Educational Psychology in Social Context : Ecosystemic Applications in Southern Africa (5th) ed.), David Donald, Sandy Lazarus & Nadeen Moola : book review

Even though the title suggests that this book's main focus is on educational psychology (and therefore educational psychologists), this book is actually aimed primarily at teachers (educators). For the purposes of this review, the terms 'educational psychology' and 'educational psychologists' are, therefore, used in a broad sense here and will include the concepts 'teaching' and 'teachers', respectively. The advent of the post-apartheid era prompted fundamental changes in educational psychology praxis in South Africa, with the emphasis shifting towards meeting the needs of the entire South African population rather than just those of a select few. The adoption of a negotiated scope of practice document for educational psychology has also contributed significantly to the regulation of the way in which professionals in the different registration categories do their work. Moreover, the erstwhile post-apartheid Department of Education (currently referred to as the Department of Basic Education) has introduced a number of successive policy documents designed to change and regulate the teaching profession, the latest being the Curriculum Assessment and Policy Statement (CAPS). This notwithstanding, the state of education in South Africa remains a source of great concern for all educationists (theoreticians as well as practitioners). The recent drop in the number of learners passing Grade 12 has led many stakeholders to question whether the education authorities are on the 'right' track. This review should be read against this background.