This diploma thesis deals with poverty and social exclusion in the context of education, on both a theoretical and empirical level. The theoretical part provides a comprehensive picture of the phenomena of poverty, social exclusion and low-income families and then shows them towards education. The theoretical basis of the protection of families and children is also clarified in this part. The text focuses in detail on the specifics of the schooling of students from low-income families in Most, this focus is then extended by a qualitative data survey in the practical part. The research report provides interpretation of data from interviews with primary school pupils in Most, whose families meet the poverty risk attributes. The results of the practical part capture the student's perception of their educational careers. The results of research interviews are then confronted with the conclusions of the research reports mentioned in the theoretical part. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

« L'École au centre de la vie de la " communauté " ». La politique éducative sud-africaine a fait de ce slogan un moteur pour remédier aux inégalités scolaires héritées de l'apartheid au moyen de la gestion décentralisée des écoles. Mais comment répondre à cette injonction dans un pays où la notion de « communauté » est associée à la politique d'apartheid et où, à l'ère démocratique, les clivages sociaux et spatiaux restent forts ? Cette recherche déconstruit d'abord la notion de « communauté » et propose une analyse sous l'angle du lien social pour la dissocier de son contenu idéologique. À partir de l'étude ethnographique d'une bourgade rurale du KwaZulu-Natal, « racialement » et socialement mixte, elle explore les liens sociaux à l’œuvre. Après avoir mis en évidence l'existence d'un quasi-marché scolaire, la thèse montre, à travers les stratégies des écoles et les pratiques des parents, comment l'École vient consolider, maintenir ou fragiliser le lien social et œuvrer ou pas à « faire communauté ». / "Schools as centres of community life". The South African educational policy has used this motto as a driving force to reduce educational inequalities inherited from the apartheid era by decentralising governance at school level. In a country where the idea of "community" is linked to apartheid and where social and spatial cleavages remain strong in the democratic era, to what extent is it possible to achieve this goal? This research first deconstructs the notion of "community" and presents an analysis structured around the notion of social link, thus dissociating the concept of "community" from its ideological content. Based on an ethnographic study conducted in a "racially" and socially mixed rural town in KwaZulu-Natal, this research explores the social links at work. The thesis first reveals the emergence of a quasi-market situation among schools and then looks at schools' strategies and parental practices to show how the school system strengthens, maintains or weakens the social link and contributes or not to "fostering a sense of community".

L’éducation et la formation sont des institutions centrales de notre société. Garantes de l’intégration sociale et professionnelle des individus, elles ont aussi été érigées en piliers stratégiques du dynamisme économique dans la « société de la connaissance » (CE, 2000). Pour autant, bien que porteuses des valeurs démocratiques, elles sont le lieu d’observation de nombreuses inégalités, tant en formation initiale que professionnelle. Dans un contexte de précarisation du marché du travail, où le diplôme est nécessaire mais ne semble plus suffire pour assurer une intégration professionnelle stable, l’essor des Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) questionne. À partir d’une enquête mixte longitudinale, cette recherche s’est attachée à répondre à la problématique générale suivante : dans quelle mesure l’égalité formelle d’accès aux MOOC se traduit-elle par une égalité des chances pour les individus de les utiliser, d’y réussir et d’en tirer des bénéfices (objectifs et subjectifs) ? Cette étude des usages sociaux des MOOC et de leurs effets dans les trajectoires individuelles a été réalisée à partir de l’analyse de 5709 réponses d’inscrits au sein de 12 MOOC de France Université Numérique (FUN), réinterrogés un an plus tard (n=1778), et de 32 entretiens. Arguant en faveur d’une reproduction sociale des inégalités d’accès, les résultats montrent que l’égalité formelle d’accès ne suffit pas à une appropriation par tous de ces ressources. Ces usages restent principalement le fait d’individus détenant un capital humain élevé, bénéficiant d’une « insertion professionnelle assurée » (Paugam, 2007[2000]), coutumiers de la formation professionnelle et ayant d’intenses pratiques culturelles. Plus qu’une nouvelle voie d’accès à la formation, les MOOC semblent constituer un moyen supplémentaire, nécessitant des prérequis implicites. Pour autant, la construction d’une typologie d’usage a permis de mettre au jour que les MOOC peuvent constituer, même pour ces derniers, une réelle opportunité de formation. Majoritairement saisis dans un rapport a priori désintéressé de loisirs culturels, ils sont aussi utilisés pour satisfaire des objectifs formatifs variés. Ces six registres d’usage sont par ailleurs plus faiblement déterminés. L’évaluation de la réussite, lorsque les critères de l’achèvement et de la certification sont pertinents, met en évidence, pour ces individus favorisés, une égalité des chances d’y parvenir. Bien que ces usages sociaux n’aient, à court terme, aucun effet objectivable sur les trajectoires socio-professionnelles, ils sont porteurs de bénéfices plus subjectifs. Selon les particularités et la temporalité des « parcours biographiques » (Bourdon, 2010), ils participent au développement des identités personnelles et professionnelles ainsi qu’à une amélioration du vécu de certaines transitions. Loin de concurrencer en France le rôle des diplômes dans les parcours sociaux, les MOOC semblent plutôt en constituer un nouveau halo et participer à l’avènement d’une ère du signalement tout au long de la vie. / Education and vocational training are central institutions in today’s society. They play an important role in guaranteeing people’s social and professional integration. They are also considered strategic pillars of economic growth in “the knowledge society” (CE, 2000). However, despite their basis in democratic values and principles, there are still many inequalities in access and outcomes in both compulsory academic and vocational education. Moreover, because of the increasing flexibility and insecurity of work in the current labor market, a diploma is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for stable employment. In this context, the rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) raises questions about their contribution to the educational aims of equality and efficacy. Based on a mixed-methods approach, this thesis addresses the following research problem: To what extent does the formal equality of MOOC give people equal opportunities to use them, succeed in them, and earn tangible and subjective benefits? The analyses are carried out on data collected from 5709 people enrolled in 12 MOOC on the FUN platform, interviewed again one year later (n=1778), and on 32 interviews. Results show that the use of MOOC seems to reproduce social inequalities in educational access. Indeed, the people who enroll already have high levels of human capital and highly stable and qualified employment; furthermore, they are accustomed to professional training and have intense cultural practices. Rather than acting as a new way to access education and training for underserved people, MOOC seem to be a new resource for privileged individuals, and access to them appears to require implicit prerequisites. However, the typology of MOOC uses shows that even for these people, MOOC can be an additional training opportunity. Mainly used for disinterested purposes, such as “edutainment” or cultural interest, they are also real training and educational supports. Nevertheless, these types of uses are not strongly determined. When achievement and certification are used as indicators to assess the success of these social uses, results show no social inequalities in outcomes. However, at least in the short term, participating in a MOOC does not have any tangible impact on professional careers: Rather, their effects are subjective. Considering the “biographical path” of these people (Bourdon, 2010), I find that they use MOOC both to sustain individual and professional identities and to facilitate social transitions. Instead of competing with the role played by diplomas in France, MOOC seem to be a new “halo” of these educational credentials, participating in the development of the need to acquire skills throughout one’s career and reinforcing the trend towards life-long learning.

Austria's aim to provide equitable education to its citizens is an ongoing process. In 1747 a decree opened schools to all children. From 1891 to 1941 schooling was compulsory for children between 6 and 14. In 1955 the Austrian Constitution guaranteed Austrian minority groups equal access to education. In 1966 and 1976 legislation further guaranteed minority groups' right to be taught in their home language subject to certain provisos. Currently minority groups are supposed to be taught in their horne language for the frrst three years of school and school is compulsory for nine years. This study wished to establish whether minority groups are, in fact, provided with education as provided for by law, and examined the situation in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada as well. If Austria is successful, Zimbabwe or South Africa could adapt her policies in their educational situation. / Educational Leadership and Management / M Ed. (Educational Management)

The thesis deals with the topic of poverty and social exclusion in the context of education on the theoretical and empirical level. The theoretical part of the thesis concentrates on summary of poverty and social exclusion. It specifies the fundamental definitions, concepts and causes of its formation. Further, the thesis deals with the risks in the context of education, concentrates on government strategies, educational policy and institutions in the Czech Republic. Also, it describes the situation in the Czech Republic and concentrates on the demographic development of the Praha- západ county. The aim of the thesis is to find out how the social workers of Městský Úřad Černošice reflect poverty and social exclusion and whether it has any influence on school results. As far as the empirical part of the thesis is concerned, it contains qualitative research based on interviews with the social workers. The content of the interviews is based on the content analysis of the topics in the theoretical part of the thesis. Key words: poverty, social exclusion, child protection, equal access to education, risk behavior, education policy, district Prague-west

The focus of this research is bridging the achievement gap for students living in poverty through quality education. Such a study is important because the percentage of students affected by poverty is increasing and the persistent gap in achievement evidences that the right to quality education for students in poverty is not being met. This is mixed-methods study of three high-poverty elementary schools in Idaho. Both quantitative (achievement test scores) and qualitative data (interviews of seventeen teachers and principals) are compared and contrasted. The findings provide evidence that quality education for students in poverty requires relatable curriculum, teachers who are knowledgeable and caring, and a school environment where social-emotional needs are addressed. Quality teachers deliver instruction and provide interventions for student based on individual needs. Loving, caring, and consistent teachers and administrators are a determining factor for success by providing a safe and stable environment for students and staff. Other findings show families have great influence on children and their ability to succeed. Participants felt that supporting families will, in turn, support student achievement. This dissertation recommends the following: (a) a stronger emphasis on teacher quality including competency in content, pedagogy, and dispositions of a caring, quality teacher; (b) a focus on social-emotional needs of student in poverty; (c) the establishment of consistent staff and leadership in schools with high rates of poverty, and (d) a concentration towards building relationships between school staff and families in order to support families in poverty as they strive for their children's academic achievement.

This study, in the main, focuses on the racial imbalances and inequities that characterised South African education between 1965 and 1992. A historical background of the South African educational system as well as an account on the apartheid ideology and its impact on education is presented. For the four principle racial groups in South Africa, namely, the Africans, Indians, Whites and Coloureds, a historicaleducational survey of the imbalances and inequities prevalent in pre-primary, school-based and post-secondary education in respect of access to education, financing of education, and human and physical resources is given. As a way forward, some recommendations for the redressing of the imbalances and inequities identified in this study are presented. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (History of Education)

Depuis la loi du 11 février 2005 pour « l’égalité des droits et des chances, la participation et la citoyenneté des personnes handicapées », l’École s’est engagée sur la voie de l’inclusion des élèves en situation de handicap. Pour répondre à la nécessité de rendre accessibles les apprentissages à ces élèves, l'Education Nationale finance notamment du « matériel pédagogique adapté ». Plus spécifiquement, la possibilité offerte aux élèves dyslexiques de contourner ou de surmonter leurs difficultés en langage écrit grâce à l’utilisation d’aides technologiques ouvre de nouvelles perspectives d’apprentissage et d’enseignement mais suscite aussi bon nombre d’interrogations. Au coeur de notre thèse qui s’inscrit dans ce contexte, nous conduisons une étude sur l’efficacité des outils de compensation attribués aux élèves dyslexiques et dysorthographiques scolarisés dans le second degré, corrélée à leurs contextes d’usage et d’appropriation. Le recours à deux démarches, l’une expérimentale, comprenant des tests de lecture et d’écriture, et l’autre compréhensive, combinant les questionnaires et les entretiens semidirigées, permet d’aborder les phénomènes et les enjeux qui s’opèrent dans l’utilisation des outils informatiques par les adolescents dyslexiques dans le cadre de leur apprentissage de la lecture et de l’écriture en classe ordinaire. Par l’analyse et le croisement de l’ensemble des données recueillies, nous tentons de décrire les facteurs personnels et environnementaux qui sous-tendent la réalisation du projet de compensation et de mettre en lumière les obstacles et les facilitateurs à l’utilisation efficace des aides technologiques. L’approche de la complexité des processus et des interactions en jeu dans la mise en oeuvre du projet de compensation nous permet finalement d’exposer quels sont les leviers fondamentaux et indispensables à un usage efficient des outils informatiques en classe par les élèves dyslexiques-dysorthographiques mais aussi de proposer les axes dominants d’un contexte éducatif inclusif susceptible de soutenir leur usage. / Since the act of February 11, 2005 on equal rights and opportunities and the inclusion and citizenship of the disabled was passed, French schools have embarked on the path of the inclusion of pupils with disabilities. To respond to the need of making learning accessible to these pupils, the French Education system does finance some appropriate educational learning materials. More precisely, the opportunity for dyslexic pupils to avoid or overcome the difficulties with written language thanks to new technologies opens up new prospects for learning and teaching but also raises concerns.At the very core of this thesis lies the study I have carried out on the effectiveness of those compensatory tools given to dyslexic and dysorthographic pupils in secondary education depending on the way they use these tools and become familiar with them. Two different approaches have been used, one being experimental including reading and writing tests and the other one being comprehensive combining questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Both have permitted to identify the phenomena and the issues related to those pupils’ use of computer tools when they learn how to read and write in a mainstream class. By analysing and crossing data, I have tried to describe the personal and environmental factors which lead to the successful completion of the compensatory project and to identify the barriers but also the facilitators leading to a more effective use of these technological tools.Examining the complexity of the processes and the interactions involved in a compensatory project not only helps to identify key leverage actions to enhance the effectiveness of the use of computer tools but also permits to define priority axes to create an inclusive learning environment that is most likely to support this usage.

The aim of this study was to investigate the implementation and sustainability of Free Primary Education (FPE) in Swaziland in terms of the interplay between policy and practice. The study was undertaken in four schools in the Manzini region of Swaziland. The schools were purposively sampled on the basis of their location. The participants consisted of the head teacher, a teacher and a parent, and six learners from each of the schools. Two Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) officials were also included; a regional inspector for primary schools stationed at the Manzini Regional Education Offices (REOs) and a senior official stationed at MoET headquarters. A qualitative approach and a case study design were used. The participants were interviewed using semi-structured interview schedules, while the learners were engaged in focus group interviews at each school which were conducted according to a focus group interview schedule. Documents were also used as data sources. Data was analysed using a thematic and document analysis approach. The findings revealed a disconnection between policy and practice. FPE implementers are not well versed on the policies they are supposed to implement as they were not included in the policy-making process. Moreover, no consideration had been given to the legal framework underpinning FPE. It was found that the sustainability of FPE is threatened by certain indirect costs of schooling as well as the top-up fees that are being charged illegally by some schools, resulting in some learners dropping out of school – defeating the purpose of FPE and violating their right to access education. It would appear that the most contentious issue for FPE in Swaziland is the top-fee, although the head teachers were of the view that the FPE grant paid by government is inadequate for running schools and therefore top-up fees are necessary. Problems were also identified with the embezzling of school funds by head teachers. These issues have led to tension between schools and the MoET / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

The aim of this study was to investigate the implementation and sustainability of Free Primary Education (FPE) in Swaziland in terms of the interplay between policy and practice. The study was undertaken in four schools in the Manzini region of Swaziland. The schools were purposively sampled on the basis of their location. The participants consisted of the head teacher, a teacher and a parent, and six learners from each of the schools. Two Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) officials were also included; a regional inspector for primary schools stationed at the Manzini Regional Education Offices (REOs) and a senior official stationed at MoET headquarters. A qualitative approach and a case study design were used. The participants were interviewed using semi-structured interview schedules, while the learners were engaged in focus group interviews at each school which were conducted according to a focus group interview schedule. Documents were also used as data sources. Data was analysed using a thematic and document analysis approach. The findings revealed a disconnection between policy and practice. FPE implementers are not well versed on the policies they are supposed to implement as they were not included in the policy-making process. Moreover, no consideration had been given to the legal framework underpinning FPE. It was found that the sustainability of FPE is threatened by certain indirect costs of schooling as well as the top-up fees that are being charged illegally by some schools, resulting in some learners dropping out of school – defeating the purpose of FPE and violating their right to access education. It would appear that the most contentious issue for FPE in Swaziland is the top-fee, although the head teachers were of the view that the FPE grant paid by government is inadequate for running schools and therefore top-up fees are necessary. Problems were also identified with the embezzling of school funds by head teachers. These issues have led to tension between schools and the MoET. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)