Scholarship Students in Elite South African Schools

Jennifer Wallace is the Principal of a fee-paying public girls-only school located in Cape Town, South Africa. The focus of her research work, and recently submitted PhD, is on the experiences of scholarship students within elite educational institutions in post-apartheid South Africa. Jennnifer Feldman is a lecturer in the Department of Education Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University. Her research and teaching focus primarily on issues of education, policy and management in relation to South African education; marginalized students, diversity, inclusivity and social justice; and the integration of technology in teaching and learning in diverse educational contexts.

• 1. Introduction.- 2. The Gift of a Scholarship.- 3. Setting the Scene: Students in Elite Educational Contexts.- 4. Entering the Field.- 5. Cultural Capital in the Wrong Currency.- 6. Fitting into the ‘New Normal’.- 7. Changing Habitus?.- 8. Conclusion: Reflections and Playing it Forward.

“Wallace and Feldman make a valuable contribution to understandings of marginalized students in exceptional circumstances, which will make educators think again about their students and the challenges they face. … Scholarship Students in Elite South African Schools: The Gift of a Scholarship by Jennifer Wallace and Jennifer Feldman provides fascinating insights into the experiences of underprivileged Black students who secured scholarships … . I found the book engaging, timely and well written.” (George Variyan, Karen Lillie, and Aline Courtois, Discourse - Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, May 10, 2023)