achieve. Although multilingualism is acknowledged globally and in South Africa as an inevitable reality, the limitations for isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans classrooms contradict the opportunities and possibilities in a limited educational space. A qualitative approach and case study design were used, and two Grade 10 classes were used to illustrate the case. The study conducted individual, focused group interviews and questionnaires to explore the experiences and views of isiXhosa learners placed in Grade 10 Afrikaans classrooms. The study revealed unfreedoms (limitations for isiXhosa learners enrolled in Afrikaans classrooms and the contributing factors that compound these unfreedoms to the learners’ ability to achieve educational objectives. Factors such as teachers’ frustrations with isiXhosa learners, lack of support, and teachers’ negative attitudes towards accommodating isiXhosa learners in the classroom were highlighted. Not limited to parental perceptions about the Afrikaans language as a language of opportunity, further constraints the learner’s enrolment choice.The lack of available space in public schools also forces parents to enrol students where there is available space, even if it means putting isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans home language classrooms to achieve access to education. The research recommends a translanguaging intervention model as it presents a promising avenue to address underperformance. http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/7979Assessmentcapability approachmonolingualismmultilingualism meaning-making translanguaging |
| spellingShingle | Chantelle August-Mowers Unfreedoms of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms: A capability perspective Perspectives in Education Assessment capability approach monolingualism multilingualism meaning-making translanguaging |
| title | Unfreedoms of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms: A capability perspective |
| title_full | Unfreedoms of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms: A capability perspective |
| title_fullStr | Unfreedoms of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms: A capability perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unfreedoms of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms: A capability perspective |
| title_short | Unfreedoms of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans Grade 10 classrooms: A capability perspective |
| title_sort | unfreedoms of isixhosa learners in afrikaans grade 10 classrooms a capability perspective |
| topic | Assessment capability approach monolingualism multilingualism meaning-making translanguaging |
| url | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/7979 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chantelleaugustmowers unfreedomsofisixhosalearnersinafrikaansgrade10classroomsacapabilityperspective |