A perceptional study to investigate subject failure as an academic reason for delayed qualification in Masters Degree in Technology : Homoeopathy at Durban Institute of Technology

Abstract

Technikon Natal introduced the first formal South African Homoeopathic education programme in 1989. Since its addition to the higher education degree choices offered by Technikon Natal, the course has produced some 10 years worth of homoeopathic graduates. In 2003, Technikon Natal merged with ML Sultan to become the Durban Institute of Technology, “A University of Technology”. The Homoeopathic qualification has also evolved from a Master’s Diploma to a Master’s Degree with much emphasis being placed on not only the academic aspect of education but also Master’s level research, and the course itself has been revised and re- curriculated numerous times (Ross, 2005).

It has been recognised that subject failure within Homoeopathic education delays qualification of students. The implications of this phenomenon may be far reaching and investigations of the factors that may contribute to it are important in order to determine ways and means of controlling this phenomenon (DeMong, Lindgren and Perry, 1994).

The study was limited to investigating the perceptions of subject failure by those individuals who had experienced subject failure but still proceeded to graduate from the course. This was done in an attempt to restrict the study to factors which were within the scope of the institution to change (i.e. eliminate life events etc. which are generally uncontrollable).