Experience of academic remediation in a South African medical undergraduate programme — the voice of remediating students
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Abstract
Background. The purpose of remediation is to provide targeted support and interventions to individuals who are struggling academically, providing support for the improvement and achievement of learning goals.
Objective. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of undergraduate medical students regarding academic remediation within the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro (NMFC) final-year integration programme at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and, by so doing,
present a Global South narrative around providing remediation as a pedagogical intervention for medical education.
Methods. In a qualitative exploratory study design, in-depth interviews were conducted with Wits-NMFC students as part of a wider study that included focus group discussions with clinical educators with thematic analysis.
Results. The findings revealed a need to deconstruct the meaning of remediation in a student-centred manner, clarify the procedural approach to successful remediation for students, provide student-centred support, and consider the multidimensional reasons for poor academic performance by students through an individualised approach.
Conclusion. Holistic and structured remediation of learners with identified gaps is crucial in health profession education to achieve the outcomes of clinically competent healthcare providers. A comprehensive approach that is student-centred and addresses individual factors that impact academic performance is imperative to a successful remediation programme
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