Author guidelines

Full author guidelines.

Editorial policy
Submission of articles
Submission categories
General submission guidelines
Publication fees
References
Checklist before submitting your article

Editorial policy

Perspectives in Education

  • Is a professional, peer-reviewed open-access journal that encourages the submission of previously unpublished articles on contemporary educational topics.
  • Represents a variety of cross-disciplinary interests, both theoretical and practical, and seeks to stimulate debate on a wide range of topics.
  • Is published bi-annually in June and December with the possibility of a maximum of two special editions in between to encourage research with a particular focus or area.
  • Invites manuscripts reporting on innovative studies, that could include qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods approaches. These might include (but not limited to), ethnographic observation and interviewing, grounded theory, life history, case study, curriculum analysis and critique, policy studies, ethno-methodology, social and educational critique, phenomenology, post-qualitative inquiry, deconstruction and genealogy.
  • Encourages debates on epistemology, methodology and ethics, from a range of perspectives including post-positivism, interpretivism, constructivism, critical theory, feminism, post-modernism, decoloniality and more.
  • Seeks to stimulate robust dialogue and intellectual exchange on education in current times with respect to schools, colleges, non-governmental organisations, universities and universities of technology in South Africa and beyond.
  • Aims to make itself accessible to a wider reading community, and encourages authors to make their content accessible to a broad readership, including those who may not be familiar with the subject matter addressed.
  • Caters to an international audience.
  • Challenges contributors to use innovative, provocative and creative ways of presenting and reporting their research.

Submission of articles

  • Requirements for submitting an article

    • Originality: The work is original. Self-plagiarisation is also unacceptable.
    • Previously unpublished: The work has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
    • Copyright: Information on who the copyright holder is, in case the article is based on a dissertation or thesis, and permission from the supervisor or institution to be included.
    • Co-author permission: The author has secured the permission of all named co-authors, who have agreed on the order of the names for publication.
    • Word count: The article does not exceed the word count of 4500–7000 words including references.
    • Language: Article must be written in South African / UK English – Note spelling and style differences e.g, -mme (programme), -ence (e.g. defence, offence, licence), -ise (e.g. internationalise, familiarise, organise), -ou (e.g. colour, behaviour), -ogue (e.g. catalogue) and -re (e.g. metre, fibre, centre).
    • Ethical clearance: Evidence that the empirical research on which the article is based was reviewed by the relevant ethical board and received ethical clearance. This could be a copy of the ethical clearance certificate or a letter quoting the ethical clearance number should accompany the article submission).
    • Statistical verification: Statistical clearance letter / certificate from statistician has been issued, if applicable.
    • Gender: Articles have to be written in a gender-neutral way.
    • Similarity index: The similarity index e.g. Turnitin, indicates less than 15%. Manuscripts of more than 15% similarity will not be considered.
    • Artificial Intelligence: AI tools used in the creation of your work is clearly acknowledged in text (NOT in reference list) and the following detail should be included:
      • How you used the AI tool including the prompt used,
      • The date you used the tool and
      • The name, creator and version of the AI tool.
    • Language editing: The article has been language edited by a certified language practitioner (a copy of the letter from such a language practitioner should accompany an article submission). The editor reserves the right to make editorial changes in any manuscript accepted for publication to enhance clarity or conformity with journal style.

PiE invites submissions in the following categories: 

1. Research articles

The following are considered when evaluating the suitability of a manuscript for publication in this section of Perspectives in Education:

  • It offers new, original insights or interpretations and the research is not merely a restatement of existing ideas and views.
  • It makes a significant contribution to the field and extends the borders of educational debate.
  • It is likely to arouse readers’ interest and stimulate debate.
  • It reflects sound scholarship and research design with appropriate, correctly interpreted references to other authors and works.
  • The content of the manuscript is accessible to the broad readership of the education community and is not just addressed to specialists in the area.
  • Double-blind review process of research articles
    • When articles are first received, they are scanned for compliance with formatting, language and submission requirements.
    • If the article complies, it moves on to external double-blind peer review.
    • Reviewers are given between 30 to 60 days to complete their reviews.
    • No requests for fast-tracking of reviews are entertained.
    • When the article is returned from external blind peer review, depending on the comments from the reviewers, it is sent to the author(s) with the option of
      • Reworking and resubmitting the manuscript
      • Accepted subject to minor changes or
      • Rejected outright with reason(s) why it is not accepted.
    • The reworked manuscript is uploaded onto the Perspectives in Education OJS website with the following:
      • A new similarity index certificate and
      • A document indicating how the reviewers’ suggestions had been addressed.
    • It is then re-evaluated blindly by the editor-in-chief to determine if it will be published. The editor-in-chief’s decision is final.
    • The author is then informed of the next steps in the publishing process.

2. Review articles

  • PiE invites succinct, critical, evaluative reviews of current literature on key topics in education and publications.
  • Reviews should provide a descriptive and evaluative summary and a brief discussion of the significance of the work in the context of current theory and practice.
  • In addition to the conventional literature review format, reviewers are encouraged to use alternative methods of representation such as critically engaging the author(s) in a dialogue on published books or articles.

3. Opinion pieces

  • Opinion / perspective pieces present the personal thoughts, interpretation, views or conclusions based on facts to persuade the reader regarding current or future research topics.
  • Contributors must submit typewritten manuscripts in MS Word format of between 2000-3000 words on the Perspectives in Education OJS website.
  • The following are considered when evaluating the suitability of an opinion piece for publication in this section of PiE:
    • The topic has to be current and of concern to a wider scholarly community in general.
    • Article is thoroughly researched, not a persona rant and should present a structured argument; preliminary data or the description of findings that have not yet been implemented.
  • Structure: Abstract (150 words), keywords, structured and researched article, and references.
  • Double-blind review process of opinion pieces
  • When articles are first received, they are scanned for compliance with formatting, language and submission requirements.
  • If the article complies, it moves on to external double-blind peer review.
  • Reviewers are given between 30 to 60 days to complete their reviews.
  • No requests for fast-tracking of reviews are entertained.
  • When the article is returned from external blind peer review, depending on the comments from the reviewers, it is sent to the author(s) with the option of
    • Reworking and resubmitting the manuscript
    • Accepted subject to minor changes or
    • Rejected outright with reason(s) why it is not accepted.
  • The reworked manuscript is uploaded onto the Perspectives in Education OJS website with the following:
    • A new similarity index certificate and
    • A document indicating how the reviewers’ suggestions had been addressed.
  • It is then re-evaluated blindly by the editor-in-chief to determine if it will be published. The editor-in-chief’s decision is final.
  • The author is then informed of the next steps in the publishing process.

General submission guidelines 

Submitting process

  • Submit your article via the Perspectives in Education OJS platform that you can access with the Make a Submission-button on the website.
  • If you have any technical difficulties, please email us on dsc@ufs.ac.za

Word count

4500-6500 words (including the abstract, tables, figures, graphs, and references) - R3 500 per article, publishing fee valid until 22 December 2025

      From 23 December 2025, a standard publishing fee of 4 500 ZAR* will apply to articles up to 6,500 words in length. (*Exchange rate as on 6 November 2025: EUR: €224.81; GBP: £ 198.33 and USD $258.70)

     For articles exceeding 6,500 words, an additional charge of R300 ZAR*per 100 words (or part thereof) will be applied. (*Exchange rate as on 6 November 2025: EUR: €15.00 GBP: 13.22 and USD $17.27). 

Abstract

  • Maximum: 250 words
  • Format depends on the type of article submitted but in general one paragraph and no references.
  • The common way to structure your abstract:
    • Introduction
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion

Headings

  • Use numbered structured headings.
  • Headings should be bold and/or italics.
  • Do not underline headings or text for emphasis.
  • Use sentence case for headings. Avoid capitalising words.
  • One of the headings has to deal with methodology methodology, with a sub-heading for ethical considerations and must include:
    • Name of the ethical review committee
    • Study approval number
    • Manner of consent (written, oral) for human participants
    • Description of measures taken to maintain the confidentiality of data.
  • If sections are numbered, use this format: 1, 1.1. 1.1.2

Formatting

  • Articles must be typed in Arial font, 11pt, 1.5 spacing using MSWord.
  • Page size A4
  • Page margins should be 2.5cm.

Photographs diagrams illustrations

  • Keep to a minimum.
  • Photograph quality level of 300 dpi. in PNG or JPG format.
  • Respect people’s privacy and confidentiality. Avoid using photographs in which people and place can be identified.
  • Make sure you have written permission from every person in a photograph.
  • Credit the photographer even if it is a stock image.
  • Diagrams should be inserted as PNG or JPG images (not drawn in MS Word using lines, shapes and arrows).
  • You can use colour illustrations and insert as PNG or JPG images.
  • Make sure you have written permission to use and give credit to the illustrator even if it is a stock image.

Tables and figures

  • Include seven or less tables, figures and graphs.
  • Figures and graphs should not be a duplication of what is already in a table, and vice versa
  • Adhere to the illustration requirements
  • Number consecutively.
  • Add a brief heading for tables or caption for figures.
  • Each table/figure must be referred to in the text.
  • Should have text left aligned and numbers right aligned.
  • Use a full-stop to indicate decimals
  • Use colour for better design and easier comprehension.
  • Insert as MSWord tables or figures or as PNG or JPG images at quality level 300 dpi, as part of the manuscript body.

Footnotes

  • Please use footnotes, and not endnotes.
  • Avoid adding too many footnotes.

Blinding the manuscript

  • Name(s) of the author(s), title(s), and affiliation(s) should not be disclosed in the text or references.
  • If you are referencing some of the authors, both the original manuscript (that includes authors in the reference list) and an anonymised version (placeholders instead of self-references) should be uploaded and marked clearly
  • Upload a separate document containing the author(s) details should accompany the article submission (a simple MS Word document will suffice).
  • Use the MSWord anonymising function:
    • In the tabs at the top of the document window ("Home", "Insert", etc.),
    • Click Review -> Protect -> Protect Document.
    • Check the box for: "Remove personal information from this file on save"

References 

WHY make such a fuss about referencing style?

As much as the function of referencing is to acknowledge the contribution of other writers and researchers, its main purpose is to improve the reader’s experience by assisting them to:

      • Engage intellectually and emotionally with the text.
      • Gain knowledge and grasp the argument you have put forward.
      • Access sources to verify the evidence and to further explore and expand your conclusions.

Citations and reference list have to answer four questions for the reader.

The four questions that readers need answered to verify the evidence are:

  1. WHO is responsible for the work? Author/s
  2. WHEN was it published? Date
  3. WHAT is the title of the work? Title
  4. WHERE can I access the work? The most direct way to retrieve the source

General referencing guidelines

  • On-line identifiers
  • List DOI numbers in the URL format, or URLs for sources including journal articles, book chapters and books, legislation etc, if available in the reference list as live links using this format.
  • EXAMPLE: Luo, Y. Lin, J. & Yang, Y. 2021. Students’ motivation and continued intention with online self-regulated learning: A self-determination theory perspective. Z Erziehungswiss, 24:                    1379-1399. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11618-021-01042- 3
  • Include a DOI for all works that have a DOI, regardless of using the online version or the print version. If a work has both a DOI and another URL, include only the DOI.
  • If an online work has a URL but no DOI, include the URL in the reference list.
  • Do NOT add access date or phrases such as ‘Accessed on’ or ‘Available at’.
  • Use only URLs from widely available academic research databases. Do not use URLs from commercial and academic social networking sites (ASN) for researchers to share papers such as Researchgate, Academia.edu, Mendeley, My Science Work or Semantic Scholar. Instead, follow the link from the ASN to a common academic research database for the DOI number or other identifier.
  • Do not include other alphanumeric identifiers such as the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN).
  • Live links. Make sure to add a live link in the reference list. This makes it easier for our technical editors to verify sources
  • Capitalisation in reference list   

           Journal article title: Use sentence case

                  Larey, D. P. (2023). An exploration of African-student agency: Placing students from                                           historically disadvantaged communities at the centre. Perspectives in Education, 41(4).                                       https://doi.org/10.38140/pie.v41i4.6891

                Name of journal:  

                 Requires capitalisation, but only certain words in the title are capitalised. Capitalise first word in the                     title. Also nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs all need to be capitalised. Or follow the                         publisher style.

                  Examples: Perspectives in Education, South African Journal of Education’ Frontiers in Education

               Book chapter title in an edited book – Use sentence case for chapter title and follow the                                      publisher’s style

               Dukzec, S. 2008. Gender issues. In: D Hicks & J Brown (Eds.). Education for Peace. London:                                Routledge.

                  Book title in a monograph

                    Requires capitalisation, but only certain words in the title are capitalised. Capitalise first word in the                      title.  Also nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs all need to be capitalised.

                            Bourdieu, P. 1993. The Field of Cultural Production: Essays on Art and Literature. Cambridge:                                 Polity Press.

References