The provision of remedial academic support to first-year dental therapy students at Medunsa

Abstract

The cost of education at institutions of higher education is very high and is exacerbated by the failure rate among first-year students, in particular. Their inability to cope with academic demands is largely due to their lack of preparation as a result of poor schooling in previously disadvantaged secondary schools. In the light of this, this study was undertaken to determine the academic needs of and strategies for remedial academic support to first-year dental therapy students at Medunsa. A literature review provided a theoretical foundation and highlighted various factors which impede effective study. An empirical investigation used a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches to explore the needs of first-year dental therapy students at Medunsa. The results corroborated the issues addressed by the literature as constraints to students' success. Diverse strategies for providing academic remedial support for first-year students were discussed based on the literature review and empirical investigation.