Document is current

Article History

Received: 29 April 2025

Accepted: 5 August 2025

First Online: 12 August 2025

Declarations

:

: The Faculty of Education Research Ethics Committee at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, approved this study (Ethical Clearance Number: SEM 1-2025-134). Following the Declaration of Helsinki, the committee ensured full compliance with ethical guidelines to protect participants’ rights, dignity, and well-being. Prior to data collection, we obtained informed consent from all participants after providing detailed information about the study’s objectives, procedures, confidentiality safeguards, and their right to withdraw without consequence. Only participants who gave explicit consent were included. We anonymised all identifying information to maintain privacy and prevent any link to individual responses. These procedures reflect the best international practices in research ethics and demonstrate our commitment to academic integrity and the ethical treatment of human subjects. The authors obtained informed consent from all participants, clearly explaining that participation was voluntary and that they could withdraw without penalty. We assured participants that all information collected would remain confidential and be used solely for research purposes. All data were anonymised to protect participants’ identities and prevent disclosure in any published materials. These measures ensured adherence to ethical standards and maintained a respectful and secure environment throughout the study.

: Not applicable.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.