Abstract

This research is a qualitative and quantitative study of four combined farm schools in the Harrismith District of the Free State Province in South Africa. It highlights the plight of farm schools which continue to exist in post apartheid South Africa, with a view to finding solutions to the problems that exist in educating children whose parents work on isolated farms. Total Quality Management serves as a framework for introducing proactive measures that could be taken up by all levels of management in education together with the participation of all stakeholders. Given the number of farm schools that exist, the task facing South African education authorities is one of great magnitude. Restructuring the farm school system is an important element in providing a measure of equality in education for children in some 1,500 farm schools in the Free State.