Factors affecting STD6 adjustment to high school

Abstract

More emphasis has traditionally been placed on school readiness and adjustment at primary school leve1 than at high school leveI. Many adolescents do, however, experience problems adjusting to the new high school environment when they enter Standard six. In the current South African climate these pupils not only have to adjust to a new stage in their life - adolescence - and a new, school, but they also have to adjust to the context of an education system which itself has to adjust to ongoing legislative changes. In accordance with systems theory, it is anticipated that these changes will affect the adolescent's ability to adjust to high school. The purpose of this study was to identify factors which affect the Standard six pupil's adjustment to high school. ft was envisaged that this research would inform a psychoeducation program to facilitate more effective adjustment to high school. Ninety pupils were sampled from Standard six classes in different types of English-medium high schools in the Cape Peninsula. Three psychometric instruments were used to identify factors associated with adjustment to high school.