The role of the Life Orientation curriculum in the development of social and emotional skills in learners to curb violence in schools

• Main Author: Gelderbloem, Garth Preston
• Other Authors: Ferreira, J. G.
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Social and emotional learning; Constructivism; School climate; School violence; Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS); Life Orientation (LO); Evaluation research design; 370.1150968; Life skills > Study and teaching > South Africa; Social skills > Study and teaching > South Africa; School violence > South Africa > Prevention; Education > Curricula > South Africa > Evaluation
• Online Access: Gelderbloem, Garth Preston (2014) The role of the Life Orientation curriculum in the development of social and emotional skills in learners to curb violence in schools, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18485>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18485

Violence is common-place in South African schools and managing learner aggression is central to learners’ academic performance and holistic development. There is empirical evidence that suggests that the school curriculum is an essential vehicle for driving the process of creating social and emotional competent individuals, capable of social cohesion and tolerance. This evaluation research aims to evaluate whether the CAPS Life Orientation curriculum is adequately addressing social and emotional competence in learners in order to reduce violence in schools. A comprehensive literature review was conducted which revealed that Social and Emotional Learning programs are highly effective in addressing issues of violence and social problems in schools along with producing a positive school climate with high learner academic achievements. Data collected from the Life Orientation Curriculum documents, Grades R-12, and the elite electronic interview, revealed that the Life Orientation curriculum covers most of the essential elements necessary to make an impact on the development of learners’ social and emotional skills, but may lack the necessary knowledgeable teachers to facilitate such an important study area. Furthermore, not enough time and resources are allocated to Social and Emotional learning. Based on these results, recommendations are made through a ‘framework to advance social and emotional learning in schools model’ for the CAPS Life Orientation curriculum Grades R-12. === Curriculum and Instructional Studies === M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)