Exploring Factors Influencing Student Disciplinary Challenges in TVET Colleges: An Investigation Study

The department of education in 2006 developed the new outcomes-based curriculum of the National (NCV) to be implemented in 2007. It was aimed at addressing shortcomings of quality and relevance in the college curriculum. The purpose of this article was exploring factors influencing student disciplinary challenges such as absenteeism and dropping out in the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College with National Certificate Vocational (NCV) programme. The NCV primarily targets post Grade 9 school leavers and also Grade 10, 11 and 12, and although these students are not at the same knowledge level, they are placed in one Level 2 class. A qualitative research approach was chosen, employing a research method which included focus-group interviews for students, semi-structured (face to face) interviews with NCV lecturers. Population comprised of 43 NCV lecturing staff and 353 NCV students in all six campuses from Level 2, 3 and 4. The investigation focused on three lecturing staff and 12 students in the NCV programme who were purposefully sampled to participate in the study. This investigation revealed that students’ behaviour can be attributed to the curriculum demands, lack of resources such as textbooks, and stationery, shortage of lecturers, inadequately trained lecturers, and students who are not fully matured and not committed. A recommendation was made that the entry requirement for NCV Level 2 should be changed from post Grade 9 to Grade 10 graduates, after a subject choice has been made in school. The study is underpinned by curriculum theory, which says curriculum is an academic discipline devoted to examining and shaping educational curricula.