Learner migration at secondary schools in South Africa: Benefits and challenges

Learner migration, which occurs worldwide, is the voluntary and intentional movement of learners from 1 school to another school of their choice in order to secure better learning opportunities. The study reported on here contributes to the literature on learner migration by focusing on the inequalities caused by racism, benefits and challenges that result from learner migration at selected secondary schools across the 9 provinces of South Africa. Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological theory was used as the theoretical framework to inform a qualitative research inquiry. A purposeful sample of 9 secondary school principals, 27 secondary school learners who migrated and 27 parents of learners who migrated were drawn from across the 9 provinces. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews with principals and focus-group interviews with parents and learners. The findings indicate that learner migration provides benefits to learners and their parents through effective principal leadership; sound discipline; quality school facilities and resources; and improved educational opportunities at the receiving schools. However, learner migration is accompanied by several challenges: principals at receiving schools face added administrative and managerial pressure; parents of learners who migrate encounter added financial burdens; and learners who migrate often face arduous travel to and from the receiving school and, in some cases, an intolerant atmosphere at the receiving schools. It is concluded that learner migration is a complex phenomenon requiring effective holistic management.