<p> This thesis explored the feasibility of using a decision-making approach to explain changing agricultural land-use patterns in the rural-urban fringe. The change in farm ownership to a non-farmer user was assumed to reflect a change in land use. A basic objective was to identify and describe the types of elements which composed the farmers mode of perception of the decision-making context. Variations in the modes of perception were then related to an array of socio-economic characteristics of the landowner. </p> <p> The investigation confirmed the utility of the decision-making approach and confirmed the importance of the land appreciation component to the decision context. The selling price which the farmer appraised his property at was critical in determining whether the property was sold. Empirical analysis suggested a significant relationship between the selling price and the economic viability of the farm operation.</p> / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

The purpose of this study was to determine if specific characteristics of male students in a low socio-economic urban setting predispose them to successful high school completion. Rather than focusing on dropouts, this research focused on male students who are successful high school completers. They were compared to one another in order to find correlations among variables which made them successful in completing high school. While research exists detailing the reasons students choose to drop out of school, the factors that lead to successful graduation from high school have yet to be determined. This research addresses that gap. This study addresses two research questions: (a) are there common factors among male students from a low socio-economic urban setting which predispose them to successful high school completion and (b) what are the common factors among male students from a low socio-economic urban setting which predispose them to successful high school completion? The information found in the review of related literature and research indicated that the variables (preschool education participation, sports/extracurricular activity participation, family configuration, participation in faith-based organizations, parents’ educational attainment, sibling educational attainment, attendance, parental employment, participation in vocational studies, and participation in tutoring programs for high stakes exit exams) were appropriate for this study. An instrument was piloted to obtain information on the variables. Forty male students were randomly selected from 240 male students who graduated from Meridian High School during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years. After collecting and analyzing the data using binomial distribution and chi-square analysis, the researcher drew several conclusions. Preschool participation, sibling educational attainment, attendance, family configuration, participation in a faith-based organization, parent educational attainment, parent employment, vocational program participation, and extracurricular activity/sport participation were reported by participants at statistically significant frequencies which could not be attributed to chance. The chi-square values indicate nine of the fiftyour possible variable pairs have statistically significant correlations. Conclusions and recommendations based on the findings of this study indicate that certain characteristics of students do contribute to high school completion. This study should be replicated with a larger sample in other locations to validate the findings.

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No / . The placement of welfare advice services in family practice to assist patients with health-related social and economic issues (e.g. disability benefits) has gathered momentum over the last decade in the UK. This expansion of primary care raises a number of issues for practices hosting these services. Objectives. To gain the views of advice workers and primary care staff about the issues raised in hosting a welfare advice service across 30 practices in inner city Bradford. Methods. Views were obtained through focus groups with six advice workers, and primary care staff in 14 practices. A questionnaire was also posted to all practice managers asking their opinions about the service. Results. The focus groups highlighted a number of advantages for patients, including improvements in health and quality of life through increased income and reduced stress from social and economic issues. For practice staff, the service provided a resource to refer patients for welfare advice, reducing the time spent dealing with welfare issues, thereby reducing workload. This was confirmed in the questionnaire to practice managers where 72% said the service had saved time for GPs and reception/office staff. The advice workers raised concerns about the perceived level of commitment to the service from some staff at some practices. Practice staff were particularly concerned about the need for feedback about referrals. Conclusion. Providing welfare advice in family practice can act as a valuable resource for primary care staff helping to address their patients health-related social and economic needs.

Section 217 of the Constitution of South Africa regulates the procurement of goods and or services by any organ of state. Similarly, this section mandates state-owned institutions to adhere to a procurement system that promotes groups that were previously disadvantaged by past colonial and apartheid regimes. In this dissertation I argue that due to South Africa’s oppressive culture, the law has been ineffective in promoting the socio economic interests of black women due to race, gender and class subjugation. Firstly, central to my argument is the judiciary’s traditional role that is still steeped in an interpretative process of the law that is detrimental to the transformative spirit of the Constitution. In identifying the South African judiciary system as positivistic in nature I will critically analyse the Sonke Gender Justice Network v Malema hate speech court case. I posit that the Equality Court’s decision was mainly result based and as a result fell short of addressing the core issues affecting black women on the basis of race, gender and class which mirror the substantial part of the South African socio economic structure. Secondly, in support of my argument, I criticise a legislative framework that perpetuates socio economic disparities at the expense of a group in society it claims to protect. Whilst I will rely on American Legal Realism and Critical Legal Studies in support of my arguments, my main theoretical approach will be based on Critical Race Feminism. Lastly, intersectionality will be used in contextualising the interrelationships of race, gender and class as they impact on black women’s material circumstances in the regulatory legislative public procurement process. When the Constitution came into effect in 1994 South Africa became an egalitarian state. Nevertheless, the country is struggling with the prevalence of unemployment, poverty, HIV/Aids, skills shortages, male violence including rape, to name just a few. These social ills pose a threat to a Constitution that extolls values like dignity, freedom and equality for all. It so happens also that the majority of the people confronted by these socio economic challenges are black women. The tender process faces numerous challenges and by identifying the South African culture as oppressive supported by a legal process that stifles transformation, this study expounds the experiences of black women by engaging in a contextual analysis of the courts and legislation. This consciousness raising exercise is not meant to portray black women as victims or invoking “special treatment” in the legal realm. It resonates with Steve Biko’s theme of black consciousness, being aware of the marginalisation and addressing it. Black consciousness represents an emancipatory state and optimistic outlook. Consciousness raising situates the oppression of black women in any form as a site for struggle, a struggle for social and individual change. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Jurisprudence / unrestricted

The researcher aimed to answer the following question: What are the perceptions of preadolescent children and educators with regard to the phenomenon of acting-out behaviour? The goal of the study was to explore the perceptions of educators and pre-adolescent children on the phenomenon of acting-out behaviour. Pre-adolescence and socio-economic problems were discussed and behavioural theories, behavioural difficulties and acting-out behaviour were explored. The population consisted of educators and grade 5 to grade 7 learners in the two participating schools. Ten educators and twenty learners in each grade were selected by means of stratified random sampling, to participate in the study. The survey design was utilised, as the researcher wished to explore perceptions of educators and pre-adolescent learners on the phenomenon of acting-out behaviour. The researcher formulated two questionnaires that were reader-friendly to both educators and learners respectively. The questionnaires focused on aspects of acting-out behaviour observed in the developmental level which is of concern to the study. Research results have indicated that acting-out behaviour is an ever-increasing phenomenon, even though the term “acting-out” is relatively unknown. The educators and learner respondents had very similar views on acting-out behaviour and the reasons for this negative behaviour displayed by children. It can therefore be concluded that acting-out behaviour is perceived as being very real in the lives of today’s children and is very often regarded as problematic behaviour and only addressed as such. Characteristics of actingout behaviour include lying, swearing, aggressiveness, hitting and kicking, badmouthing others, poor school marks, bullying and seeking attention. Parental conflict is the highest cause of emotional problems and consequently behavioural problems in children. The family system is also the most important system in the pre-adolescent’s life. Consequently it is recommended that families need to be considered as a key system in the development of acting-out behaviour, but most importantly also, as a key factor in dealing with such behaviour. Further research on, especially, intervention methods with regard to acting-out behaviour and socio-economic factors are recommended and emphasised. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Thesis (Ph.D.(Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Community education has driven change in societies for time immemorial. The successes of educational services in influencing socio-economic issues in societies across the globe are captured through empirical studies. There are community education services conducted in the Gravelotte community, but they seem not to address socio-economic needs. The level of illiteracy and joblessness is not abated. The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which community education services in the Gravelotte community influences socio-economic issues. Qualitative study approach was employed in the study to investigate the subject. The research paradigm engaged was Interpretive within a case study. I used three methods to collect data which were in-depth individual interviews, document analysis and participant observation. Ten participants were interviewed individually using open-ended interview guides. Minutes, journals and related documents were analysed for data triangulation. I participated and observed public meetings and stakeholders’ gatherings within the area under study. The study was conducted in the small semi-urban area of Gravelotte community in Ba-Phalaborwa municipality with a population of about 500 residents of mixed races. The sampling was done purposively as the participants were requested to respond to a matter relative within the community. The generated data was thematically analysed. I interpreted the data generated from informants to make conclusions on answering the main research question. The study brought forth the following findings. There is no secondary school in the Gravelotte community which is detrimental for socio economic development in the area. Community education programmes offered in Gravelotte have significant successes. Several graduates from the TVET college can find employment and some of them start their businesses. The ABET centre in Gravelotte Primary assists mine workers to earn better salaries. There is evidence of success in the education programmes provided in the Gravelotte community. However, the study discovered that the programmes were offered amidst challenges. Planning, participation and partnership were identified as obstacles to proper implementation of education programmes. The use of common planning to deal with educational goals is most required to enhance the success of educational programmes. There is an increased appreciation by the local community to participate in educational matters. Partnerships are being forged between the local community, the municipality and the mines to address the successful implementation of educational programmes. The study recommends that one primary school in the area be empowered to proceed to include a secondary school or provide education up to grade 9. Additionally, that more research is directed into the gap between provision and demand in the future such that the challenges can be extensively investigated. Likewise, that further researches be encouraged to investigate the ability of TVET colleges to collaborate with local communities with intent to find solutions on educational challenges. In conclusion, the study clearly outlines the effects that education has on the socio-economic issues within the Gravelotte community. There are diverse opinions that support each other in areas that are very important for socio-economic development

This diploma thesis focuses on the defining of separate socio-economic models and characteristics of chosen performance criteria. It describes integrated European model, further it aims on a comparison of Scandinavian, Continental, Anglo-Saxon and Mediterranean models with a stress on the Scandinavian one. It also concentrates on a general characteristic of the countries that belong to this specific model and analyses the reasons of its relative success in comparison with others. Focus is also put on a SWOT analysis of the Scandinavian model, analysis of its performance during the period of the economic crisis which spread globally in 2008. Finally, the thesis describes some specific recommendations for a sustainable development of this model.

<p>Poverty and inequality are deeply entrenched in Kenya, with the country being one of the most unequal countries in the world. To eradicate poverty and inequality, enhance the achievement of social justice, fast-track human development, as well as to entrench participatory democracy<br /> and a culture of justification in governance, Kenya has, for the first time, entrenched justiciable socio-economic rights (SERs) in its 2010 Constitution. In this thesis, I undertake a critical analysis of the prospects for the implementation and enforcement of the entrenched SERs as well as the probable challenges that Kenya may face in their realisation. In this endeavour, the thesis develops a theoretical and interpretive approach for the realisation of these entrenched SERs. It entails an expansive analysis of the nature, scope, content and extent of the SERs entrenched in the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, and especially the place of international human rights obligations contained in customs and ratified international human rights treaties due to the provisions of the 2010 Constitution which espouse the direct application of international law in Kenya&rsquo / s domestic legal system. It is submitted in this thesis that in order to improve the socio-economic conditions of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups in Kenya, there is a need for their socio-economic as well as political empowerment to enable them to effectively take part in societal decision-making in both the public and private spheres with regard to resource (re)distribution. The theory of dialogical constitutionalism, based on the constitutionally entrenched principle of popular participation in governance and public decision-making, is aimed at the realisation of both political and socio-economic empowerment of these groups. Even though the theory of dialogical constitutionalism underscores the importance of litigation in the achievement of the transformative aspirations of the 2010 Kenyan Constitution contained in the entrenched SERs, it acknowledges that litigation is not the panacea of SER enforcement, and that other political and advocacy strategies play an important role in the emancipation of the socio-economically deprived groups in society. The thesis thus advocates a multi-pronged strategy which espouses the equal participation of all sectors of society in a collaborative and cooperative deliberative effort aimed at the full realisation of the entrenched SERs. To accompany the above theoretical framework for the interpretation and implementation of the entrenched SERs, the thesis further proposes a transformative and integrated approach which combines the progressive aspects of the minimum core approachand the reasonableness approach. This is an approach of purposive interpretion which, in the first instance, envisages the courts undertaking a strict and searching scrutiny of the SER implementation framework developed by the political institutions of the State to ensure that sufficient provision has been made for the basic necessities of the most poor and vulnerable groups in society, basically the espousal of a minimum core content approach. The approach entails the requirement that should the SER implementation framework fail to provide this basic minimum to vulnerable groups, and the political institutions do not provide a substantive justification as to the failure, then the courts should find the relevant SER implementation<br /> framework per se unreasonable and thus invalid. However, should the implementation framework provide sufficiently for the basic essentials for vulnerable groups, the courts should then proceed to review it using the reasonableness standards that have been developed by the<br /> South African Constitutional Court. The rationale for this searching analysis is the acknowledgement that if the needs and interests of the most indigent and marginalised in society are not catered for, the entire corpus of rights in the Bill of Rights becomes redundant. The thesis then undertakes a case study of two rights, the right to food and the right to housing, using the theoretical and interpretive approaches developed in the previous chapters of the thesis. On food security, the thesis finds that Kenya is a food insecure country with a declining food production capacity. This is basically due to a lack of subsidy to farmers, global warming leading to intermittent rainfall, lack of investment in sustainable agriculture as well as a fragmented and contradictory legislative and policy agenda. In response to this situation, the thesis proposes the adoption of a livelihoods approach to food security in Kenya, based on the constitutionally entrenched right to food and other supporting rights. This approach advocates the enhancement of the food entitlements of the different sectors of the Kenyan society to ensure their access to adequate and nutritious food, be it through self-production or through the market. On the right to housing, the thesis finds that housing plays a crucial role in ensuring that people are able to have a holistic, dignified and valuable existence. However, Kenya faces a dire housing situation, with the majority of Kenyans, both in rural and urban areas lacking adequate shelter and sanitary conditions, evidenced by the large informal settlements in urban areas and the squatter phenomenon in rural areas. With the entrenchment of a justiciable right to adequate housing in the 2010 Constitution, the study finds that several legislative and policy reforms are underway to improve the housing situation, with efforts being made to draft theLandlord and Tenant Bill 2007, the Housing Bill 2011, the Evictions and Resettlement Guidelines and the Evictions and Resettlement Procedures Bill, 2012, among others. The thesis proposes that these legal reforms must be undertaken within an environment of cooperative and<br /> collaborative strategic partnership involving all sectors of society so as to ensure that the housing concerns as well as interests of all are catered for.</p>