| Summary: | Curriculum 2005 together with its learning areas has been introduced in South Africa in
1998. All learning areas, except Technology Learning Area, are not new. Technology is
growing so rapidly that it gives so many challenges to people. These challenges include
making technology part of our curriculum, formulating and adapting technological solutions
to problems people may experience. We have to ask ourselves what technology or
Technology Education means. Therefore, this study provides the meaning and the rationale
for Technology Education in our curriculum. This study also attempts to shed light on the
form of training educators should attend for Technology Education.
Although there are different methods of training, for example PRESET and INSET, this
study concentrates on various forms of INSET. INSET is chosen because it is a means
through which the present need for Technology Education educators can be solved. The
percentage of educators involved in part-time study will increase in relation to the number in
full-time education. The closing down of some of colleges of education in South Africa
reduces the use of PRESET and increases INSET as a means of educator training. The
advantages of using INSET instead of PRESET are provided in this study.
The National Teacher Audit of 1995 has shown that the quality of INSET in South Africa is
poor. In addition, it seems the present ad hoc way of running INSET will not cope with
challenges of training educators for Curriculum 2005 and Technology Education. Normally,
INSET is the prime strategy for addressing problems in PRESET. Unfortunately, INSET has
to train educators for Technology Education (Technology Learning Area) which was never
touched by PRESET before. For this reason, this study provides an INSET model, guidelines
and recommendations to make the suggested model of INSET work successfully. === Educational Studies === M. Ed. (Comparative Education)
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