Teachers' experiences regarding the national curriculum statement implementation in the Mthatha District, Eastern Cape, South Africa

This is a study that was conducted in order to explore Mthatha teachers’ experiences in relation to the implementation of the New Curriculum Statement (NCS). The new curriculum, having been introduced in 1997, presented some challenges that were encountered by the Junior Secondary School teachers, who were required to implement it. The challenges experienced by teachers included too much paperwork, confusion and stress, widespread learner underperformance in international and local assessments, teacher workload and the administrative burden. Ten schools from the population of schools in the Mthatha District were purposely sampled and data were collected. Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used to collect data from the participants who were teachers of Mthatha junior secondary schools. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers and structured interviews were given to school managers. The data were analyzed manually and by using SPSS Windows version 19.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). It emerged from the study that the workload was excessive as to the paperwork and confusion and stress are there due to continuous changes in the curriculum. Regular workshops conducted by experts need to be arranged timeously. Administrative equipment in schools, such as computers, are sorely needed together with clerical staff that could help with administrative tasks