Research Articles

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/182

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Browsing Research Articles by Author "Lephoto, Malephoto Niko Ruth"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Adopting a relational leadership as a strategy for empowering teacher counsellors
    (2019) Lephoto, Malephoto Niko Ruth
    This paper explores how schools in the 21st century can position themselves such that they facilitate the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is actually the mandate of global education systems and schools to address and ensure achievement of SDGs, particularly SDG4; that aims at quality education that ensures inclusivity and equity for promotion of lifelong learning. This paper fits in this context as it aims at addressing guidance and counselling provision and teacher counsellors’ empowerment in Lesotho schools, viewing guidance and counselling from a point of view that it is an educational service that supports and facilitates achievement of educational goals. While global education systems are committed towards achievement of sustainable development goals it is essential that schools consider ways in which they can strengthen learners support structures more than ever before. This paper argues for teacher counsellors’ empowerment as a means of strengthening of guidance and counselling provision. The paper recognises the critical role of teachers beyond content delivery-towards promoting learners’ well-being and empowerment. The paper views teacher counsellors’ empowerment to be very critical to promoting learners’ well-being and empowerment in the midst of complex societal challenges that seem to threaten their academic journeys, well-being and life in general. A thematic analysis of data generated through a qualitative semi structured interviews, focus group discussion and dialogue with teachers participating in in-service BEd Honours programme (Educational Psychology) at National University of Lesotho (NUL) revealed that some of the challenges such as working in isolation, feelings of inadequacy and lack of empowerment contribute to teacher counsellors’ failure to provide effective guidance and counselling services to learners. The discussions also pointed to the need for empowering leadership in schools. Informed by Ubuntu/Botho theory and Asset-based theory this paper proposes purposeful adoption of relational leadership in Lesotho’ schools as a strategy for teacher counsellors’ empowerment towards promotion of learners’ well-being and empowerment.
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    The connotations of Semoshoeshoe in education for peacebuilding
    (CARI, 2024-06-16) Lephoto, Malephoto Niko Ruth; Mochekele, Mapulane
    Purpose: The purpose of this theoretical study is to argue for the application of SeMoshoeshoe as an African philosophy for educating for peace. We support UNESCO (2020) and UNICEF (2016) advocacy that education is the only tool that can transform the world that is experiencing a surge of violence and the disruption of peaceful human co-existence. In Particular, in this study we contribute knowledge essential for transforming escalating acts of violence in Lesotho and other countries with similar contexts. Research has attested that violence is surging in the Lesotho, placing the country in the sixth highest murder rate in the world (UNDP, 2021). Methodology: Guided by the Indigenous Wholistic theory (IWT), this study adopted a semi- systematic review of literature as a research methodology to argue for SeMoshoeshoe as indigenous resource for Education for Peacebuilding (EP). The study sought to answer; what call for Education for peacebuilding in Lesotho? What are the connotations of SeMoshoeshoe in education for peacebuilding? The content analysis method was used to analyse data. Findings: The findings which yielded that the escalating acts of violence and moral decay in the country call for education for peacebuilding. The study also found that the principles of SeMoshoeshoe are essential resources for educating for a culture of peace. Unique contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study concludes and recommends that SeMoshoeshoe is a valuable indigenous resource for restoring a culture a peace, and should be adopted as a cultural resource for the development of policy for educating for peace in the country
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    Enabling teachers as front liners in maintaining learners' emotional well-being during Covid-19 context
    (Scholink, 2021-01-27) Lephoto, Malephoto Niko Ruth
    This article is an attempt to theoretically present Ubuntu/Botho philosophy as a complementary approach to guide efforts intended to restore and maintain positive emotional well-being among African Basotho school going children and youth during COVID-19 and beyond. Research shows that COVID-19 pandemic has impacted badly on school systems, particularly teaching and learning process and school life in general. The central assumption driving this paper is that factors emanating from Covid-19 pandemic do not only contribute to the damage of learning process for many learners, but they also contribute to a mental and emotional health crisis, as a result of lost access to services that are naturally offered by schools. Informed by Ubuntu/Botho philosophy, the paper argues that schools have moral obligation to protect learners’ emotional health as a crucial variable for both their complete psychosocial well-being and academic achievement. It looks at maintenance of emotional well-being from the lens of Ubuntu/Botho world view. Ubuntu/Botho adoption as a theoretical framework is an effort to contribute knowledge and suggest practice that have their foundation on the experiences of people, informed by their own sociological and cultural constructs. Ubuntu/Botho as a guiding principle places values such as compassion, empathy, sharing, respect, solidarity at the centre of human co-existence, thus, has the potential to create school relationships and support systems that can restore and maintain positive emotions.
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    School-based psychosocial support
    (Scholink, 2021-11-22) Lephoto, Malephoto Niko Ruth; Hlalele, Dipane
    The necessity for school-based psychosocial support (SBPSS) provision has become a fundamental issue in global education systems. However, for many schools in Lesotho, and in other Sub-Saharan countries, there seem to be no clarity on the position of guidance and counselling (GC) in school psychosocial support (PSS) undertakings. This paper considers G/C as an essential component of psychosocial support provision in schools, and argues that G/C should be well positioned so that it becomes the core component of PSS activities. The paper intents to address issues raised by international research that against the backdrop of ever increasing complex societal challenges that impact negatively on school going population and school life in general, there is need strengthen G/C as part of PSS activities. The interplay of the various challenges often makes the adverse experiences more complex, subsequently causing adjustment disorders among students. Underpinned by asset-based approach and relational leadership theory, this study employed qualitative semi-structured questionnaires, online free attitude interviews and focus group discussions to explore teachers’ perspectives on possibilities for positioning GC as the core component of SBPSS. This study uncovered various factors contributing to undecided position of GC. The study concluded that schools need to tap into asset-based approach to strategically position GC in SBPSS undertakings.