Thesis (MTech (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007 / In this mini-thesis data has been collected and processed to detennine which factors inf1uence effectiv'e classroom management in the intermediate and senior phases at poor rural schools, A Comprehensive review of relevant National and International literature were conducted and farmed the basis for the construction of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was formulated to determine the extent, complexity and reality to which educators at poor rural schools are exposed to on a daily basis. External and internal factors contributing to poor classroom management were identified. External factors include home circumstances and the environment in which learners live. The lack of stimulation at home, low literacy levels of parents, the absence of good early childhood programmes and the shortage of food have a huge impact on learners performance in the classroom. Negative role models in the community and home as well as proper supervision, lead to discipline problems and unmotivated learners. Internal factors refer to the role of the teacher, the curriculum and discipline in the classroom. It is clear that educators play a central role in the provision of quality education. It is not an easy task. Working conditions are difficult and lead to weak motivation and low morale among teachers. It is impossible to implement outcomes based education in large classes. Dejected teachers try to survive by using traditional teaching and classroom approaches. There is however a big group of professional and motivated teachers. This teachers do everything to support and motivate learners. It is clear that poverty in the community is the main reason for the problems in rural schools. It is also clear that this problems need to be addressed. Long-term political solutions are needed to combat poverty. Short-term solutions might include better cooperation between the school and the community. The key to success is sustainable coaching and mentoring of teachers. The excessive emphasis on teaching and demonstration of outcomes are not beneficial for both learners and teachers. A solution to the problem is: ..... adapt the system in the child's best interest rather than the child having to adapt to the education system." Human Rights Commission (2006: 16)

The purpose of the research was to investigate the level of job satisfaction of primary and secondary rural and farm school teachers in Gauteng West - D2. The following research questions were addressed: „X What is the nature of job satisfaction? „X What are the factors responsible for the job satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction of rural and farm school teachers? „X How can managers or those responsible for education create job satisfaction among rural and farm schoolteachers? In this study the researcher developed a questionnaire which was used as a measuring instrument for the research. The questionnaire was designed within the framework regarding levels of job satisfaction to improve performance. The questionnaire can be used for future research studies. The results of the study indicated that three of the 27 factors showed statistically significant differences, namely, types of school, highest educational qualifications and racial groups. The main conclusion drawn from the research is that rural and farm school teachers in Gauteng West-D2 are not satisfied with their environment and available facilities. Finally there is a need for a follow - up study to be conducted on all teachers in Gauteng West ¡V D2 to determine the level of job satisfaction of all teachers. / Ms. D. Groenewald

In this dissertation, I use a single qualitative case study methodology, participant observation, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews to explore how a rural school’s closure influenced the lives of residents in one rural farming community: Limerick, Saskatchewan, Canada. Three “stand alone” papers comprise this dissertation. In the first paper, I investigate the impacts of the school’s closure on rural families. In the second paper, I explore the ways Limerick School’s closure affected adults without school-aged children. In the final paper, I assess school closure’s impact on gendered volunteer roles. Using social ecological theory and socialist feminist theory, I argue that the school’s closure had far-reaching implications for community members and that these implications varied depending on stage of life, gender, and roles within the family and community contexts. Together, these papers not only make a contribution to filling the gap in existing literature pertaining to rural school closures, but they also strengthen our scholarly understanding of the school-community relationship in the rural context.

It is a fallacy to assume that because a school is small it must necessarily be a poor school. Unfortunately size, number and quantity have become criteria of success in our American way of life, and educators, too, sometimes associate bigness with goodness. This fact has been noted by the American Association of School Administrators. True, the small school poses some problems and limitations not found in the larger schools, but there are also some definite advantages in the small school. It is the purpose of this paper to focus attention on the small school and to suggest ways and means of providing an enriched curriculum in the small school despite the limitations. Particular attention will be directed to the Windermere, Florida, Elementary School, where the writer is employed. / Typescript. / "August, 1956." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: Marian Black, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-54).

There are a number of factors which contribute to the economic conditions described in the preceding paragraphs. Among these are: much waste land, soil erosion, large numbers of tenant farmers with inadequate diet, lack of scientific method, no modern equipment, low income, lack of pure-bred stock, low purchasing power, uncooperative spirit, fear of venturing out into new areas of activities, unwillingness to give up old ideas and methods. Such a situation as the one described in the preceding pages created a crying need for professional help which has been sought from every available source. A truly effective small school must be standardized around such educational essentials as: (1) a teacher with specialized preparation and willingness to make rural community teaching her permanent occupation, (2) a school plant equipped to provide an education related to rural life and its needs, (3) a course of instruction and methods of teaching in accordance with the needs and nature of agricultural people. / Typescript. / "May, 1949." / "Submitted to the graduate council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Master of Arts plan II." / Advisor: R. L. Eyman, Directing professor. / Includes bibliographical references.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master Of Education in the Department of Comparative and Science Education at the University of Zululand, 2018 / In the Manual: Guidelines for capacity building of school governing body members, South Africa (2015:12), “research indicates that most of the newly elected SGB members do not have the necessary capabilities to govern schools at the required level”. This view is corroborated by Pamillis (2005:23)’s assertion that “a common obstacle to democratic functioning of schools governing bodies in South Africa is the lack of capacity among many SGB members who may have not only insufficient knowledge of the legal requirements and rights of SGBs, but also lack the necessary education and skills to manage the school’s finances and business dealings and over above these deficiencies the SGB members may lack adequate support systems from the educational bureaucracy. Arguably, it is in light of these possible deficiencies that the South African Schools Act requires provincial departments of education to provide capacity-building programmes for governing bodies. Thus, as a consequence of this lack of the requisite capabilities, “experiences with decentralisation in education are somewhat mixed and often disappointing” (Azfar et al., 2001:8). This prevailing situation in respect of the lack of requisite governance skills is accounted for by the fact that “in South Africa a form of decentralisation has evolved that is strong in terms of devolution, but weak in terms of managing the disparate and often discriminatory proclivities and tendencies within local sites” (Azfar et al., 2001:8). What transpires from this is that “decentralisation South Africas not necessarily promote allocative efficiency […]” (Azfar et al., 2001:8). Thus, Azfar et al., (2001:8) view in this regard is that “whether decentralisation in fact improves or harms public sector performance appears to depend on formal institutional arrangements, as well as their interaction with social practices which influence the implementation of decentralised governance.” It is against this backdrop, therefore, that van Wyk (2007:137) argues that “in ceding power to the local site, the model in use in South Africa has failed to take account of diversity at the local level.” It is worth noting though that despite the failure cited by van Wyk, decentralisation as a pragmatic governance strategy is not dismissed willy-nilly. This view is corroborated by van Wyk’s (2007:137) argument that “the shift to decentralised school governance and management requires SGB members to develop a wide range of skills and capacity to deal with the complex issues and tasks they are expected to fulfil”. Thus, as a response to this predicament, “teachers often mentioned the necessity of providing appropriate training for school governors, particularly the parent representatives” (Van Wyk, 2007:137). Arguably, “skills deficit among SGB members weaken the effective functioning of SGBs (Van Wyk, 2007:135). The situation under discussion is exacerbated by and large by the fact that “there is a lack of accountability and possible participation problems in the relationship between schools and their governing bodies” (Transparency, 31). In the context of this study it is noted that “although the South African schools Act envisioned a system where schools would be community owned and controlled […]”, it is regrettable that “communities still perceive schools as belonging to government and teachers” (Transparency,31). Thus, in light of the numerous challenges cited above as being contributory factors on the seeming ineffectiveness of decentralisation in the education sector, this study sought to establish how best decentralised governance in schools could be harnessed notwithstanding its attendant constraining factors.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTERS IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY at the UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND, 2006. / This study examines factors contributing to school dropout among learners in a rural farm school. The researcher used the qualitative case study method as a research design. The participants in this study were ten young people between the ages of 16 and 20 who dropped out of school, four mothers of the learner participants, as well as two educators. Data was collected though the use of school records, semi-structured interviews and one focus group interview. Data analysis was done through the process of coding. The findings reveal that several factors contribute simultaneously to school dropout: personal problems, the family, economic causes, school factors, teachers and friends. The emphasis, however, lies with economic factors and school factors that include the actions of teachers. Strategies in identifying and intervening with at-risk learners are recommended. It became apparent with this research that the actions of teachers as well as inadequacies within schools need to be addressed as a priority if the problem of school dropout is to be dealt with effectively.

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