The second fully democratic election in South Africa is scheduled to take place in May 1999.
In the five years since the first election, it appears that very little attention has been paid to the
political literacy of the electorate in general, and the youth in particular. The purpose of this
study was to establish adolescents' level of political knowledge and whether they are able to
think critically about political issues or not.
The first part of the literature study which was concerned with critical thinking revealed that
the major aspects of critical thinking are: deductive reasoning, inductive inference, recognition
of assumptions, credibility, and problem solving. The second part of the literature study was
an analysis of which factors may play a role in the development of critical thinking of an
adolescent. with particular reference to a political context. The third part was an examination
of important current political and social issues. These were: the new Constitution. Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, housing, land redistribution, education, labour, health, crime,
political violence, environment, and the next election.
A reliable measuring instrument was developed in order to measure adolescents' knowledge
of political issues, and their ability to think critically about these issues. The results of the
empirical study revealed that intellectual potential and academic achievement were
significantly related to critical thinking ability, while gender, environment, and personality
appeared not to play a role. There was a significant correlation between political knowledge
and critical thinking in a political context, implying that critical thinking is subject-specific.
Cultural background also played a significant role in critical thinking in a political context.
In terms of political knowledge, boys were found to be at a significantly higher level than girls.
The subjects from urban areas were also at a significantly higher level than those from rural
areas. There was also a positive correlation between intellectual potential, academic
achievement, and political knowledge.
Finally, some recommendations for improving the levels of political knowledge and critical
thinking abilities with regard to political issues of South African adolescents were given.
Die tweede ten valle demokratiese verkiesing in Suid-Afrika is geskeduleer om in Mei 1999
plaas te vind. In die vyf jaar sedert die vorige verkiesing is baie min aandag gegee aan die
politieke geletterdheid van die verkiesingspubliek in die algemeen en die jeug in besonder. Die
doel van hierdie studie was om adolessente se vlak van politieke kennis te bepaal en om vas
te stel of hulle in staat is om krities oar politieke kwessies na te dink.
Die eerste deel van die literatuurstudie wat verband hou met kritiese denke het uitgewys dat
die hoofaspekte van kritiese denke die volgende is: deduktiewe redenering, induktiewe
inferensies, herkenning van aannames, geloofwaardigheid en probleemoplossing. Die tweede
deel van die literatuurstudie behels 'n analise van die faktore wat 'n rol kan speel in die
ontwikkeling van die kritiese denke van die adolessent, met spesifieke verwysing na 'n
politieke konteks. Die derde deel is 'n ondersoek na belangrike teenswoordige politieke en
sosiale kwessies. Hierdie kwessies sluit in: die nuwe Grondwet, die Waarheids- en
Versoeningskommissie, behuising, herverdeling van grand, opvoeding, arbeid, gesondheid,
misdaad, politieke geweld, die omgewing en die volgende verkiesing.
'n Betroubare meetinstrument om adolessente se kennis van politieke kwessies asook hul
vermoe om krities daaroor na te dink, is ontwikkel. Die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek
het aangetoon dat intellektuele potensiaal en akademiese prestasie betekenisvol verband hou
met kritiese denkvermoe, terwyl geslag, omgewing en persoonlikheid klaarblyklik nie 'n rol
speel nie. Daar is ook 'n betekenisvolle korrelasie tussen politieke kennis en kritiese denke
in 'n politieke konteks wat impliseer dat kritiese denke vakspesifiek is. Kulturele agtergrond
speel ook 'n betekenisvolle rol in kritiese denke in 'n politieke konteks.
Ten opsigte van politieke kennis is daar bevind dat seuns op 'n betekenisvolle hoer vlak is as
dogters. Respondente uit stedelike gebiede is oak op 'n betekenisvolle hoer vlak as diegene
uit plattelandse gebiede. Oaar is oak 'n betekenisvolle korrelasie tussen intellektuele
potensiaal, akademiese prestasie en politieke kennis.
Ten slotte is aanbevelings gemaak om die vlakke van politieke kennis en kritiese
denkvermoens met betrekking tot politieke aangeleenthede by Suid-Afrikaanse adolessente
te verbeter.
