Thungavel (Roy) Venketsamy

Thungavel (Roy) Venketsamy

Associate Professor

Early Childhood Education

EmailVenketsamyt@ukzn.ac.za

Contact Number082-710-1474 and 012-260-3165

Office AddressS513, Main Tut building, Edgewood Campus, Pinetown

Degrees Held

  • Doctorates in Education Psychology, 2000, University of Zululand
  • Ed Education Psychology, 1996, University of Zululand
  • BA Hons Psychology, 2004, Unisa
  • Ed Education Hons,1995, Unisa
  • Bachelor of Arts, 1991, Unisa

Research Interests

  • Early Childhood Education: Development, policy, and pedagogical innovation & Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Gender Studies.
  • Curriculum Transformation and Educational Leadership: Strategies for reform and effective school leadership.
  • Play-Based Pedagogy and Inclusive Practices: Integrating play as a core learning approach within diverse classroom settings.
  • Inclusive Education: Promoting equity, accessibility, and participation for all learners.
  • Parent and Community Engagement: Strengthening partnerships between families and educational institutions.
  • Educational Technology and Artificial Intelligence: Exploring the integration of digital tools and AI to enhance teaching and learning.

Selected

Publications

Community Involvement

Professional Development and Mentoring

  • Windy Height Primary school
  • Primrose Primary School
  • Umkomaas Drift Primary School

Teaching Expertise

2.1       Courses presenting/presented

 

Course

Level (e.g. second year, Masters)

Self-developed

(Yes or No)

EDPY322]

Life Skills– 2025-[

Yes

 

 

 

EDPY 324- 2025

FP Contextual Realities and processes

Yes

EDPY 411 – 2025

Life Skills Methodologies Year 4

No

EDTP 323 – 2024- 2025

WIL

No

EDRS 701 – 2023-2025

Research Methodology Hons

Yes

EHTF4705 (2023 – 2023) FP

English – Foundation Phase 4th year

No

EHTF3604 (2023 – 2023) FP Literacy

English – Foundation Phase 3rd year

No

EDEC6804 (2023 – 2023) FP Literacy

Advanced Studies in Early Childhood education

No

JGS 730 (2016-2022) Hons Learning support

 

Early intervention in literacy and mathematics

Yes

JGS 733 (2018-2022) Hons Learning support

Early intervention in literacy and mathematics

Yes

JGS 112 (2016-2022)

 

Early Grade Mathemathics Year 1

Yes

JGS210/211 (2016-2022)

Early Grade Mathematics Year 2

Yes

Masters & PhD

Student Supervision

CURRENT STUDENTS

Name of student

Date competed

Degree

Degree/Title of dissertation/ thesis and date completed

Supervisor

Co-supervisor(s)

Duration of studies (years) / comments

BLUE HIGHLIGHT ARE PhD STUDENTS

CURRENT 2024 UKZN STUDENT

Amanda M

2022 inherited from Nomkosi

PhD

Students’ experiences of differentiated teaching, learning and assessment in higher education institutions:

Roy V

 

 

Bheki M

2024

PhD

Exploring early grade teachers’ experiences in identifying and supporting learners presenting with reading difficulties

Roy V

 

To submit on 1 June 2026

Duma N

2022

Inherited for Dr Jairam

PhD

Exploring discontinuation rate of first year students at South African Higher Education Institutes

 

Roy V

 

 

Sarah R

2024

PhD

Inclusion of learners with autism spectrum disorder in mainstream schooling: Foundation Phase teachers’ perspectives.

 

Roy V

Zama Zanele

To submit on 1 June 2026

Jiyani N

2024

PhD

Exploring alternative teaching, learning assessment and practice in TVET colleges

Roy V

 

 

Memory H

2024

PhD

Parents views  and understanding of the implementation of White Paper 6 in the early grades

Roy V

 

 

Sammu S

2024

PhD

Exploring mathematics teacher development programmes to support learners experiencing dyscalculia: A case study of foundation phase teachers in Gauteng Province

 

Roy V

 

To submit on 1 June 2026

Shivani S

2024

PhD

Exploring young secondary school adolescents’ experiences of teenage pregnancy: A psycho-socio-emotional perspective

 

Roy V

 

To submit on 1 June 2026

Siya M

2024

PhD

Exploring South African Black Parents Perspectives on Teaching Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Early Grades: A Social and Cultural Analysis

Roy V

 

Submitting in Jan 2026

Trishania M

2024

PhD

Professionalisation teaching and learning within the ECCE sector for the 21st century

Roy V

Ashnie M

 

Candice Wilson

2025

PhD

Ethnographic study on gender identity and challenges in the work place

Roy V

 

 

Philip Davie

2026

PHD

Parents role in supporting learners in rural townships

Roy V

 

 

Goitnetso

2026

PHD

Coding and Robotics – policy imperatives in Secondary schools

Roy

 

 

COMPLETED M.ED AND PHD = TOTAL 26

UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL STUDENTS – 2026

Serishma G

2026

PhD

Foundation Phase Teachers’ Perceptions of Using Educational Technological Resources for the Teaching and Learning of Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder

 

Prof Roy

 

Dr Zama

 

Passed degree on be conferred in September 2026

Wiseman N

2026

PhD

Teachers’ experiences in teaching coding and robotics in Grades R-9: A pilot study

Prof Roy

 

 

Passed – Degree to be conferred in September 2026

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA STUDENTS

Grace Macharia

2023

M.Ed

Teacher’s use of digital play in the teaching of mathematics in the early grades

Dr Roy

 

Dr Malatji

65%

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

Zijing Hu

 

 

 

2022

 

 

PHD

Exploring teaching, learning, assessment and practice of an acupuncture programme to improve children’s health

Dr Roy

 

 

2 (A;A;A)

Lyndsey Nkoy

2022

Phd

Parents views on teaching CSE in the early grades

Dr Roy

 

Dr Nevensha Sing

2 (B;B;B)

Jenny Kinnear

2022

PhD

Early grade scripted lesson plans (slps): responding to the international technical guidance for sexuality education (itgse)

 

Dr Roy

 

 

3 (B;B;B)

Denise Miller

2022

PhD

Supporting parents’ needs as educational partners to enhance children’s classroom learning

 

 

Dr Roy

 

 

3 (A;B;B)

Nonhlanhla

2022

PhD

Practitioners’ perceptions of play-based pedagogy on the holistic development of young children

Dr Roy

 

 

Two result in already

3 (B,B,B)

Elaine Baxen

2022

M.Ed

Strategies to support teachers experiencing school violence

 

Dr Roy

 

 

Dr Malatji

71%

 

 

 

2021 COMPLETED

 

 

 

 

Martin Ekeh

Jan

2021

PhD

Using group-work to enhance core skills in young children through play pedagogy

Dr Roy

 

Dr Susan

Prof Ina

3 (B;B;B)

Tuelo M

March 2021

PhD

Strengthening the implementation of Early Childhood Development policies to improve quality [ECCE]

 

Dr Keshni

 

 

Dr Roy

3 (B;B;B)

Erika Helmbold

March 2021

PhD

The impact of Lesson Study on the professional development of early grade teachers

Dr Roy

 

Dr Judy van Heerden

2 (A;B;B)

 

2020 COMPLETED

Mariaan Jacobs

April 2020

M.Ed

The effects in pre-service teachers’ mathematics self-efficacy prior to and after work integrated learning

Dr Roy

 

 

1 ½  (75)

Kayla Harhoff

April 2020

M.Ed

Teachers’ perceptions and experiences in supporting learners with dyscalculia in early grades

Dr Roy

 

Ms Nadia

1 ½ (61)

Teddy Mahoso

Apri 2020

PhD

Ecosystem factors and its effect on Comprehensive sexuality education in early grades  in Zim schools

Dr Roy

 

Dr Finestone

3 (A;B;B)

Pam Zulu

April 2020

M.Ed

Early grade practitioner identity in rural KwaZulu Natal

Dr Keshni

 

Dr Roy

4      (70)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 COMPLETED

Mamogale Scholastica

[Dec 2019]

M.Ed

Teacher experience in teaching number sense in the early grades

Dr Roy

 

 

2     (71)

Lyndsey Smart

[Dec 2019]

M.Ed

Teacher experience of invitational teaching and learning in a diverse classroom

Dr Roy

 

Dr Sing

2     (65)

Lucas Chauke

[Dec 2019]

M.Ed

Transitioning from DHET to DBE education centres; Teachers experiences

Dr Roy

 

 

3     (59)

Linda van Aardt

[Dec 2019]

PhD

Learner’s rights and responsibilities in culturally diverse context

Dr Susan

 

Dr Roy

Prof Ina

3    (A;B;B)

 

2018 COMPLETED

Jenny Kinnear

[Dec 2018]

M.Ed

Strengthening Comprehensive Sexuality Education curriculum in the early grades

Dr Roy

 

 

2      (75)

Denise Miller

[Dec 2018]

M.Ed

Parents’ choice of schools for their grade 1 learners

Dr Roy

 

 

2      (68)

Sophie Sibanda

[Dec 2018]

M.Ed

Approaches to the teaching of literacy skills to English First Additional Language learners in Grade 3

 

Dr Roy

 

 

2      (65)

 

2017 COMPLETED

Candice Wilson

[Dec 2017]

M.Ed

Teachers’ experience in the use of digital technology in Early Grades to support teaching and learning

 

Dr Roy

 

Dr Bosman

2     (75)

Marelie Beyers

[Dec 2017]

M.Ed

Teachers’ perceptions of retention in the foundation phase and its effect on learner’s social development

Dr Roy

 

Dr Bruwer

2     (75)

Andrea van Jaarsveld

[Dec 2017]

M.Ed

Parents’ experiences of young children using digital technology for learning at home

 

Dr Roy

 

Dr Bosman

2     (70)