Muzite Precious, Gasa Velisiwe
Department of Educational Foundations, College of Education, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Afr J Disabil. 2024 Nov 27;13:1477. doi: 10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1477. eCollection 2024.
Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in South Africa is often viewed as the 'Cinderella' of higher education, with many matriculating students choosing mainstream universities instead. This preference stems from stigma and misconceptions that label TVET students - often from poorer working-class backgrounds - as less intelligent than their university peers. The lived experiences of students with physical and learning disabilities in these institutions are particularly underexplored.
This study aimed to illuminate the experiences of students with disabilities at five TVET colleges in Gauteng, South Africa.
Using a phenomenological approach, the study conducted story exercises and individual interviews with a convenience sample of 40 students with disabilities.
The findings reveal that TVET education predominantly serves black students from marginalised backgrounds, with students with disabilities facing significant barriers in accessing both the curriculum and the physical environments of the colleges. Despite numerous challenges, a resilient narrative emerged among these students, rooted in African traditional values.
This article contributes to knowledge on disability inclusion in higher education by showcasing the challenges and resilience of students with disabilities in South Africa's TVET system.
The study employed innovative methodologies, such as picture stories, to co-create knowledge with students living with disabilities.
在南非，技术与职业教育培训（TVET）常常被视为高等教育中的“灰姑娘”，许多预科学生选择主流大学而非TVET院校。这种偏好源于耻辱感和误解，这些观念将TVET学生（他们往往来自贫困的工人阶级家庭）标签为不如大学同学聪明。在这些院校中，身体和学习有残疾的学生的实际生活经历尤其未得到充分探索。
本研究旨在阐明南非豪登省五所TVET院校中残疾学生的经历。
该研究采用现象学方法，对40名残疾学生的便利样本进行了故事练习和个人访谈。
研究结果显示，TVET教育主要服务于来自边缘化背景的黑人学生，残疾学生在获取院校课程和物理环境方面面临重大障碍。尽管面临诸多挑战，但这些学生中出现了一种基于非洲传统价值观的坚韧叙事。
本文通过展示南非TVET系统中残疾学生面临的挑战和韧性，为高等教育中残疾包容方面的知识做出了贡献。
该研究采用了创新方法，如图画故事，与残疾学生共同创造知识。
