In poor-performing, resource-constrained education systems, such as South Africa, solutions to improve academic achievement have tended to focus on resources and cognitive factors. An area that requires more attention is the importance of non-cognitive, psychosocial factors and their relationship with academic performance. These factors are…

This study explored the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) attitudes and self-efficacy of secondary students identifying as Black South African, multi-racial or Afrikaans South African, or Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe nationals who participated in a non-formal STEM education camp programme. Using Bandura's social cognitive…

The extended social cognitive career theory (SCCT) suggests that career intentions are influenced by person inputs, background contextual affordances, learning experiences, self-efficacy expectations and outcome expectations, as well as satisfaction and well-being in academic and work settings. The main purpose of the current study was to examine…

The purpose of this study is to explore the expressions of confidence by a group of South African mathematics teachers about teaching mathematics and statistics concepts from various perspectives. The participants were 75 mathematics teachers who were teaching Grades 4 to 12 in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) schools. They then were asked to express their…

Increasingly, novice teachers function in complex learning environments that require heightened resilience and making calculated, sometimes unexpected decisions. Undoubtedly, novice teachers in the African context must adapt to the persistent weaknesses of inadequate education systems, characterized by underperforming learners, high learner…

It is widely recognized that students encounter difficulties with proof across all grades and beyond, yet standardized instruments related specifically to students' perceived self-efficacy for mathematical proof have not been readily available. The purpose of this study was to develop and investigate preliminary validity evidence for a new…

This study aimed to assess the contributory roles of parental involvement (PI), parental acceptance/rejection (PAR), academic self-efficacy (ASE), computer user self-efficacy (CUSE) vis-à-vis gender and the onset of deafness on the academic resilience (AR) of deaf learners who participated in e-learning during the pandemic. The Bioecological…

Extant literature has demonstrated the importance of individual and school-related factors in improving mathematics achievement. Despite this, there is still a gap in research to understand the mediating role of educational aspiration in mathematics achievement. The aim of the present study is to test the relationship between self-efficacy, school…

The purpose of this study was to explore how life-design-based counselling can influence young learners' academic self-construction within a group context. The study involved a qualitative mode of enquiry with 12 participants. Life-design-based intervention strategies, together with various (postmodern) qualitative techniques, were used to gather…

The study examined factors influencing career decisions using a sample of high school learners in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A mixed-method approach was utilised. In the quantitative phase of the study, a sample of 536 high school learners in South Africa filled out the Career Interest Inventory (Fisher & Stafford, 1999) in…

The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice teachers' (PSTs') beliefs about their intentions to integrate information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their future mathematics classrooms. The main research objective was to examine the extent to which PSTs' beliefs predicted their intentions to integrate ICTs in their…

A better understanding of the social influences, self-efficacy, and communication with parents, peers, and teachers associated with teenage pregnancy is required owing to the consequences of teenage pregnancy. This article aimed to determine the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and to understand the association between social influences,…

While a considerable body of research has focused on learners' acceptance of or resistance to mobile technologies, fewer studies have focused on teachers. This research study aimed to understand the factors influencing South African teachers' acceptance of or resistance to using mobile technologies in their classroom practice. The Technology…

Student-teaching internships in a teacher-preparation programme are a significant way for teachers to gain practical skills and transfer their textbook knowledge into classroom practice. One of the outcomes of student-teaching internships is that pre-service teachers can observe experienced teachers' teaching pedagogy and strategies for…

Challenges and changes in the South African education system could have an impact on teachers' professional wellbeing, which, in turn, results in changes in teacher retention rates. The leadership of the school principal directly influences teachers' experience of professional wellbeing. Some research focuses on teacher wellbeing and plenty of…