The perceived sense of meaning and purpose of the Life Orientation teachers’ career lives

Research design

The research study utilised phenomenology, which is a qualitative approach primarily concerned with describing the meaning that specific lived experiences of a phenomenon hold for the participants.

Selection of research participants

The study adopted a two-phase sampling approach. In phase one, the primary criterion for participant selection involved selecting 10 individuals who are currently employed as Life Orientation teachers within the Gauteng Province, particularly in Tshwane South high schools. In phase two, the researcher selected participants with at least 10 years of professional experience in teaching the subject, thus ensuring their capability to express their perceptions regarding the meaning and purpose of their career lives. In addition, the selected participants’ teaching experience had to be in the Further Education and Training Phase, particularly in Grade 11, as the researcher intended to explore LO teachers’ perceptions of assisting learners with regard to career choices and self-development. In the pursuit of identifying and selecting suitable participants, the researcher leveraged their personal network, cultivated during their time in the field as both a student and LO teacher.

Data generation

The researcher made use of multiple methods of data generation, in an attempt to promote the validity of the data, through the use of individual semi-structured interviews and a focus group. The individual interviews lasted between approximately 30 and 45 minutes, and the focus group interview lasted approximately 60 minutes. During both the focus group and individual interviews the participants were asked open-ended questions.

Data documentation

The individual interviews and focus group interview were documented with audio recordings (with the participant’s consent), allowing the researcher to produce verbatim transcriptions by using audio recordings, therefore, ensuring a written record of what was said for the purpose of the data analysis.

Data analysis method

The researcher utilised hermeneutic phenomenology for data analysis, followed by the implementation of Ajjawi and Higgs’s (2007) six stages for data analysis. To structure the data analysis, the researcher utilised the following six stages: immersion with the data, understanding patterns and themes, interpreting the phenomenon, synthesising and developing themes, illustrating the phenomenon, and validating the interpretations.

Findings

As anticipated, the participants’ narratives, based on their experiences of teaching the LO subject, enabled them to identify their intrinsic motivators that contribute to their sense of meaning and purpose in their careers. In addition, it was expected that LO teachers would address their career development needs, including receiving more opportunities for further training to enhance their knowledge and skills to fulfil their roles and responsibilities as LO subject specialists. In addition, the participants’ responses confirmed my expectation that an absence of adequate support from stakeholders, including the DoE and school management teams would negatively affect LO teachers’ job satisfaction, and, subsequently, their perception of meaning and purpose in their career lives.