Graduate can’t resist education bait
JAYSHREE Singh, 48, is a mother of three and avid competitive angler.
The oThongathi resident – and wife of Ashwin Singh, the South African Shore Angling world champion – received her doctorate of Philosophy on Thursday.
She graduated at the Univeristy of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville Campus.
Singh said her Master's degree in Psychology, completed at UKZN in 2018, formed the foundation of her PhD.
“It explored an integrated approach toward awareness and changing attitudes toward students with disabilities.
“The success of my Master’s degree and the significant findings drew my attention to an international model that promoted inclusive education for persons with disabilities.”
She said her thesis was entitled, “Promoting Inclusive Learning through
Universal Design of Instruction (UDI): Exploring the Potential of UDI to Enhance Learning for Students with Visual Disabilities in the higher education Classroom”.
“The study proceeded in 2019, post-proposal defence. It made intriguing findings and received positive reports, whilst adding strong value to the area of disability, especially in terms of promoting inclusive education through UDI for students with visual disabilities (SWVDs).
“The study was conducted at UKZN, which has the highest number of students with disabilities in the country.
“Through the study findings, a proposed conceptual UDI model for implementation materialised.
“Applying an international model supported by five frameworks made this PhD thesis unique in that a study of this nature has not been done before from a South African perspective.”
Singh said the study found there was also a lack of UDI practices in tertiary institutions in South Africa and other African countries.
“The study extracted various unexplored avenues concerning prospects for UDI and capitalised on this opportunity to explore its application at a South African institution.
“As such, through the lived experiences of students with visual disabilities at UKZN this empirical study affirmed how the implementation of UDI in the classroom, within a Higher Education setting, can break barriers to learning for SWVDs.
“The statistical outcomes and findings can be reciprocated in other institutions of Higher Education in South Africa and other African countries. The implementation of such a model may place the university at a competitive advantage with highly ranked higher education institutions globally.”
Singh said a major challenge was that the study took place during the Covid-19 pandemic under lockdown conditions which delayed it by a year. There were other factors too.
“The July riots in 2021 and the April 2022 floods that disrupted the water supply in areas around Durban for months, compounded with consistent load shedding. Through these struggles, I persevered.”
Singh said the path through education can be a long and challenging one.
“I found that to be a successful student one had to be resilient, self-motivated, and inspired to complete one’s tasks.
“I was empowered by part motivation, persistence and a positive attitude; and a work ethic that allowed me to succeed.
As an angler, Singh is registered with the South African Shore Angling Association, representing Mpumalanga province.
In her spare time, she is involved on a competitive level in the Ladies’ Surf Casting on the north and south coasts of Durban.
She is also a volunteer at the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society.
“I assist social workers with the psychological counselling of victims of gender-based violence, underprivileged and abused women and children.”
Singh would like to pursue a career imparting knowledge in the field of research and development, and education and lecturing within the higher education sector.
“I have an in-depth understanding of disability and would like to empower persons with disabilities and provide avenues to improve higher educational environments through the implementation of my proposed model, Universal Design of Instruction.
“I believe that the incorporation of UDI principles can offer a potential design for easier access to teaching and learning to enhance and maximise
learning outcomes.”
She thanked UKZN students with visual disabilities for their keen interest and participation in her studies.