Exploring the role of peer tutoring in supporting the preparedness of accounting student-teachers: A case study of a selected South African University
Abstract
The thrust of this research was to explore the role of peer tutoring in supporting the preparedness of Bachelor of Education Accounting student-teachers to become professional, competent, and impactful in their teaching profession at one selected South African university. Guided by sociocultural theory and grounded in the interpretivist research paradigm, this study employed a case research design to gain in-depth insights into student teachers’ experiences and perceptions about the phenomenon being explored. In this research, a qualitative approach was adopted. The purposive sampling technique was used to select ten student-teachers enrolled in the Department of Business Management Education in the 2024-2025 academic year within the Faculty of Education. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analysed using a thematic approach. It emerged that peer tutoring enhanced participants’ understanding of complex accounting concepts, fostered a shift from memorisation-based to deeper conceptual understanding, and developed key professional competencies, including confidence, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills, which are crucial for classroom practice. However, challenges such as language barriers were observed. It is concluded that peer tutoring is an impactful intervention that could strengthen the academic and professional preparedness of accounting student-teachers. It is recommended that peer tutoring be integrated into other education programmes offered in higher education institutions with different specialisations. Drawing on student-teacher experiences engaged in peer tutoring, the research is expected to enhance academic support and tutoring programmes, offer inclusive and relevant teacher education programmes, and contribute to the academic community by addressing a critical gap in the literature at the intersection of academic support and teacher preparation.