Gender-based challenges of female teachers in the teaching of civil technology in selected secondary schools in Gauteng Province

Abstract

Civil Technology is a specialised Technology subject in the Further Education and Training Band focusing on the concepts and principles in the built environment and on the technological process. The subject requires teachers and learners to be able to use hand tools in the workshop and operate the machines. There is however a belief that this subject should be reserved for male teachers only, thus raising gender-equality issues in the subject. Gender inequality in the workplace, specifically in this subject, that is informed by looking down on the abilities of females and referring to them as inferior is considered a gender issue. This issue emanates from the long-term impact of traditional gender role beliefs in society. It is for this reason that the aim of this study was to explore the gender-based challenges faced by female teachers in teaching the Civil Technology subject in selected technical high schools in Soweto in the Gauteng Province. Seven Civil Technology teachers (three males and four females) in the Johannesburg Central District were purposively selected from four schools, interviewed and observed during practical lessons. The findings showed that female teachers face numerous gender-based challenges when teaching Civil Technology. These include a lack of trust from some of their male counterparts and the shortage of tools and machines which led to them failing to plan the delivery of practical lessons. However, some male teachers believed that female teachers could teach the subject and needed to be encouraged. The study’s significance lies in the fact that it highlights issues of the treatment of women in fields that are traditionally dominated by or reserved for men. Women’s challenges should be addressed and effective solutions found to liberate them from stereotypes. By examining these issues, the study contributes to the broader discourse on gender equality, offering valuable insights and strategies to promote inclusivity and opportunities for women in technical education.

Thekenoloji e e dirisiwang mo Kagong ke serutwa sa Thekenoloji ya boitseanape mo Legatong la Thuto le Katiso ya Tlaleletso se se tsepamisang mo dikgopolong le melawanatheo ya mo kagong le mo mekgwatirisong ya thekenoloji. Serutwa se tlhoka gore barutabana le barutwana ba nne le bokgoni jwa go dirisa didiriswa tse di dirisiwang ka seatla mo bodirelong le go dirisa metšhini. Le fa go ntse jalo, go na le tumelo ya gore serutwa seno se tshwanetse go beelwa barutabana ba banna fela, ka jalo go tsosa mathata a a ka ga go lekalekana ga batho ba bong jo bo farologaneng mo serutweng. Go kgethololwa ka ntlha ya bong mo lefelotirong, segolo bogolo mo serutweng seno, go go bakilweng ke go nyenyefatsa bokgoni jwa basadi le go kaya gore ga ba dire tiro e e siameng go tsewa jaaka bothata jo ba bo itemogelang ka ntlha ya bong jwa bone. Bothata jono bo tswa mo ditlamoragong tsa pakatelele tsa ditumelo tsa setso le tse di tlwaelegileng tsa ditiro le maitsholo a a solofetsweng mo bathong ba bong jo bo rileng mo setšhabeng. Ka ntlha ya lebaka leno, maikaelelo a thutopatlisiso eno e nnile go sekaseka dikgwetlho tse di amanang le dikamano tsa banna le basadi tse di itemogelwang ke barutabana ba basadi mo go ruteng serutwa sa Thekenoloji e e dirisiwang mo Kagong mo dikolong tse dikgolo tse di tlhophilweng tse di neelang thuto e e amanang le tiro e e rileng tsa kwa Soweto mo Porofenseng ya Gauteng. Barutabana ba le supa ba Thekenoloji e e dirisiwang mo Kagong (banna ba le bararo le basadi ba le bane) mo Sedikeng sa Bogareng sa Johannesburg ba tlhophilwe ka lebaka mo dikolong di le nne, ba botsoloditswe le go lebelelwa ka kelotlhoko ka nako ya dikamuso tse go dirwang ditekeletso mo go tsone. Diphitlhelelo di bontshitse gore barutabana ba basadi ba itemogela dikgwetlho di le mmalwa ka ntlha ya bong jwa bone fa ba ruta Thekenoloji e e dirisiwang mo Kagong. Tsone di akaretsa go sa tshepiwe ke bangwe ba badirammogo ba bone ba banna le go tlhaela ga didiriswa le metšhini go go dirang gore ba palelwe ke go rulaganyetsa go ruta kamuso e go dirwang tekeletso mo go yone. Le fa go ntse jalo, barutabana bangwe ba banna ba ne ba dumela gore barutabana ba basadi ba kgona go ruta serutwa le gore ba tlhoka go rotloediwa. Botlhokwa le bokao jwa thutopatlisiso bo ikaegile ka ntlha ya gore e gatelela mathata a mokgwa o basadi ba tsholwang ka one mo maphateng a ka tlwaelo a laolwang ke banna kgotsa a a beetsweng banna. Go tshwanetse ga samaganwa le dikgwetlho tsa basadi go bo go fitlhelelwe ditharabololo tse di nonofileng tsa go ba golola mo ditumelong tse di rileng tsa karogantsho ya batho. Ka go sekaseka mathata ano, thutopatlisiso e nna le seabe mo tshekatshekong e e anameng thata e e ka ga tekatekano ya batho ba bong jo bo farologaneng, e neela bokgoni jo bo mosola jwa go tlhaloganya le ditogamaano go rotloetsa go akarediwa ga batho botlhe kwa ntle ga kgethololo le ditšhono tse di neelwang basadi mo thutong e e amanang le tiro e e rileng.

I-Civil Technology kusifundo seThekhnoloji ekhethekileko eMkhakheni weFundo eRagela phambili kanye neBandulo (Further Education and Training Band) itjheja imiqondo neenkambisolawulo ebhodulukweni lokwakha begodu eenkambisweni yethekhnoloji. Isifundo sifuna abotitjhere nabafundi bakghone ukusebenzisa iinsetjenziswa zesandla kusifundobandulo bese kusetjenziswa imitjhini. Yeke, kunekolelo yokobana isifundwesi kufanele sibekelwe abotitjhere abaduna kwaphela, ngikho kuba neendatjana zokulingana kobulili esifundweni. Ukungalingani ngobulili emsebenzini, khulukhulu kilesisifundo, esifundwa ngokuqalela phasi amakghono wabantu bengubo begodu babathathe ngokuthi basezingeni eliphasi lokho kuthathwa njengendaba yobulili. Indaba le isukela esikhathini sakade esithinta ngokwendabuko iinkolelo zendima yobulili emphakathini. Kungesizathu lesi ekutheni umnqopho wesifundwesi kwabe kukuhlola iintjhijilo abotitjhere ababomma abaqalene nazobabantu ekufundiseni isifundo se-Civil Technology bengubo abaqalene nazo eenkolweni zamabanga aphakemeko eSoweto ngesiFundeni se-Gauteng. Abafundisi/Abotitjhere abalikhomba be-Civil Technology (abathathu abaduna nabane abasikazi) esiYingini se-Johannesburg Central District bakhethwa ngehloso eenkolweni ezine, bahlungwa begodu batjheja ngesikhathi seemfundo eziphrakthikhali. Imiphumela yaveza bona abotitjhere bengubo baqalene neentjhijilo ezinengi ezimayelana nobulili lokha nabafundisa i-Civil Technology. Lokhu kufaka hlangana ukungathembeki kwabanye babalingani babo abaduna begodu nokutjhoda kweensetjenziswa kanye nemitjhini eyenza bona babhalelwe kuplana ukwethulwa kweemfundo zamaphrakthikhali. Yeke, abanye babotitjhere abaduna bebakholwa bona abotitjhere bengubo bangakghona ukufundisa isifundo begodu batlhoga ukukhuthazwa. Ukuqakatheka kwesifundo kuphathelene nokuthi kuveza iindaba zokuphathwa kwabomma emkhakheni ngokwendabuko onabobaba abanengi namkha ebekelwe bona. Iintjhijilo abomma abaqalene nazo kufanele zilungiswe begodu kube neensombululo ezizwakalako okutholakele bona zibatjhaphulula abathatha bona vele kunjalo. Ngokuhlola iindabezi, isifundo senza umnikelo eenkulumeni ezinabileko ezimayelana nokulingana ngobulili, esinikela imibono eqakathekileko kanye namaqhinga wokuthuthukisa ukufakwa hlangana kwabomma kanye namathuba wabomma eemfundweni ezithekhnikhali.