“Barriers to learning pose a challenge to lecturers and students in TVET colleges, as many students who experience barriers, drop out of the system. These barriers also affect colleges’ throughput rate,” said Nontutuzelo.
As an English lecturer at Port Elizabeth TVET College for the past eight years, she’s had first-hand experience with these challenges.
“Many of these students come from disadvantaged backgrounds, some with disabilities, some with academic challenges and some with personal problems,” said Nontutuzelo.
Findings from the investigation indicated that many lecturers understand the concept of barriers to learning; however, they feel inadequately trained on how to identify and support students experiencing these barriers to learning, at the TVET College.
“I believe in education, it makes a difference and opens doors of opportunity, it will alleviate poverty and reduce crime,” said Nontutuzelo.
Her study concluded that the college should devise mechanisms that will enhance teaching and learning, apply effective implementation of inclusive education and provide professional development for lecturers on a continuous basis.
Besides her master’s, Nontutuzelo also has a BA Psychology and Sociology degree, Honours in Psychology, Honours in Education and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. She started studying in 2007, after leaving her job as a tyre builder at a well-known tyre company in Port Elizabeth.
“I am a hard worker; I believe in myself and I’ve always wanted to achieve great things. For me my honours was not enough, I needed to push myself to achieve more,” she said.
Nontutuzelo, has taken the year off studying to support her son in his first year of his studies at Nelson Mandela University. She does however plan on working towards her PHD next year.
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