HIDDEN DISCOURSES AND IMPLICATIONS OF "AT-RISK" AND "UNDERPREPARED" LABELS IN A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY: SEEKING HUMANE ALTERNATIVES.
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| Title: | HIDDEN DISCOURSES AND IMPLICATIONS OF "AT-RISK" AND "UNDERPREPARED" LABELS IN A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY: SEEKING HUMANE ALTERNATIVES. |
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| Authors: | Ravhuhali, F.1, Mboweni, H. F.1, Nendauni, L.2 |
| Source: | South African Journal of Higher Education. Apr2026, Vol. 40 Issue 2, p276-296. 21p. |
| Subject Terms: | *At-risk students, *Labeling theory, *Universities & colleges, *Inclusive education, *Low-income students, *Cultural awareness, *Higher education, *Special needs students |
| Abstract: | This article explores the hidden discourses and far-reaching implications associated with labelling students as "at-risk" and "underprepared" in a South African university. By unpacking the criteria, exploring the consequences, and scrutinising systemic biases, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted dynamics surrounding these two labels. We adopted theory triangulation with Labelling theory as the central theoretical framework operationalised through Mill's Millian theory of names, Frege's Sense-based theory of names, and Russell's Descriptive theory of names. We employed qualitative methods, encompassing questionnaires and literature reviews, and thematic analysis was utilised for data analysis. Findings reveal that "at-risk" and "underprepared" labels are used loosely without due consideration of the variety of contextual, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds of the students. Through this article, we advocate for dialogue among university teachers to support all students and propose new terms to describe students who require extra support. For instance, we suggest names such as "Students in Transition" (SIT) or "Students on a Developmental Pathway" (SDP). In its entirety, this article highlights the need for more inclusive and culturally sensitive naming in higher education as more humane alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of South African Journal of Higher Education is the property of Sabinet Online Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 193613141 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: HIDDEN DISCOURSES AND IMPLICATIONS OF "AT-RISK" AND "UNDERPREPARED" LABELS IN A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY: SEEKING HUMANE ALTERNATIVES. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ravhuhali%2C+F%2E%22">Ravhuhali, F.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mboweni%2C+H%2E+F%2E%22">Mboweni, H. F.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nendauni%2C+L%2E%22">Nendauni, L.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22South+African+Journal+of+Higher+Education%22">South African Journal of Higher Education</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 40 Issue 2, p276-296. 21p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22At-risk+students%22">At-risk students</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labeling+theory%22">Labeling theory</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities+%26+colleges%22">Universities & colleges</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inclusive+education%22">Inclusive education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low-income+students%22">Low-income students</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+awareness%22">Cultural awareness</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+education%22">Higher education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+needs+students%22">Special needs students</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This article explores the hidden discourses and far-reaching implications associated with labelling students as "at-risk" and "underprepared" in a South African university. By unpacking the criteria, exploring the consequences, and scrutinising systemic biases, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted dynamics surrounding these two labels. We adopted theory triangulation with Labelling theory as the central theoretical framework operationalised through Mill's Millian theory of names, Frege's Sense-based theory of names, and Russell's Descriptive theory of names. We employed qualitative methods, encompassing questionnaires and literature reviews, and thematic analysis was utilised for data analysis. Findings reveal that "at-risk" and "underprepared" labels are used loosely without due consideration of the variety of contextual, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds of the students. Through this article, we advocate for dialogue among university teachers to support all students and propose new terms to describe students who require extra support. For instance, we suggest names such as "Students in Transition" (SIT) or "Students on a Developmental Pathway" (SDP). In its entirety, this article highlights the need for more inclusive and culturally sensitive naming in higher education as more humane alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of South African Journal of Higher Education is the property of Sabinet Online Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.20853/40-2-6710 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 21 StartPage: 276 Subjects: – SubjectFull: At-risk students Type: general – SubjectFull: Labeling theory Type: general – SubjectFull: Universities & colleges Type: general – SubjectFull: Inclusive education Type: general – SubjectFull: Low-income students Type: general – SubjectFull: Cultural awareness Type: general – SubjectFull: Higher education Type: general – SubjectFull: Special needs students Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: HIDDEN DISCOURSES AND IMPLICATIONS OF "AT-RISK" AND "UNDERPREPARED" LABELS IN A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY: SEEKING HUMANE ALTERNATIVES. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ravhuhali, F. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mboweni, H. F. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nendauni, L. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10113487 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 40 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: South African Journal of Higher Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
