PhD Focuses on Inquiry-Based-Science Teaching

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Dr Khanyisile Brenda Nhlengethwa was awarded a PhD in Science Education for her thesis on Swaziland Pre-Service Teachers’ Understanding and Enactment of Inquiry-Based-Science Teaching (IBST): A Case of a University in Swaziland. The study was supervised by Professor Nadaraj Govender and Dr Doras Sibanda.

Given global interest in inquiry learning and the fact that this is an under-researched field in science education in African countries, the study was timely and relevant. Teachers’ understanding and enactment of IBST is important as it influences the kinds of activities learners are exposed to as well as the kinds of knowledge, skills and attitudes promoted amongst learners.

Within the Swaziland context, knowledge of preservice teachers’ understanding and enactment of the IBST classroom is vital to provide the continuous teacher professional development required to support the teaching and learning of Natural Sciences as well as to broaden learners’ access in the Further Education and Training (FET) phase.

The study involved 34 final-year preservice teachers and adopted a pragmatic paradigm and a mixed methods approach. Using Furtak’s Inquiry framework, the results showed that the participants’ understanding of cognitive and pedagogical content knowledge aspects shaped their enactment of IBST.

The examiners noted that, ‘the candidate has contributed to new knowledge production… [and made] a substantial contribution to a greater understanding of IBST … with implications for practice and policy both nationally and … internationally.’

Khanyisile said that, ‘Attaining this degree has been a long and difficult road in many ways. Studying while also working necessitated staying up late, spending less time with my family and friends and missing family and other social functions.’ She thanked her husband, who accompanied her on her seven-hour journeys from Swaziland to UKZN to meet with her supervisors, her family for their unwavering support and understanding, and her supervisors for their guidance and encouragement. She dedicated her accomplishment to God for the strength He gave her to persevere.

Words: Nadaraj Govender

Photograph: Supplied