A subject-didactical analysis of the music syllabus (1991) for teacher training colleges in Venda

Abstract

South African teacher education is confronted by educational problems of a vast magnitude and complexity. In view of students' needs, society's expectations and improvement of teaching, problems need to be critically investigated. In order for the subject didactics curriculum to meet these needs and demands, a critical analysis was done of the current music syllabus (1991) for teacher training colleges in Venda. Against the background of the structure and components of didactics, subject didactics in general and of music in particular, criteria were formulated for the analysis. As a result of the analysis deficiencies such as the lack of suitable aims and objectives, content with a Eurocentric emphasis disregarding African music, a lack of teaching methods which could be applied in the classroom, etc., were discovered. In conclusion, recommendations and guidelines were formulated in order to address these problems.