This study aims to investigate the experiences encountered by primary school teachers when they interact with learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Informed by models of education in teaching and learning (intercultural, multicultural and anti-racist models of education that supplement andragogy), the researcher opted for a qualitative research that followed an active research approach in selected primary schools in the Amajuba District of KwaZulu-Natal Province to explore the experiences of diversity during teaching and learning. Data were collected from six teachers from three primary schools through in-depth interviews, follow-up interviews and classroom observations. The data were analysed thematically to identify common patterns and shared meanings. The findings revealed deficiencies in teacher support and competency in inclusive education, indicating that inadequate training and mentorship hinder effective engagement with culturally diverse learners. Operational impediments, including insufficient resources, rigid curricula, and inadequate institutional support, which compromise the implementation of inclusive education, were revealed in the findings. The findings emphasised that teachers need empowerment through inclusive and multicultural frameworks that promote collaboration, reflection, and cultural understanding.
The study recommends strengthening School-Based Support Teams (SBSTs) and District-based Support Teams (DBSTs). Continuous training, mentorship, and professional development should be prioritised. Teachers should be involved in curriculum design to ensure flexibility and cultural relevance. Collaborative platforms between teachers, curriculum specialists, and policy makers are also essential. These measures help promote inclusivity and equity in schools. Overall, the study highlights the challenges teachers face in managing diversity and the need for strong institutional support to achieve inclusive education in South African primary schools.
Lolu cwaningo lugxile ekuhloleni izipiliyoni zothisha bezikole zamabanga aphansi ekusebenzeni nabafundi abavela emiphakathini namasiko ahlukahlukene. Luholwa yizindlela ezahlukene zemfundo nezokufundisa, okubalwa kuzo imfundo yamasiko ehlukene, imfundo yezizwe eziningi kanye nemfundo ephikisana nobandlululo, ezesekelwa umqondo we-andragogy. Ucwaningo lwekhwalithethivu, olwalulandela indlela yocwaningo olusebenzayo, lwenziwa ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi ezikhethiwe esifundeni sase-Amajuba esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natal ngenhloso yokuthola ukuqonda okujulile ngezindlela ukwehluka kwamasiko okuvela ngazo ekufundiseni nasekufundeni.
Ukuqoqwa kwemininingwane kwenziwa kothisha abayisithupha abavela ezikoleni ezintathu zamabanga aphansi kusetshenziswa izingxoxo ezinemininingwane, nokubhekwa kwemisebenzi yasekilasini. Imininingwane eyaqoqwa yahlaziywa ngokwetimu ukuze kubonakale izindikimba ezivamile nezincazelo ezabiwayo phakathi kwabebambe iqhaza.
Imiphumela yocwaningo iveze ukuthi kunokunganele ekusekelweni nasekuqeqeshweni kothisha maqondana nemfundo ebandakanyayo, okuthinta ikhono labo lokuphendula ngokuphumelelayo ezidingweni zabafundi abahlukene ngokwamasiko. Kwaphinde kwabonakala izinselelo zokusebenza ezifana nokushoda kwezinsiza, izinhlelo zokufunda ezingaguquki kanye nokwesekwa okunganele ezingeni lezikhungo, okuphazamisa ukusetshenziswa ngempumelelo kwemfundo ebandakanyayo. Imiphumela iphinde yagcizelela isidingo sokunika othisha amandla ngezinhlelo zemfundo ebandakanyayo neyezizwe eziningi ezikhuthaza ukubambisana, ukuzihlola kanye nokuqonda izizinda zamasiko ezehlukene.
Ucwaningo luncoma ukuqiniswa kwamaQembu Okusekela Ezingeni Lesikole (SBSTs) kanye namaQembu Okusekela Ezingeni Lesifunda (DBSTs). Kubalulekile ukubeka phambili ukuqeqeshwa okuqhubekayo, ukwelulekwa kanye nentuthuko yobungcweti. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukubandakanywa kothisha ekwakhiweni kwezinhlelo zokufunda kungasiza ekuqinisekiseni ukuguquguquka nokuhambisana kwazo nezimo namasiko abafundi. Ukubambisana phakathi kothisha, ochwepheshe bezifundo kanye nabaklami benqubomgomo nako kubalulekile ekuthuthukiseni imfundo ebandakanyayo nenobulungiswa ezikoleni.
Sekukonke, lolucwaningo lugqamisa izinselelo ezibhekene nothisha ekuphatheni ukwehluka kwamasiko kanye nesidingo sokusekelwa okuqinile kwezikhungo ukuze kufinyelelwe emfundweni ebandakanyayo ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi eNingizimu Afrika.
