About
Dr Ashnie Mahadew is an academic from the College of Humanities, School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She holds teaching qualifications and an honours degree in Psychology. She completed her Master’s and PhD degrees at the University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal (UKZN). She has spent 20 years as a foundation phase teacher before joining UKZN where she presently lectures in language and literacy to the Bachelor of Education students. Dr Mahadew also supervises postgraduate Masters’ students and her research focuses on community-based action research in the early childhood care and education sector.
Degrees Held
- Higher Education Diploma, Springfield College of Education, 1996.
- Further Diploma in Education, University of South Africa, 2003
- Bachelor of Arts in Health and Social Sciences (Psychology), University of South Africa, 2010.
- Honours Bachelor of Arts in Health and Social Sciences (Psychological Counseling), University of South Africa, 2013.
- Master of Education, University of KwaZulu- Natal, 2017
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of KwaZulu- Natal, 2022
Research Interests
- Educational Psychology
- Diversity and Inclusion in the Early Childhood Care and Education Context
Teaching Interests
- Educational Psychology
- Early Childhood Development and Foundation Phase Modules.
- Literacy in the Foundation Phase
- Lifeskills in the Foundation Phase
- Curriculum Development in Early Childhood Education
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Chapters in Books
Journal Articles
- Khumalo S.D., Nnadozie V., Mahadew A., Rawatlal R., Mazibuko P., & Mpungose C. (2023). Reimagining the Success Discourse in a Higher Education Institution in South Africa: Potential Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude Undergraduate Students’ Perspectives. In Proceedings of The Focus Conference (TFC 2022) (Vol. 732, p. 40). Springer Nature.https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-006-0_5
- Mahadew, A. & Hlalele, D. (2022). Challenging Gender Certainties in Early Childhood Care and Education: A Participatory Action Learning and Action Research Study. Educational Research for Social Change, 11 (1), 10-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2221-4070/2021/v11i1a2
- Mahadew, A. & Hlalele, D.J. (2022). Understanding inclusion in early childhood care and education: A participatory action learning and action research study. South African Journal of Childhood Education 12(1), https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1073
Chapters in Books
- Mahadew, A. & Hlalele, D. (2022). ‘Conceptualising Inclusion in Early Childhood Care and Education’. In: Ebrahim, H.B., Harrison, G., Ashley-Cooper, M., Martin, C.D., & Shaik, N. (2022). Voices from the Early Childhood Care and Education Field in South Africa: Research and Promising Practices for New Directions. Pretoria: South African Research Association of Early Childhood Education. pp. 87-90. https://bit.ly/3YlfLU5
Special SARAECE Conference Short E-Publication
- Mahadew, A. & Hlalele, D.J. (2022). Conceptualising inclusion in early childhood care and education: A participatory action learning and action research study. In H.B. Ebrahim, G. Harrison, M. Ashley-Cooper, C.D. Martin & N. Shaik. (Eds.), Voices from the Early Childhood Care and Education Field in South Africa: Research and Promising Practices for New Directions. (pp. 87 – 91). Pretoria: South African Research Association of Early Childhood Education.
Conferences and Webinars
- Mahadew A. (2019). An Inclusive Learning Environment in Early Childhood Care and Education. Paper presented at the Community Based Educational Research Conference (COMBER). 1st International Conference. North-West University, 20 November 2019.
- Mahadew A. (2021). Understanding Inclusion in Early Childhood Care and Education. Paper presented at the South African Association for Early Childhood Education (SARAECE). 4th National Digital ECD Conference, 13 July 2021.
- Mahadew A. (2021). Challenging a Transmissive Pedagogy in Early Childhood Care and Education. Paper presented at the Community Based Educational Research Conference (COMBER). 2nd International Conference. North-West University, 29 November 2019.
- Mahadew A. (2021). Conceptualising learner support: Multiple contexts and approaches. Panel Member at the Stadio B. Ed Hons Webinar (Inclusive Education). Stadio, 15th September 2021.
Community Outreach
- 2021, An Inclusive Learning Environment in Early Childhood Care and Education, A Handbook for Teachers by Teachers. PhD Study Translated for Impact. A Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR) Output. https://bit.ly/3YFbriu
- 2022, Psychosocial Wellbeing for Sustainable Learning In Early Childhood Development (ECD) Education in the Cato Manor Informal Settlements, Using PALAR to transform ECCE learning environments to promote wellbeing. A Group PALAR project. Community-Based Educational Research (COMBER).
- 2022, New Beginnings ECD Training Centre, Board Member and Secretary, Voluntary ECD Practitioner Trainer.
- 2022, South African Research Association in Early Childhood Education (SARAECE), UKZN Representative
- Exploring Diversity in Early Childhood Care and Education (Principal Investigator: A Mahadew).
Student Supervision
Honours
Masters
Honours
- Dayanand Shivaar (2022 – in progress) Changes in schools during Co-vid 19
Masters
- Mantenya Nosibulelo (2022 – in progress). Teacher’s Experiences of Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Care and Education.
- Sethabile Zungu (2023 – in progress). Teacher Perceptions of Inclusion in Early Childhood Care and Education in an Informal Settlement.
- Fakazile Dandala (2023 – in progress). An Exploration of Parents’ Experiences of Autism Diagnosis of their Children: A Narrative Enquiry of Parents in Alfred Nzo District.
- Siphesihle Khaba (2023 – present). Psychosocial well-being of Grade R teachers for sustainable learning in a rural context.
- Mapula Kwati (2022 – present). An Enabling Environment for Sustainable Wellbeing of Grade R Teachers in Early Childhood Education in a rural context.
Project Participation
- ECCE Module Development, Dr J Mzimela. 2018 – present
- African Story Project, Prof H Israel (University of Mpumalanga). 2021
- Student Academic Success: Enhancing Potential Cum Laude And Summa Cum Laude Students Self Authorship, Dr S Khumalo. Nov 2021 – present
- Psychosocial Wellbeing For Sustainable Learning In Early Childhood Development (ECD) Education, Dr N Mthiyane. January 2022 – present
Teaching Expertise
- Literacy in the Foundation Phase
- Lifeskills in the Foundation Phase
- Curriculum Development in Early Childhood Education