M.Ed. / The adult in today's society, is increasingly aware of his/her shortcomings regarding existing training skills and knowledge structures, as well as the need to supplement or refresh in order to keep up with demands. Conventional training methods alone cannot supply in the demand for competent educators to train the increasing number of adult learners, with their unique needs and approach to learning. The purpose of the study is the design of a self-study module as a possible training method for adult educators, as it is regarded as a cost-effective method to develop these educators by means of distance education and due to its availability regardless of their socio-economic background of the prospective educators. A study of literature and descriptive research was conducted to determine the structure and requirements of a selfstudy module. Relevant models of training program design were also studied. The information obtained was used to develop a selfstudy module dealing with the designing of training programs for adult learners, based on the Wheeler/KrUger model (1979). The following issues were addressed in the selfstudy module: A situation analysis, the planning of learning experiences for these adult learners, the setting of goals and objectives, the selection of teaching and learning opportunities, the development of teaching strategies, and evaluation of the training program. The selfstudy module is preceded by a short pretest for the prospective adult ducator. Each topic is succeeded by a selftest to assist the adult educator in determining his/her progress. On completion of the module he/she should be equipped to design a training program for adult learners. Although the designed module has not been tested, the conclusion could be made that selfstudy modules as a teaching method could supply in the demand for educators of adults. Self study modules seem specially appropriate in the South African setting with its geographically scattered society and varying academic and economic backgrounds.

M.Ed. / The building and construction industry is currently hampered by an unacceptably high number of incidents (accidents) which occur in the industry yearly. This results in huge financial and labour losses. Training of workers in occupational health and safety could address some of the causes of these incidents (accidents). In order to provide relevant and effective training for this industry their training needs regarding occupational health and safety training need to be determined. Based on these needs guidelines could be set to ensure the development of applicable training. In this study the needs of the building and construction industry is determined from which the researcher provides guidelines for curriculum development. The first chapter provides an introductory orientation to the study and provides an overview of incidents (accidents) in the building and construction industry. Chapter two is devoted to a literature study of occupational health and safety. Chapter three consists of a literature study with the aim to provide parameters for the empirical research component in the study. In chapter four the empirical data, collected by means of qualitative research, is analysed. Chapter five relates the findings of the study to the theory of curriculum development. In conclusion chapter six consists of conclusions and recommended guidelines for the development of an occupational health and safety curriculum for the building and construction industry, which forms the product of this study. The value of this study is that the guidelines provided are the result of empirical qualitative research conducted with various role-players in the building and construction industry. Therefore the results are the perceptions and opinions of the role-players in the industry and not the direct assumptions of the researcher.

D.Ed. / The training and development opportunities available in Human Resources in a country play an important role regarding the growth and progress of such a country and its people. The parameters wherein training and development is conducted determine to a large extend the direction the country takes towards the efficient productivity of individuals. In South Africa, in the past, the political system of apartheid, which created unequal opportunities between different races, played a major adverse role in the education and training facilities of its employable population. As a result common education standards became a victim of political expediency, and the school system created a forum of unequal education. After research conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council in 1980 to investigate the education system in South Africa it was concluded that it is impossible to implement a system focussed on equal quality education overnight. It is not until after the first multi-cultural election in the history of South Africa in 1994 that this situation started changing. The National Qualifications Framework and The South African Qualifications Authority was established. That brought about major change in the education and training system in the country, and it also shifted the emphasis to lifelong learning. It became apparent that for the quickest beneficial results a program of adult education had to be initiated to work hand in hand with the more gradual development of equal education at undergraduate levels. The shift that needs to be made from the traditional school system to the training of adults is however a difficult one. Adult education is not yet established in South Africa.

D.Ed. / The question arises whether the present system of apprentice education in the Republic of South Africa is in pace with the current technological development or whether the present system is in pace with the changing educational needs and demands of learners. It is important to mention that no provision is made for accreditation of learner experience during screening tests, to determine whether the learner has the necessary admission qualification to be appointed as apprentice. The possibility of combining distance education with contact education in order to provide support (contact) to the learner, should be investigated. The question proceeding from the previous one is whether the emphasis should not fall on the mastering of a number of selective skills rather than the completion of the prescribed number of weeks of practical education. Besides, the present system is so complex that practical instruction is not possible at more than one institution. From the above, it is concluded that the present education system for tradesmen (is not sensitive enough with regard to) does not comply with the unique needs and problems of adult learners. There are mainly two groups of learners in the electrical trade that are handicapped to pass the final electrician trade test due to the present training system. The first group consists of persons who want to change their profession because they have become redundant or have reached a point of saturation in terms of stimulation or promotion in their particular profession. People who want to start their own business and who consequently want to receive training to make a success of it can also be classified in this group. These two groups of learners are respectively referred to as vocational changing and vocational facilitating learners. The second group of learners became educators due to a shortage of educators, without the necessary trade qualification. They do have a professional teaching qualification but they lack the practical experience especially with regard to the electrical trade. This group is referred to as the instructional learners. If the former group of learners can receive a trade qualification it can change their role of job hunters to job creators and improve their chances of getting fixed posts. The instructional group will, by obtaining a trade qualification, improve their professional qualifications and thus secure their posts. The first-mentioned learners reveal the same needs and problems with study as experienced by adult learners. Consequently, they give up their studies because traditional education at technical colleges and Technisa is mainly reserved, especially with regard to their needs and demands to the instructional-learner situation. This reservation can mainly be attributed to the fact that they do not get the opportunity to study at their own pace and that their study experience (mainly with regard to the electrical trade) is not taken into account, nor accredited in terms of subjects or modules already passed during the training situation. Different aspects are identified in the present electrician education system in the Republic of South Africa which indicate that the present education system should be reconsidered and where possible adapted to accommodate the first-mentioned groups. It thus seems possible to address these aspects by combining contact instruction at technical colleges and distance instruction at Technisa in order to promote the quality of training of especially the adult learner. Such components include a modular instructional system which can, together with a study guide, accompany the learner step by step through the electrical trade so that (s)he knows exactly what is expected of him/her. It also includes the component of reduced contact time. Communication is improved and the learner gets the opportunity to discuss problems. The study experience of the learner, especially concerning the electrical trade, can be-compiled by means of a portfolio. It is arranged in such a way that it indicates similarities and shortcomings in terms of the prescribed electrical trade criteria as contained in the National Qualifications Framework. On account of this portfolio, the learner can be referred to further training, or further job experience via the process of accreditation. Consequently, to enable the vocational changing, vocational facilitating and the instructional groups of learners to qualify as electrician trade persons, a combined contact and distance education programme is proposed for the purpose of this study. The guidelines to the framework of such an education programme include the following: a modular training system, a study guide, decreased contact time, a portfolio and accreditation procedure.