Narratives of neglect: a multi stakeholder narrative analysis of grade 8 and 9 underperformance in rural South African schools
Mahlapahlapana Themane
Academic underperformance in the General Education and Training (GET) band, particularly in Grades 8 and 9, remains a persistent crisis in rural South African districts. While substantial policy attention and resources are directed toward Grade 12 outcomes, the foundational years of secondary education suffer from systemic neglect, creating a critical gap in understanding the drivers of early secondary school failure. This qualitative study explores the contributing factors to underperformance a