Rubby Dhunpath

Managing Editor: Perspectives in Education: (International Journal of Education),
University of Durban Westville, School of Educational Studies, South Africa

Archaeology of a Language Development NGO:
Excavating the Identity of the English Language Educational Trust

Abstract

South African Language Education has historically been characterised by a deficient language curriculum which failed to address the language development needs of the majority Native population. This task which was neglected by the official state apparatus fell into the hands of the Non Governmental Movement (NGO). For several years preceding the 1994 democratic elections, South Africa was in receipt of substantial levels of funding from donor agencies for language development and other development agendas. The purpose of this aid was to bridge the gap between civil society and policy makers, and to strengthen the role of NGO,s in the development of human capital. It was intended to respond, in particular, to the historically disadvantaged population, which was not serviced by state institutions. While the support to NGO,s has continued since the 1994 elections, the donor community has channelled a substantial portion of their funding through the official state apparatus which, often contrary to the mission of the NGO movement, has its own agendas and imperatives. A consequence is that many NGO,s have found it difficult, if not impossible to survive (Thomas, 1998). Moreover, while NGO,s have become a familiar feature in the South African Development landscape, their precise role in the `new democracy' is the subject of heated debate and contestation.

This paper derived from my Ph.D. study examines the mutating identity of a language development NGO in the context of a country in democratic transition. The study aims to document the institutional memory of a language NGO operating in South Africa: The English Language Educational Trust (ELET), through the eyes of its director, Mervin Ogle, and significant others, with a view to examining the competing influences that have shaped the identity of ELET during the period 1984 to 2001. The focus here is to explore, (given the dynamic political, economic and pedagogic conditions as well as the changing funding imperatives of the democratic Government), how ELET has redefined its role, re-engineered its programmes and survived, at a time when a large number of language NGO's have died untimely deaths. The research methodology for this study is influenced by Fetterman's "Empowerment Evaluation (EE)". EE is a form of participatory self evaluation which aims to create the conditions for members of an institution to critically reflect on their practice with a view to affirming good practice and instituting mechanisms for change where appropriate.

A subsidiary but related issue an evaluation of the professional language development programmes of ELET (retrospectively), during the years 1990 to 2000, through the eyes of graduates of the language development programmes. The purpose of this exercise is to establish whether the language pedagogy of graduates is changed through NGO intervention. The life history research genre will be used as the primary methodology for this study.

The paper is a "research in progress", reflection of the dynamics of using a non-conventional approach in programme evaluation, as well as to report on some of the preliminary findings as reflected in the data collected.

Bionote

My name is Rubby Dhunpath and I am a lecturer in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Durban Westville and the Managing Editor of an International Journal of Education: "Perspectives in Education". I am also Deputy Principal at a secondary School in South Durban, S.A.

I have lectured in Language and Leaning, Sociolinguistics, Curriculum Studies and Research Methodology at the University of Durban-Westville, S.A. I have also worked as an educational consultant and have provided editorial support to B.Ed and Masters students. I am currently reading towards a Ph.D. in Education through the University of Witwatersrand in SA.

Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

Presentation Equipment and Other Requests
Digital Video Projector for a power point presentation

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Country
South Africa