Research Publications (Arts and Design)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/214

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Commoditisation, materialism, and Pentecostal Christian Churches
(University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2019-12-30) Adebayo, Rufus Olufemi
Commoditisation, materialism and religious exchange have been receiving increasing attention in contemporary Pentecostal Christian churches, noting that some believers advocate that there is a price to pay in Christianity. This may be a reflection of social development, a new form, but it appears to be an old form of the practice of both secular and spiritual. In this empirical study, commoditisation and materialism are noted as factors that play a relational role and outline the changes in the understanding of religious exchange and the economic transaction of monetary. Understanding of spiritual form of payment, pricing in the traditional marketing (tangible price in this regard) and the shift towards a transactional exchange for divine intervention in form of miracle, healing, and provision are examined from being major sources of inner spiritual dilemmas to being principal sources of the desire and inspiration underpinning materialism and commoditisation in various Pentecostal churches today. This paper argues that the virtual neglect of some significant characteristics of marketing such as the exchange process, and pricing from the religious perspective might affect the church as a non-profit organisation. The study reveals that Pentecostal churches can embrace contradictory concepts of commoditisation, materialism, and spiritualism; and emanate to the social shift as a non-profit sector, but the positive potential inherent to Christianity should be reconciled. Based on current literature trends, the results add that there is a secular exchange of spirituality for materialism as illustrated in the story of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-19), thereby problematizing the current South African religious context. The researcher hopes to add to the understanding of the religious exchange, commoditisation, and materialism relationship.
An exploration of the progression policy and its effects on learner achievement in KwaZulu-Natal
(Eurasian Publications, 2021-08-02) Nkosi, Thandi Priscillia; Adebayo, Rufus Olufemi
This article examines the Progression Policy and its effects on learner achievement in the Further Education and Training Phase (Grades 10 to 12) amongst five underperforming public secondary schools in Pinetown. Since the adoption of the Progression Policy, the pass rate noticeable declined between 2014 and 2016. Thus, the Progression Policy is used in this study as an analytical framework, whilst the qualitative research design was used to gather data. The faceto-face semi-structured interviews, as well as focus group discussions with educators and principals, served as data collection methods. This study emphasized challenges attributed to the implementation of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement and the Progression Policy in the Pinetown District. The study further revealed that the South African education system, from the Foundation Phase level all the way up, is plagued by serious challenges. The identified challenges include a lack of parental support, learner absenteeism, learner indiscipline, learner demotivation, resource allocation, and teacher-learner ratios. The results also revealed that the socioeconomic environment contributes to a dysfunctional condition in schools, which has a negative influence on the teaching and learning experience amongst educators and learners. Thus, the study proposes the reconfiguration of the Progression Policy alongside practicable and relatable recommendations inconsonance to study.