Male early high school leaving in Orange Farm Township : a hidden epidemic

Abstract

Early school leaving is a key problem confronting the formal education system in South Africa. This study focuses on black male early high school leaving in a peri-urban township south of Johannesburg. Its overarching aim is to explain male early high school leaving in Orange Farm Township amongst 18-25 year olds. Two research questions underpinned the study: Why do young men leave high school before finishing grade 12 – and, what alternatives do they explore to negotiate their ‘life chances’? Methodologically speaking a case study was carried out. The latter made use of specialised qualitative data collection techniques and analysis, namely; life history as well as in-depth interviewing techniques and narrative analysis. Nine participants were selected from different ‘sections’ of Orange Farm by means of purposive and snowball sampling and numerous stakeholder interviews were completed. This approach creates the opportunity to disaggregate the nuance and complexity of social behaviour at a time in the lives of young people when they find themselves at tipping points which very often shape their futures together with that of their societies. In deciding to leave high school prior to matriculating in the context in which South Africa finds itself, young black men limit their life chances and their choices. In capturing the daily lived experiences of the sample who are the focus of this study reflection on the part of the participant is encouraged and prodded. The latter was enhanced through drawing on a number of conceptual and theoretical tools that facilitated the identification and understanding of the intersecting variables playing both a role in the decision to leave high school as well as those shaping the coping and survival strategies adopted by individuals beyond the schooling system. The research findings reveal the interplay of institutional structures and actions in deciding to leave high school before completing year 12. The intersectionality of different variables at specific points in time also constrains and/or determines the extent to which individuals access resources through established networks. Fundamentally, black male early high school leaving does not only reproduce the structural patterns characterising the community; it essentially traps young men in a downward trajectory of social mobility that is leading to the growth of a significant underclass in South Africa. AFRIKAANS : Vroeë skoolverlating is ‘n kernprobleem wat die formele onderwysstelsel in Suid-Afrika in die gesig staar. Hierdie studie fokus op swart manlike vroeë skoolverlaters in ‘n stedelike township suid van Johannesburg. Die oorhoofse doel is om manlike vroeë hoërskoolverlating in die ouderdomsgroep 18-25 jaar in die Orange Farm township te verklaar. Twee navorsingsvrae onderlê die studie: Hoekom verlaat jong mans die hoërskool voordat hulle matriek voltooi het, en watter alternatiewe ondersoek hulle ten einde hulle leefkanse te onderhandel en behartig? Metodologies is ‘n gevallestudie onderneem wat gebruik gemaak het van gespesialiseerde data insamelingstegnieke en ontledings, naamlik lewensgeskiedenisse, asook in-diepte onderhoudstegnieke en narratiewe ontledings. Nege deelnemers is gekies vanuit verskillende seksies in Organe Farm deur middel van ‘n doelgerigte en sneeubal-steekproef en verskeie deelhebberonderhoude is gedoen. Hierdie benadering skep die geleentheid om die nuanse en kompleksiteit van sosiale gedrag in die lewe van jong mense te disaggregeer tydens ‘n tydperk van hulle lewe waarin hulle hulself op ‘n punt bevind wat dikwels hulle toekoms bepaal, tesame met dié van hulle gemeenskappe. Deur te besluit om die hoërskool te verlaat voordat hulle gematrikuleer het in die konteks waarin Suid-Afrika tans is, beperk jong swartmans hulle lewenskanse en hulle keuses. Deur die daaglikse belewenisse van die proefgroep wat die fokus van hierdie studie is, vas te lê, word refleksie deur die deelnemer aangemoedig. Sodanige refleksie is versterk deur gebruik te maak van ‘n aantal konseptuele en teoretiese instrumente wat die idenitifisering en verstaan moontlik gemaak het van die kruissnydende veranderlikes wat ‘n rol speel in die besluit om die hoërskool te verlaat en wat die besluite wat die hanterings- en oorlewingstrategieë wat deur indiwidue ná die skoolstelsel aangewend word, vorm. Die navorsingsbevindinge onthul die wisselwerking tussen institusionele strukture en aksies in die besluit om die hoërskool te verlaat voor voltopiong van die twaalfde jaar. Die kruissnyding van verskillende veranderlikes op spesifieke punte in tyd beperk en/of determineer die mate waarin indiwidue toegang kry tot hulpbronne deur middel van gevestigde netwerke. Op ‘n fundamentele manier reproduseer swart manlike vroeë skoolverlaters nie net die strukturele patrone wat die gemeenskap kenmerk nie, maar word hulle ook vasgevang in ‘n afwaartse trajek van sosiale mobiliteit wat lei tot die groei van ‘n beduidende ‘onderklas’ in Suid-Afrika.