The purpose of the study was to examine the role of academic middle managers (AMMs) in the planning and implementation of curriculum change in private higher education institutions in Botswana. This study employed a mixed methods research approach which utilised a structured questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide to gather data on AMMs‟ role in the planning and implementation of curriculum change in PHEIs in Botswana. SPSS version 21 was used for analysing quantitative data while thematic analysis was used for analysing qualitative data on the role of AMMs in the planning and implementation of curriculum change in PHEIs. The study showed that the role of AMMs in the planning and implementation of curriculum change in PHEIs was too complex and demanding because they spent most of their time on daily administrative routines instead of on core academic activities such as planning and implementing curriculum change in their departments. The AMMs in the PHEIs under study operated more like managers in academic departments than academics in management. As a result the study showed that AMMs faced more challenges than opportunities in their planning and implementation of curriculum change in PHEIs. The major challenges AMMs faced in the planning and implementation of curriculum change were a highly controlled and strict work environment, role conflict, lack of autonomy, role strain and heavy workloads which limited the time AMMs spent on the core business of managing curriculum change in their departments. The study also highlighted some of the strategies albeit a few, which, despite the numerous challenges AMMs faced, are used to try and make the planning and implementation of curriculum change by AMMs was to some extent successful. The study provided insight on the influence of AMMs biographical characteristics as well as the influence of AMM job requirements (such as having a detailed job description and having authority over curriculum matters) on how AMMs enacted their role in curriculum change. Based on the results of the study, a model to assist AMMs in the effective planning and implementation of curriculum change was proposed.

This study endeavoured to explore and describe the experiences of social workers in their intervention with HIV and AIDS clients within the Department of Clinical Services of the Ministry of Health in Botswana. The researcher undertook a qualitative research study, using an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design to explore these experiences as perceived by the social workers. The method of data collection included semi-structured face-to-face interviews, as this was deemed most appropriate to the nature of the study. Data analysis was undertaken according to the outline of Tesch (1990), as stated in Creswell (1994:155). The findings were reported as themes, sub-themes and categories emanating from the data-analysis process. In ensuring the trustworthiness of the findings, the researcher adhered to Guba’s (1981) model (in Krefting, 1991:251). The research findings were subjected to a literature control, and culminated in the compiling of the research report. The research findings centred around the following five themes: · experiences of intervention with HIV and AIDS clients; · challenges in HIV and AIDS intervention; · measures to alleviate challenges of HIV and AIDS intervention; · intervention strategies utilised by social workers; and · suggestions and advice to new social workers. The recommendations resulting from this research project proposed inter alia that social workers need to be trained in specific and specialised areas related to HIV and AIDS intervention in the health setting, and that the support structures and a holistic multidisciplinary service delivery approach need to be put in place to assist social workers to be able to meet the needs of the clients as well as their own needs. Key Words: participants, clients/patient, qualitative, HIV and AIDS, experiences, intervention, strategies.

M.A. (Politics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

There has been extensive theoretical and empirical research on the subject of demand for money function. This particularly stems from the important role demand for money plays in macroeconomic analysis, especially in the design and implementation of monetary policy. The increase in studies, especially in developing countries, can also be attributed to a number of factors like: the impact of moving towards flexible exchange rate regimes, globalisation of financial markets, ongoing financial liberalisation, innovations in domestic financial products, the advancement in econometrics techniques and other country-specific events. This study estimates and examines the nature and stability of the demand for broad money (M2) in Botswana. This is particularly important in that the usefulness of a money demand function in the conduct of monetary policy depends crucially on its stability. The stability of the money demand function is crucial in that a stable money demand function would mean that the quantity of money is predictably related to a set of key economic variables linking money and the real economic sector. Therefore, this will help central banks to select appropriate monetary policy actions. Based on the findings, the study also proposes policy interventions. The vast majority of the literature on demand for money has underscored the fact that variable selection and representation, and the framework chosen are the two major issues relevant to modelling and estimation of the demand for money function. In modelling and estimating the demand for money function in Botswana, this study surveys a stream of theoretical and empirical literature on money demand in developed and developing countries, including countries that have similar financial sector similar to Botswana. Due consideration is also given to the macroeconomic and financial sector development in Botswana to help in the identification of the variables that are included in the demand for money equation. Most importantly, this helped in getting meaningful results that are free from theoretical and estimation problems. In particular, this study applied the multivariate cointegration approach as proposed by Johansen (1988) and Johansen and Juselius (1990) to estimate the relationship between broad money (M2), real income, interest rate, South African treasury bill rate, inflation rate and US dollar/pula bilateral exchange rate. The study obtains one unique long run relationship between money and the scale and opportunity cost variables. The coefficients of the long run relationship are then modelled along the general to specific approach as proposed by Campos, Ericsson and Hendry (2005). In this type of approach the general model is reduced by sequential elimination of statistically insignificant variables and checking the validity of the reductions at every stage to ensure congruence of the finally selected parsimonious model. In accordance with the economic quantity theory of money, the long run income elasticity obtained is 0.8021, which is close to the value one (unitary) suggested by economic theory. The coefficients of real income, exchange and inflation rate have the expected positive signs and were significant in the long run. Therefore, the long run demand for money (M2) in Botswana was found to be positively affected by real income, inflation rate and exchange rate. The lack of statistical significant of the own rate of money (88 day commercial bank deposit rate) and the foreign opportunity cost variable (South African Treasury bill rate) is attributed to multi-collinearity problems between these two interest rates. This could be caused by the fact that short term rates in Botswana are very responsive to movements in the money markets rates in South Africa. The short run dynamics of the demand for money function shows the slow speed of adjustment to equilibrium of about 2.9 percent in the first quarter and this is reflective of the lack of sufficient availability of banking services and the low returns on financial assets which could allow economic agents to re-establish equilibrium levels of money holdings faster. The final parsimonious model obtained clearly reflects a well specified stable demand for money function. Therefore, based on the findings we can be precise in stating that targeting a monetary aggregate can be a viable policy for the monetary authorities in Botswana.

Please read the abstract in the section, 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Zoology and Entomology / PhD / unrestricted

The Republic of Botswana (2011a) recognises behaviour change as the only long term solution to the HIV and AIDS epidemic that has become a leading health and development challenge for the country. The study aimed to examine how Talk Back, an interactive HIV and AIDS educational programme on Botswana television, capacitates the school community to deal with challenges brought about by the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The study was based on recordings of 2014 Term One theme— ‘Paediatric care and support: challenges and implications in the teaching and learning environment. The study conducted a content analysis of Talk Back to determine behaviour change communication categories employed in producing the programme. All aspects of the Talk Back programme were also analysed to establish communication strategies employed in the presentation of content. Talk Back employed communication approaches such as panel discussions of matters related to HIV and AIDS by various specialists, video clips to present content, and viewers phoning in to interact with the panellists. A number of the callers identified challenges; the most common identified challenge was that parents tended not to disclose their children’s HIV status to the children due to the negative social stigma attached to HIV and AIDS. Although Talk Back provides a forum for interactive behaviour change communication, some listeners questioned the use of technical language.

According to the Ministry of Health (1996:26), the most common chronic/terminal illnesses were cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, cancer, mental disorders, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and asthma. Long term treatment and care and the growing incidence of these conditions necessitated the introduction of home-based care (HBC). Consequently, family care givers play a major role in the provision of care to chronically/terminally ill patients and professional health care providers adopt a supervisory role. This study examined the quality of home care services provided in Botswana. The availability and accessibility of home-based care services and resources have a direct bearing on the quality of home-based care delivery system. The researcher used systems theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study. The study aimed to • determine the accessibility and availability of home-based care services in Molepolole East • investigate what the perspectives and experiences of family care givers, patients and professional health care providers of Botswana home-based care are • determine the roles of professionals health care providers, patients, and family care givers and their relationships in the context of home- based care • identify the needs of chronically/terminally ill patents and family care givers • determine the type of support given to family care givers and patients by professional health care providers and make recommendations for the improvement of home-based care • develop a model to prepare family care givers The research design combined quantitative and qualitative research methods. A sample of convenience was used to obtain information from patients' family care givers and professional health care providers. Interviews and questionnaires were used. A proposed care giving preparedness model is presented to meet needs of the family care givers. The study found that family care givers needs are neither known nor catered for by the professional health care provider. The family care givers were not adequately prepared before adopting the care-giving role. It is recommended that • The proposed preparedness care giving training model is considered for training of patients and family care givers before discharge and during HBC. • Increase patients and family care givers decision-making / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between Education Acts and learner dropout at public schools within the South-Central education region of Botswana. Policy-related dropout Theories of Social Class and the hidden curriculum of work, as well as the Inclusive Education Policy were selected as suitable framework-settings for investigating the research problem. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed that the strategies used to implement the Basic Education Act, the Examinations Act, and Policies on Inclusive Education in Botswana diverge from their set stipulations and the current international trends in this regard. The research design used was a mixed-methods approach. Mixed paradigms of the positivists’ and the constructivists’ beliefs were used to conduct a concurrent empirical investigation. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire instrument (non-demographic variables 1-26) was .985 (close to 1). All the measuring tools were pilot-tested. The sampling technique was stratified for the questionnaire, and was comprehensive for the qualitative instruments. Ethical issues were observed during the course of the study. The scores on the questionnaire showed that 68% of the 75 teacher respondents perceived that the improper implementation of the above-named Acts contributed to learner drop-out. The content analysis transcripts further indicated that 66% of the 28 interviewees linked learner drop-out to the improper implementation of the Acts. Additionally, 84% of the Biology teachers linked the teaching strategies being used to policy decisions. The interpretation of this study has to take note of the limitation discussed in the report. The conclusion drawn from the foregoing research findings is that the teaching-learning process in the public schools is defective in relation to its relevance to the learners, and the education goal. The study therefore recommended dropout tracking strategies by means of a greater synchrony between all the departments of the Ministry of Education Skills and Development (MOESD) as well as further comprehensive research to improve education practice towards curbing learner dropout. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Comparative Education)

The purpose of this study was to deternine the use and application of information communication technologies (ICTs) by the library workers of the University of Botswana Library. ICTs play an important role in a library environment because they enable libraries to be accessed rapidly as well as increasing the range, relevance and accessibility of information provided by the libraries. ICTs are therefore important for supporting the library workers in their everyday roles. This research was done with a view to propose recommendations which may enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of University of Botswana Library workers in facilitating timely, relevant, accurate and reliable access to information for the library users through the utilisation of ICTs. The population of the research was the University of Botswana Library and its branches namely the Faculty of Engineering Library in Gaborone, the Centre for Continuing Education Branch in Francistown and the Harry Oppenheimer Branch in Maun. Primary and secondary sources of data were used to meet the objectives of the study. The research was done using a self-administered questionnaire, observation and interviews. The response rate was 67 (86.36 %) out of a population of 88. The data collected for this study identified that the University of Botswana Library workers had limitations on the use and application of ICTs as well as varying levels of skills and knowledge on their utilisation. The library workers lack ICT skills because they are only trained for specific routine tasks. In addition, some workers do not have enthusiasm to learn on their own. / Thesis (MIS.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

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