Exploring the Effectiveness of Psychoeducational Support in Enhancing Student Resilience
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17770/eid2026.1.89Keywords:
Department of Basic Education, Psychoeducational Support, Psychosocial Factors, Resilience, Student Resilience, South AfricaAbstract
Studies have unearthed a plethora of factors negatively impacting the academic performance of schools, districts, and provinces in South Africa. Amongst these factors, psychosocial factors have been prevalent, and the department of education have heeded the call, recommended in many studies, to mitigate the implications of these factors. According to Department of Basic Education (DBE, 2024), the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), amongst other psychosocial support targeted programmes, was allocated R9.798 billion, an increase of 5.6% from the 2023/24 allocation. However, the effectiveness of the psychosocial support provided by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) remains a question of concern. This article reports on a study that explored the viewpoints of teachers, principals and SESs regarding the prolonged NSC matric academic underperformance in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (Dr RSM) in the North-West Province. Emerging from this study as one of the key contributing factors to underperformance in Dr RSM education district were psychosocial factors. This finding necessitated this article which explores the effectiveness of psychosocial support provided by Dr RSM Education District to the secondary school learners. This research report adopted a qualitative research methodology, purposively sampling twelve participants from Dr RSM – eight human participant (SESs, principals and teachers) and four institutional participants (three secondary schools and one district office). The findings revealed that most factors contributing to Dr RSM’s underperformance are rooted in district-level challenges. Amongst these factors are slow paced-psychosocial support, insufficient curriculum streams, insufficient support from the district, district leadership issues influenced by political interference and corruption, and others. Thus, the report under consideration aims to explore the effectiveness of psychosocial support provided by Dr RSM Education District to the secondary school learners.
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