Title: Exploring factors that impede student support services and throughput rate: the case of TVET colleges in South Africa

Authors: Julius Motala Makibinyane; Shuti Steph Khumalo

Addresses: Free State Department of Education, Fezile Dabi District, 23 Totius Street, Sasolburg, 1947, South Africa ' University of South Africa, 1Preller Street, Mucleneuck, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

Abstract: For students to perform at an institution of higher education, academic support is fundamental. The objective of this study was to investigate factors that impede student support services and throughput rate. This study employed qualitative research methodology located within interpretive paradigm. Participants were student support services and academic staff at two TVET colleges in South Africa. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants in this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. The study found that there are various factors that influence the students' academic performance and the throughput rate such as students' family background, academic difficulties, poor class attendance, poor infrastructure, lack of professional development opportunities, lack of career guidance, lack of academic support and shortage of SSS staff. The study also found that students are not making use of the student support services due to inadequate information on the SSS units of the campuses.

Keywords: student support services; SSS; through put rate; social capital; technical vocational education and training colleges; TVET; success rate; academic support; academic difficulties; academic performance; professional development opportunities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2021.118388

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2021 Vol.12 No.4, pp.397 - 411

Received: 11 Aug 2020
Accepted: 20 Oct 2020

Published online: 25 Oct 2021 *

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