Eastern Cape teachers’ views on their ability to equip learners to cope with life after school

Abstract

“Life skills education” plays an important part in the preparation of school-leavers for life after school, yet it is often neglected. In the light of the problems in the South African education system, the question arises as to whether teachers themselves possess the life skills with which they are supposed to empower their learners. A research project was therefore undertaken among a group of Eastern Cape teachers with the aim of exploring their perception of their ability to actualise life skills education in the classroom, and of equipping them better for this task. A qualitative research approach was adopted, making use of individual interviews with teachers. This study gives an account of the findings of the empirical research that was undertaken as the first part of a bigger project, highlighting the importance of preparing learners for life after school, and how teachers should be equipped for such life skills teaching.