The dissertation is ccncemed with the values iasue in the South African context, a multicultural education situation. South Africa is a plu~Hstfc society. Being pluralistic, means that 1he country is rich in different cultures, belief· and value systems. Different cultures haw different value systems. If an Institution is practising multicultural education, the question is, which values are to be used? If we say Ule institution should use the values of the majority culture, wiU 1hat not disadvantage minority cultures? ff minority cultures are undennined by neglecting their cultures won't that cause conflict between minority cultures and the majority culture? Each society that Is implementing multicultural education should consider that there are common human values and partia.dar values. In multicultural education particular values are important because they show how a particulat group behaves and what its beliefs and culture are. Common values dewlap from particular values and teachers must emphasise common values without neglecting particular values, to encourage tolerance and acceptance between different groups. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education))

Multicultural education has its goals and objectives focused to meet the needs of all learners from different cultural backgrounds. Our teaching strategies need to be flexible to accommodate suggestions to enhance optimal actualisation of the potential of all learners. One of the major problems that exist in multicultural schools is the presentation of low self-concepts by Zulu-speaking adolescents. A self-concept enhancement programme was considered as a possible technique to build positive self-concepts in these learners. Pre-test and post-test results indicate that the Self-Concept Enhancement Programme (SEP) may be one of the ways of building positive self-concept in Zuluspeaking adolescents in multicultural schools. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.(with specialisation in Guidance and Counseling)

Multicultural education has its goals and objectives focused to meet the needs of all learners from different cultural backgrounds. Our teaching strategies need to be flexible to accommodate suggestions to enhance optimal actualisation of the potential of all learners. One of the major problems that exist in multicultural schools is the presentation of low self-concepts by Zulu-speaking adolescents. A self-concept enhancement programme was considered as a possible technique to build positive self-concepts in these learners. Pre-test and post-test results indicate that the Self-Concept Enhancement Programme (SEP) may be one of the ways of building positive self-concept in Zuluspeaking adolescents in multicultural schools. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.(with specialisation in Guidance and Counseling)

PhD (African Languages) / Centre for African Languages / See the attached abstract below

Race, ethnicity and culture have been a central theme in South African history, and while not disregarding the recent socio-political changes, many South Africans of different races continue to lead essentially different lives. Public schools are becoming more racially and culturally integrated and it is important that this leads to incisive change and not merely altering the racial demographics of the learner and educator bodies. Culture in South Africa is dynamic and the values and norms of members of a particular group are in a state of flux. Moreover, the shift from a traditional teacher-centred curriculum to an outcomes-based curriculum in South African education means that the teacher is encouraged to accept each learner in the culturally diverse classroom as an individual, who brings a unique life experience into the classroom and contributes to learning in the context. The learner's cultural background, family and community should be considered in both the selection of learning material and in classroom interaction. This study investigates the South African adolescent's perspective of culture by means of a literature review, a photographic essay and an empirical investigation using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The literature review expanded on the concepts of race, culture and ethnicity. Topics relating to the life in Johannesburg that adolescents perceived as significant were commented on in the photographic essay. Thereafter, adolescent learners from two ex-model C schools in Johannesburg were selected as participants in the empirical research. The quantitative research considered aspects such as learner prejudice, ethnic group preference and the value attached to cultural traditions using questionnaires and sociograms as data gathering methods. The qualitative phase used focus group discussions using as a stimulus a posed photograph of a racially diverse group of learners engaged in a group activity. Learners were selected, for the focus discussion groups, on the basis of the results of the sociogram used in the quantitative phase. Findings showed that learners regard diversity as a resource although evidence suggests that black learners are moving away from traditional cultural practices. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical inquiry recommendations for the improvement of practice are made. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Socio-Education)

Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Orthpedagogics)

Race, ethnicity and culture have been a central theme in South African history, and while not disregarding the recent socio-political changes, many South Africans of different races continue to lead essentially different lives. Public schools are becoming more racially and culturally integrated and it is important that this leads to incisive change and not merely altering the racial demographics of the learner and educator bodies. Culture in South Africa is dynamic and the values and norms of members of a particular group are in a state of flux. Moreover, the shift from a traditional teacher-centred curriculum to an outcomes-based curriculum in South African education means that the teacher is encouraged to accept each learner in the culturally diverse classroom as an individual, who brings a unique life experience into the classroom and contributes to learning in the context. The learner's cultural background, family and community should be considered in both the selection of learning material and in classroom interaction. This study investigates the South African adolescent's perspective of culture by means of a literature review, a photographic essay and an empirical investigation using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The literature review expanded on the concepts of race, culture and ethnicity. Topics relating to the life in Johannesburg that adolescents perceived as significant were commented on in the photographic essay. Thereafter, adolescent learners from two ex-model C schools in Johannesburg were selected as participants in the empirical research. The quantitative research considered aspects such as learner prejudice, ethnic group preference and the value attached to cultural traditions using questionnaires and sociograms as data gathering methods. The qualitative phase used focus group discussions using as a stimulus a posed photograph of a racially diverse group of learners engaged in a group activity. Learners were selected, for the focus discussion groups, on the basis of the results of the sociogram used in the quantitative phase. Findings showed that learners regard diversity as a resource although evidence suggests that black learners are moving away from traditional cultural practices. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical inquiry recommendations for the improvement of practice are made. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Socio-Education)

Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Orthpedagogics)

Multicultural education is only one of the major changes, which have occurred since the inception of the new democracy in South Africa. However, this inevitable change has resulted in many challenges for both educators and educational institutions. A literature study was done to discuss and clarity concepts of multicultural education, culture, race, ethnicity, bias and anti-bias. The perspectives, principles and history of multicultural education in the United States of America, Britain and South Africa were also investigated. An exploratory study, using a qualitative research design, was done to investigate educators' viewpoints on multicultural education in schools. The results of the investigation indicate that there is a lack of tolerance in schools and that educators require training and intervention strategies to help them cope with the changes in a multicultural education system in South Africa. Recommendations regarding training and policy implementation were discussed and intervention strategies for educators have been given. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / In die verlede het matrikulante van Tswanaskole in die Noord-Kaap oor die algemeen nie goeie uitslae verkry nte. Politieke onstabiliteit wat tot klasboikotte aanleiding gegee het, was as een van die hoofredes aangevoer. Die hoofoorsaak van hierdie navorsing is om die rol van kultuur wat tot swak prestasie lei, te bepaal. Met behulp van literatuurstudie is bepaal dat daar 'n noue verband tussen onderwys/opvoeding, volwassenheid en kultuur bestaan. Geen mens kan volwassenheid bereik sonder opvoeding nie en verskillende kulture het verskillende kriteria vir volwassenheid. Die skole in Suid-Mrika is oop vir alle rassegroepe en die gevolg is dat 'n verskeidenheid van kultuurgroepe in een klaskamer onderrig ontvang. Om kontlik en misverstande in die klaskamersituasie te voorkom, kan van multikulturele onderwys gebruik gemaak word. Met die empiriese ondersoek is deur middel van vraelyste en onderhoude probeer vasstel watter kultuuraspekte 'n rol speel in die swak akademiese prestasies onder Tswana-matrikulante. Die medium van onderrig is 'n probleem in 'n multikulturele land waar dit soms, tot nadeel van die kind, onprakties is om moedertaalonderrig toe te pas. Wat Engels as medium van onderrig betref, is dit problematies vir baie Tswanas in die Noord-Kaap wat voorskools min met Engels in kontak kom. Wat die kultuur-historiese aspekte betref, is die Tswanas trots op hulself en wil graag kontak maak met ander kultuurgroepe en meer van hulle leer. Sosiaal-ekonomies woon baie Tswanas as uitgebreide gesinne in klein huise. Onderwysers sal professioneel moet optree in die uitvoering van hulle pligte. Leerlinge sal verantwoordelikheid moet erken vir hulle dade en saam sal beide onderwysers en leerlinge moet bou aan die skep van 'n leerkultuur by die skool. / Matriculants from Tswana schools in the Northern Cape generally have been achieving poor results. Political instability leading to class boycots has been regarded as one of the main reasons. The main reason for this research is to determine the role played by culture in the achievement of poor results. A literature survey has indicated that there is a close interrelationship between education/ upbringing, adulthood and culture. A human being cannot reach adulthood without education and different cultures have different criteria for maturity. Schools in South Africa are open to all race groups which results in a variety of cultural groups receiving education in the same classroom. To avoid misunderstandings and conflicts in the classroom, multicultural education may be used. With the empirical investigation by means of questionnaires and interviews an attempt is made to determine which cultural aspects play a role in the poor academic results achieved by Tswana matriculants. The medium of instruction is a problem in a multi-cultural country where it is sometimes impractical to apply mother tongue education. As far as English as medium of instruction is concerned, it is problematic for many Tswanas in the Northern Cape as they are seldom exposed to it during their pre-school years. As far as the cultural-historical aspects are concerned, the Tswana is a proud people who gladly make contact with and want to learn from other cultures. Socio-economically many Tswanas live as e..'Ctended families in small dwellings. Educators will have to act professionaly in the execution of their duties. Pupils will have to accept responsibility for their actions and build, with the teachers, a cultUre of learning at every school. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Historiese Opvoedkunde)