Ouers se beoordeling van die nuwe onderwysbedeling in Suid-Afrika

D.Ed.The purpose of this study is to determine the way in which parents, as stake holders in their children's education, judge the new educational dispensation. Changes occuring in our country since the democratically elected government had come into power, also affected the educational system to a large extent. Millions of rands coming of tax payers' money is annually allocated to education. Many of these tax payers are parents. How do parents feel about the changes brought about by the democratisation of education in South Africa? A list of the most relevant and important issues regarding the democratisation process, was compiled and operationalised in a questionnaire which was completed by parents of grade 4, 6, 9 and 11 pupils of all races. The target market included parents of all the official language groups in a number of primary and secondary schools in and around Gauteng. The theory behind the new educational process, as well as the application of the new educational process formed the basis of the questionnaire. The introductory chapters explain the background situation relating to the recent political changes in South Africa. Relevant concepts are described and explained in association with the issue at hand. One of these concepts is judgement. How do parents judge the new dispensation? The meaning of this word, in terms of this study, is fundamentally researched as it involves intellectual opinions, as well as emotional contentment with the issue. Furthermore, personality is involved, as is a person's perceptioins, self esteem, cultural background and set of values. The research also involves a description of all the items which are included in the questionnaire. These items center around the principles of change in the education system. Some of these matters are fundamental issues relating to the theory of transformation, for instance the fact that all learners in the country now have equal opportunities to education. Most of these matters, however, involve the application of the theory; that which comprises the physical changes to the system. An example of the latter would be the fact that most schools are now multi-racial. Validity of the empirical component of the investigation is based on the legal aspects of change, in that all the questions are based upon new regulations stipulated in the new South African School's Act