Browsing by Author "Fish, Tebogo"

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Professional associations in the M&E Sector
(CLEAR-AA, 2021-08-26) Amisi, Matodzi; Fish, Tebogo; Masvaure, Steven; Moloto, Boikanyo
Realizing potential: retrospective narratives of successful black female university students from disadvantaged backgrounds
(2016) Fish, Tebogo
Transformation initiatives in South African higher education institutions are informed by literature which has thus far explicated the high failure and attrition rates amongst Black university students with discourses asserting that the major contributing factors are disadvantage and language of origin. The current study endeavoured to investigate the learning histories of a group of high achieving Black female university students from socio- economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in order to inform current transformation initiatives at South African higher education institutions. Seven female students who had previously participated in an academic development programme in the faculty of humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand, the Reaching for Excellent Achievement Programme (REAP), volunteered to participate in this study. Despite being second language students and coming from less advantaged backgrounds, these students achieved excellent academic marks and acceptance into various post- graduate programmes. Semi- structured interviews with an episodic narrative style were conducted. The method of data analysis found to be most appropriate for this study was thematic content analysis. The results revealed the importance of the influence of high school teachers on students’ perceptions of school and school subjects; the pace of adjusting to university; the significance of effective lecturing styles; the formation of an academic identity; acquiring academic literacy; and the importance of having social support (especially from university lecturers) for the successful academic performance of the participants in this study. This study suggests that perhaps there is more than individual effort that is required for academic success at university level. Further, it suggests that higher education institutions need to improve the lecturing styles of their lecturers, should ensure that all students are able to successfully adjust to the university environment early in their first year of study, should offer compulsory academic literacy courses to all first year students, and should consider providing all students with mentors who are university personnel.
Should the COVID-19 lockdown social relief of distress grant be made permanent?
(CLEAR-AA, 2022-01) Mathebula, Jabulane; Fish, Tebogo; Masvaure, Steve
Strengthening VOPEs into Pillars of M&E Ecosystem
(CLEAR-AA, 2021-06-16) Amisi, Matodzi; Masvaure, Steven; Dlakavu, Ayabulela; Fish, Tebogo
Transforming voluntary organisations for professional evaluation into central pillars of national evaluation systems
(African Evaluation Journal, 2022-07-12) Fish, Tebogo; Masvaure, Steven; Dlakavu, Ayabulela; Amisi, Matodzi
Voluntary organisations for professional evaluation (VOPEs) have proliferated across the African continent, seeking to contribute to building effective national evaluation systems (NESs) that enhance development planning, implementation and appraisal. Objectives: A study commissioned by the Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results - Anglophone Africa (CLEAR-AA) and the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) in 2021 highlights key strengths and challenges faced by African VOPEs in their quest to help strengthen NESs across the continent. Method: The study was qualitative by design, employing document analysis, key informant interviews and focus group discussions with selected VOPEs across Africa. Results: While African VOPEs have proliferated in number, they take different forms, and their focus tends to be shaped by their respective national contexts. A key challenge for African VOPEs is internal human and financial capacities, while the external environment within which these national evaluation associations operate also presents risks such as co-optation and opportunities such as networking and resources.