This study examines discursive assessment practices in a special school for girls identified with a disability in an Arabian-Gulf country. The study is driven by a notable absence of research on girls with disability in the Arab world, and the need for analysing practices that shape their identities and future trajectories. To disclose the mechanisms, processes, and tools influencing the coconstruction of girls' identities by members of a multidisciplinary team, I developed an analytic framework that draws on three theories: systemic functional linguistics, critical genre analysis and sociocultural theory of discourse and identity production. The main data source is the audio-record of conversations that took place at case-conference meetings (CCMs). To describe the genre of a CCM and to disclose what went on, who was involved, and what outcomes were achieved, I constructed three narratives: 'The most relevant thing about us', 'Much ado about everything', and 'Not so great expectations'. These narratives revealed the object, goals, and the outcomes of talk. With respect to the object of talk, or the knowledge underpinning assessment practices, there was much focus on girls' diagnostic histories and scores in IQ tests; they were given a high priority and perceived as key to understanding the girls. Analysis also revealed a resistance to move beyond dichotomous thinking (i.e. girls are either trainable or educable). The goals of talk were to pass on information, to share assessment results, and to list objectives for intervention, each practitioner within her domain of expertise. This mode of passing on - rather than - discussing information and assessment results limited the prospect to benefit from the distributed knowledge of practitioners. The outcomes of talk were mediated by the two preceding discursive actions. A preoccupation with girls' medical diagnosis, and a focus on passing on rather than discussing assessment reinforced deficit thinking. Further, categories assigned to girls stood as self-fulfilling prophesies, and as predictors of girls' future performance. The space to create more positive identities was evident, however, where practitioners knew little about girls' genetic or developmental disabilities. The implications of these objectifying practices are serious with respect to Gulf-Arabian countries and to similar Muslim sociocultural contexts. Perceiving diagnosis as the absolute truth feeds fatalistic beliefs further and results in inactivity and invisibility. Implications are offered for policy and practice and for future research.

The role of the principal can no longer be viewed as merely being a manager and administrator but rather as learning-expert and lifelong learner. Principals are expected to establish appropriate preconditions for effective teaching, learning and assessment, and flow through with interactions aimed at improving teaching and leaning. The problem statement for this study was based on the researcher’s opinion that the lack of knowledge of effective assessment practices by principals as instructional leaders seemed to have a negative influence on teacher’s perceptions of the implementation of quality assessment practices in their respective classrooms. The reason for this challenge is because principals are not involved in the classroom assessment practices, to revise, support and manage the quality of assessment by indentifying teacher’s assessment to them. The purpose of this study was to design a proposed instructional leadership model/ framework to ensure effective and quality assessment practices at school level. This ILQA framework/model was designed from the literature review, findings and personal experience as a principal. The aim of this ILQA framework/model was to support principals understand their roles in the teaching and learning environment in ensuring quality assessment practices at school level. This study investigates how principals execute their roles as instructional leaders in ensuring effective and the implementation of quality assessment practices using structured questionnaire from a sample of 250 respondents and semi structured interviews with five primary school principals in the Free State Department of Basic Education. It was found that to ensure quality assessment practices, principals should understand their role in assessment for learning, assessment of learning and assessment as learning and integrate them into classroom instruction as an important component of quality teaching and learning. In summary the researcher further hopes that when the findings and the recommendations of this study are implemented, it will add value to the school principals’ instructional leadership roles in ensuring quality assessment practices at school level. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The role of the principal can no longer be viewed as merely being a manager and administrator but rather as learning-expert and lifelong learner. Principals are expected to establish appropriate preconditions for effective teaching, learning and assessment, and flow through with interactions aimed at improving teaching and leaning. The problem statement for this study was based on the researcher’s opinion that the lack of knowledge of effective assessment practices by principals as instructional leaders seemed to have a negative influence on teacher’s perceptions of the implementation of quality assessment practices in their respective classrooms. The reason for this challenge is because principals are not involved in the classroom assessment practices, to revise, support and manage the quality of assessment by indentifying teacher’s assessment to them. The purpose of this study was to design a proposed instructional leadership model/ framework to ensure effective and quality assessment practices at school level. This ILQA framework/model was designed from the literature review, findings and personal experience as a principal. The aim of this ILQA framework/model was to support principals understand their roles in the teaching and learning environment in ensuring quality assessment practices at school level. This study investigates how principals execute their roles as instructional leaders in ensuring effective and the implementation of quality assessment practices using structured questionnaire from a sample of 250 respondents and semi structured interviews with five primary school principals in the Free State Department of Basic Education. It was found that to ensure quality assessment practices, principals should understand their role in assessment for learning, assessment of learning and assessment as learning and integrate them into classroom instruction as an important component of quality teaching and learning. In summary the researcher further hopes that when the findings and the recommendations of this study are implemented, it will add value to the school principals’ instructional leadership roles in ensuring quality assessment practices at school level. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Abstracts in English, Tswana, Venda and Tsonga / The study explored the significance of educator’s assessment practices for learners who experience barriers to learning within the senior phase in Tshwane North District. The goal of the study was to explore the challenges that affect educators’ assessment practices for learners experiencing barriers to learning within Senior Phase. The study used the conceptual system based on the framework recommended by Hargreaves, Earl, and Schmidt (2002). The framework comprised four viewpoints which incorporate technological, cultural, political, and post-modern measurements. The model is exceptionally accommodating in explaining and justifying educator’s assessment practices. A phenomenological case study design was adopted in this study. Qualitative data collection instruments were used to gather data. The participants included 4 educators, 4 Deputy Principals, 4 Institutional Level Support Team (ILST) Coordinators, and 4 School Assessment Team (SAT) Coordinators. In addition, the other participants from District Office included the Head of District Assessment Team (DAT) and the Head of the District Level Support Team (DLST). Content analysis was utilised to dissect the data which was gathered in the study. The study revealed various barriers that hinder assessment practices when assessing learners experiencing barriers to learning. Amongst others overcrowding, non-availability of resources, lack of training of educators in assessing learners experiencing barriers to learning, insufficient parental involvement, insufficient support from the ILST and the DLST emerged as factors which negatively affected educators’ assessment practices in inclusive education classrooms. The results in this study resulted in the development of a Comprehensive Inclusive Classroom Assessment Model (CICAM) for Senior Phase secondary school educators in Tshwane North District. The researcher developed a model which responds to the needs of learners experiencing barriers to learning so that their pedagogical and assessment needs are catered for adequately. The model showed the convergence of different stakeholders which are required on board for inclusive education assessment experience for educators and learners to be effective and efficient as well. It was recommended that inclusive assessment practices should be flexible and provide tailor-made assessment practices which accommodate all learners despite their diversity. In this regard it was further recommended that assessment in inclusive classrooms should be adapted to ensure that assessment practices address the pedagogical and psychological needs of all learners in the classroom. The researcher believes that legitimate and adequate training can provide educators with clarity around what is anticipated of when assessing learners who experience barriers to learning. One of the recommendations is that teacher development and an ongoing support from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) needs to become a priority. / Thutopatlisiso e lebeletse bomaleba jwa ditiragatso tsa tlhatlhobo tsa barutabana malebana le barutwana ba ba itemogelang dikgoreletsi tsa go ithuta mo Legatong le Legolwane, mo dikolong tsa sekontari mo Kgaolong ya Bokone jwa Tshwane. Maikemisetso a thutopatlisiso e ne e le go lebelela dikgwetlho tse di amang ditiragatso tsa tlhatlhobo tsa barutababa ba barutwana ba ba itemogelang dikgoreletsi tsa go ithuta mo Legatong le Legolwane. Thutopatlisiso e dirisitse tsamaiso ya dikakanyo, e e ikaegileng ka letlhomeo le le atlenegisitsweng ke Hargreaves, Earl le Schmidt (2002). Letlhomeso le na le dintlhapono di le nne, tse di akaretsang ditekanyetso tsa thekenoloji, setso, sepolotiki le morago ga sejwalejwale. Sekao se mosola thata mo go tlhaloseng le go amogela ditiragatso tsa tlhatlhobo tsa morutabana. Go dirisitswe thadiso ya thutopatlisiso ya kgetse ya ditiragalo mo thutopatlisisong eno. Go dirisitswe didiriswa tsa kokoanyo ya data tsa molebo o o lebelelang mabaka go kokoanya data. Banni-le-seabe ba akareditse barutabana ba le 4, batlatsabagokgo ba le 4, bagokaganyi ba setlhophatshegetso sa legato la setheo (ILST) ba le 4 le bagokaganyi ba setlhopha sa tlhatlhobo sa sekolo (SAT) ba le 4. Go tlaleletsa, go nnile le banni-le-seabe ba ba tlhophilweng go tswa kwa Kantorong ya Kgaolo, go akarediwa Tlhogo ya Setlhopha sa Tlhatlhobo sa Kgaolo (DAT) le Tlhogo ya Setlhophatshegetso sa Legato la Kgaolo (DLST). Go dirisitswe tokololo ya diteng go lokolola data e e kokoantsweng mo thutopatlisisong. Thutopatlisiso e senotse dikgoreletsi di le mmalwa tse di kgoreletsang ditiragatso tsa tlhatlhobo fa go tlhatlhobiwa barutwana ba ba itemogelang dikgoreletsi tsa go ithuta. Mo thutopatlisisong, go tlhageletse gore go tlala go feta tekano, go tlhokega ga ditlamelo, tlhaelo ya katiso ya barutabana ya tlhatlhobo ya barutwana ba ba itemogelang dikgoreletsi tsa go ithuta, go se nne le seabe go go lekaneng ga batsadi, le go se nne le tshegetso e e lekaneng go tswa go ILST le DLST ke dintlha dingwe tse di amang ditiragatso tsa tlhatlhobo tsa barutabana ka tsela e e sa siamang mo diphaposiborutelong tsa thuto tse di akaretsang botlhe. Dipholo tsa thutopatlisiso eno di dirile gore go tlhamiwe sekao se se akaretsang sa tlhatlhobo ya phaposiborutelo e e akaretsang botlhe (CICAM) go dirisiwa ke barutabana ba Legato le Legolwane mo dikolong tsa sekontari mo Kgaolong ya Bokone jwa Tshwane. Mmatlisisi o tlhamile sekao se se tsamaelanang le ditlhokego tsa barutwana ba ba itemogelang dikgoreletsi tsa go ithuta, gore ditlhokego tsa bona tsa thuto le tlhatlhobo di kgotsofadiwe mo go lekaneng. Sekao se bontshitse go kopana ga baamegi ba ba farologaneng, ba ba tlhokegang gore maitemogelo a tlhatlhobo ya thuto e e akaretsang botlhe e nne bokgoni le nonofo mo barutabaneng le mo barutwaneng. Go atlenegisitswe gore ditiragatso tsa tlhatlhobo e e akaretsang botlhe e tshwanetse go obega mme e tlamele ka ditiragatso tsa tlhatlhobo tse di diretsweng lebaka tse di tlaa amogelang barutwana, go sa kgathalesege dipharologano tsa bona. Mo ntlheng eno, go atlenegisitswe gape gore tlhatlhobo mo diphaposiborutelong tse di akaretsang botlhe e tshwanetse go fetolwa go netefata gore ditiragatso tsa tlhatlhobo di samagana le ditlhokego tsa thuto le tsa seemo sa tlhaloganyo tsa barutwana botlhe mo phaposiborutelong. Mmatlisisi o dumela gore katiso ya boamaaruri le e e lekaneng e ka sedimosa barutabana malebana le se ba tshwanetseng go se solofela fa ba tlhatlhoba barutwana ba ba itemogelang dikgoreletsi tsa go ithuta. Nngwe ya dikatlenegiso ke gore katiso ya barutabana le tlamelo ya tshegetso e e tswelelang pele go tswa kwa Lefapheng la Thuto ya Motheo (DBE) e nne setlapele. / Ngudo yo wanulusa ndeme ya nyito dza ndingo dza vhadededzi zwi tshi ya kha vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli zwa u guda kha Vhuimo ha Nṱha, zwikoloni zwa sekondari Tshiṱirikini tsha Tshwane Devhula. Tshipikwa tsha ngudo ho vha u wanulusa khaedu dzine dza kwama nyito dza ndingo dza vhadededzi kha vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli zwa u guda kha Vhuimo ha Nṱha. Ṱhoḓisiso yo shumisa sisiṱeme ya muṱalukanyo, yo ḓisendekaho nga furemiweke yo themendelwaho nga Vho Hargreaves, Earl na Schmidt (2002). Furemiweke yo bveledza mbonalo nṋa, dzine dza katela thekhinoḽodzhi, mvelele, poḽotiki, maga a nga murahu ha zwino. Tshiedziswa tshi shumiswa nga maanḓa kha u ṱalutshedza na u khwaṱhisedza nyito dza ndingo dza vhadededzi. Ho shumiswa maitele a zwiitei kha ngudo heyi. Zwishumiswa zwa u kuvhanganya data ya khwaḽithethivi zwo shumiswa u kuvhanganya data. Vhadzheneli hu katelwa vhadededzi vhaṋa, vhathusa ṱhoho dza zwikolo vhaṋa, vhapfananyi vhaṋa vha thimu ya thikhedzo kha ḽeveḽe ya tshiimiswa (ILST) na vhapfananyi vhaṋa vha thimu ya ndingo ya tshikolo (SAT). U ḓadzisa kha zwenezwo, ho vha na vhadzheneli vho nangwaho u bva Ofisini ya Tshiṱiriki, hu tshi katelwa Ṱhoho ya Thimu ya Ndingo dza Tshiṱiriki (DAT) na Ṱhoho ya Thimu ya Thikhedzo kha Ḽeveḽe ya Tshiṱiriki (DLST). Ho shumiswa musaukanyo wa maṅwalo u khethekanya data yo kuvhanganyiwaho kha ngudo iyi. Ṱhoḓisiso yo wanulusa uri zwithivheli zwinzhi zwine zwa thivhela nyito dza ndingo musi hu tshi khou lingiwa vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli kha u guda. Kha ngudo, ho wanuluswa uri u ḓalesa, u sa wanala ha zwishumiswa, u shaya vhugudisi kha vhadededzi kha u linga vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli zwa u guda, u sa ḓidzhenisa lwo linganaho nga vhabebi, na u sa wana thikhedzo yo fhelelaho kha ILST na DLST ndi zwiṅwe zwiṱaluli zwe zwa kwama lu si lwa vhuḓi nyito dza ndingo dza vhadededzi kiḽasini ya pfunzo yo katelaho vhagudiswa vhoṱhe. Mvelelo kha ngudo heyi dzo bveledza mveledziso ya tshiedziswa tsho fhelelaho tsha ndingo ya kiḽasi yo katelaho vhagudiswa vhoṱhe (CICAM) kha Vhuimo ha Nṱha, vhadededzi vha tshikolo tsha sekondari Tshiṱirikini tsha Tshwane Devhula. Muṱoḓisisi o bveledza tshiedziswa tshine tsha fhindula kha ṱhoḓea dza vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli zwa u guda, uri ṱhoḓea dzavho dza u funza na dza ndingo dzi katelwe nga nḓila yo teaho. Tshiedziswa tshi sumbedza u ṱanganelana ha vhadzhiamukovhe vho fhambanaho, hune ha ṱoḓea kha tshenzhelo ya pfunzo ya ndingo yo katelaho vhagudiswa vhoṱhe u vha yo teaho na u kona kha vhadededzi na vhagudiswa. Ho themendelwa uri nyito ya ndingo yo katelaho vhagudiswa vhoṱhe i tea u konisa na u ṋetshedza nyito dza ndingo dzo itelwaho ṱhoḓea dzine dza ḓo katela vhagudiswa vhoṱhe, zwi si na ndavha na u fhambana havho. Kha heḽi sia, ho dovha ha themendelwa hu tshi iswa phanḓa uri ndingo kha kiḽasi yo katelaho vhagudiswa vhoṱhe i fanela u khwiniswa u vhona zwauri nyito dza ndingo dzi khou fhindula ṱhoḓea dza u funza na dza muhumbulo kha vhana vhoṱhe vha re kiḽasini. Muṱoḓisisi u tenda kha uri u khwaṱha na vhugudisi ho teaho zwi nga ṋetshedza vhadededzi u vha khagala kha zwine zwa tea u lavhelelwa musi vha tshi linga vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli zwa u guda. Iṅwe ya themendelo ndi ya uri mveledziso ya mudededzi na mbetshelo ya thikhedzo i yaho phanḓa u bva kha Muhasho wa Pfunzo ya Mutheo (DBE) zwi fanela u dzhielwa nṱha. / Ndzavisiso wu valange vutivikani bya maendlelo ya makambelelo ya vadyondzisi hi mayelana na vadyondzi lava hlanganaka na swirhalanganyi eka ku dyondza eka Xiyimo xa le Henhla, eswikolweni swa sekondari eka Xifundzatsongo xa Tshwane-N'walungu. Xikongomelokulu xa ndzavisiso lowu a ku ri ku valanga mitlhontlho leyi yi khumbaka maendlelo ya makambelelo ya vadyondzisi ya vadyondzi lava hlanganaka na swirhalanganyi eka ku dyondza eka Xiyimo xa le Henhla. Ndzavisiso lowu wu tirhise sisiteme ya xinongoti, leyi simekiweke eka rimba leri bumabumeriweke hi Hargreaves, Earl na Schmidt (2002). Rimba leri ri vumbiwa hi mune wa mavonelo, lama ya katsaka mipimo ya swa thekinoloji, swa mfuwo, swa tipolitiki na swa le ndzhaku ka ximanguvalawa. Modlolo lowu wu pfuna hi ndlela ya kahle swinene eka ku hlamusela na ku tiyisisa maendlelo ya makambelelo ya vadyondzisi. Dizayini ya ndzavisiso wa mhaka ya ntivomichumu yi amukeriwile eka ndzavisiso lowu. Switirho swa nhlengeleto wa data ya risima swi tirhisiwile eka ku hlengeleta data. Vatekaxiave va katse 4 wa vadyondzisi, 4 wa swandla swa tinhloko ta swikolo, 4 wa vakondleteri va swipano swa nseketelo swa levhele ya nhlangano (ILST) na 4 wa vakondleteri va swipano swa makambelelo ya swikolo (SAT). Hi ku engetela, a ku ri na vatekaxiave kusuka eka Hofisi ya Xifundzatsongo, ku katsa na Nhloko ya Xipano xa Makambelelo ya Swifundzatsongo (DAT) na Nhloko ya Xipano xa Nseketelo wa Levhele ya Swifundzatsongo (DLST). Nxopaxopo wa vundzeni wu tirhisiwile eka ku tlhantlha data leyi a yi hlengeletiwile eka ndzavisiso lowu. Ndzavisiso wu paluxe swirhalanganyi swo hambanahambana leswi swi kavanyeteke maendlelo ya makambelelo loko ku kamberiwa vadyondzi lava hlanganaka na swirhalanganyi eka ku dyondza. Eka ndzavisiso lowu, swi tumbulukile leswaku ku tala kutlula mpimo, nkavukona wa swipfuno, mpfumaleko wa vuleteri bya vadyondzisi eka ku kambela vadyondzisi lava hlanganaka na swirhalanganyi eka ku dyondza, ku khumbeka ka vatswari loku nga ringanelangiki, na nseketelo lowu nga ringanelangiki kusuka eka ILST na DLST a ku ri swin'wana swa swiphemu leswi khumbaka hi ndlela yo homboloka maendlelo ya makambelelo ya vadyondzisi eka tikamara to dyondzela ta dyondzo to katsa hinkwavo. Mivuyelo eka ndzavisiso yi tumbuluxe nhluvukiso wa modlolo wa makambelelo ya kamara ro dyondzela ro katsa hinkwavo ro katsakanya (CICAM) eka Xiyimo xa le Henhla, vadyondzisi va le swikolweni swa sekondari eka Xifundzatsongo xa Tshwane-N'walungu. Mulavisisi u hluvukise modlolo lowu wu angulaka eka swidingo swa vadyondzi lava hlanganaka na swirhalanganyi eka ku dyondza, ku endlela leswaku swidingo swa vona swa madyondziselo na swa makambelelo swi tirhiwa hi ndlela yo ringanela. Modlolo lowu wu kombe nhlangano wa vakhomaxiave vo hambanahambana, lava va lavekaka eka ntokoto wa makambelelo ya dyondzo yo katsa hinkwavo leswaku yi tirha kahle na ku nga tlangisi swipfuno eka vadyondzisi na vadyondzi. Ku bumabumeriwile leswaku maendlelo ya makambelelo yo katsa hinkwavo ya fanele ku cincacinceka na ku nyika maendlelo ya makambelelo lama endleriweke xikongomelo xolexo lama nga ta amukela vadyondzi hinkwavo, hambiloko ku ri na ku hambana. Eka mhaka leyi, ku tlhele ku bumabumeriwa leswaku makambelelo eka tikamara to dyondzela to katsa hinkwavo ya fanele fambelanisiwa ku tiyisisa leswaku maendlelo ya makambelelo ya tirhana na swidingo swa madyondziselo na swa le miehleketweni swa vadyondzi hinkwavo lava nga ekamareni ro dyondzela. Mulavisisi u kholwa leswaku vuleteri lebyi amukelekaka na ku va byo ringanela byi nga kota ku nyika vadyondzisi ntwisiso hi mayelana na leswi swi faneleke ku languteriwa loko ku kamberiwa vadyondzi lava hlanganaka na swirhalanganyi eka dyondza. Xin'wana xa swibumabumelo hi leswaku nhluvukiso wa vadyondzisi na ku nyikiwa ka nseketelo lowu yaka emahlweni kusuka eka Ndzawulo ya Dyondzo ya Masungulo (DBE) swi fanele ku rhangisiwa emahlweni. / Inclusive Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)