Abstract:
The purpose of this research project was to explore how Black students perceive the
reasons for the low enrolment of Black students in the Foundation Phase teacher education
and training programmes at universities. Focus groups and follow up small group
interviews were conducted to explore the reasons why Black students choose Foundation
Phase and the factors that affected their experiences while enrolled in the programme.
All interviews were recorded and transcribed and initially coded independently by each
researcher. The codes were reviewed afterwards by all researchers as a team from
which three main themes emerged from the interviewed data: (a) personal choices,
(b) community influences and (c) institutional factors. Bronfenbrenner’s systems theory
was used to conclude how students’ choices as well as environmental and institutional
factors influence the enrolment of Black students in Foundation Phase teacher education
and training programmes.
