M. Tech. (Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology| / The lack of electricity in off-grid rural communities in South Africa (SA) and Africa as well as the budget constraints on these communities restrict these communities from connecting to any online resources (internet and e-books) for educational purposes, thus creating a major contributor to the global digital divide. Renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy and biomass were presented as potential alternatives to grid-connected electricity for remote rural locations. Solar energy was identified as the amply available alternative energy resource in SA. Solar radiation was converted by photovoltaic technology to electricity. National power grid isolation (off-grid) was achieved by using a stand-alone photovoltaic system. Photovoltaic technology classification, material categorisation and system sizing for an e-learning centre was presented. Practical set-ups were utilised to determine the most cost-effective equipment mix of power utilization, power management/storage and ICT equipment to build a pilot e-learning centre. It was established that one photovoltaic panel can be employed to fully recharge a battery of a pilot e-learning centre with an operational period of 7 hours using the available sunlight hours. Owing to the susceptibility of the Vaal Triangle region to thunderstorms causing overcast conditions for days, a ratio of back-up battery capacity (Ah) to number of days (seven hours per day) without sunlight was determined. An algorithm was also derived for sizing the pilot e-learning centre for full scale implementation. Future research recommendations based on this study for a reduced system costs of an off-grid e-learning for rural communities powered by a renewable energy resource were presented. This will increase access to basic education in SA and reduce the global digital divide.

Title: Verification of proposed standards for physical education in school practice Objectives: The main purpose of this thesis was to analyze knowledge, skills and level of physical abilities and attitudes of ninth grade elementary school pupils , according to the RVP ZV standards suggested for physical education. Methods: questionnaires were used to obtain data and they were analyzed afterwards Results: The results of the analysis does not correspond with the expectations that students have sufficient knowledge of activities and its influence on their health in the classes of physical education. According to the Physical education teachers, students' attitude towards physical education is rather negative. Pupils have insufficient general theoretical knowledge on this field and it would be useful to enforce (upcoming) standards into classes of physical education in the Czech republic. . Keywords: educational standards, basic education, framework educational programs, physical education, physical literacy, pupil's cometency

This dissertation deals with the topic of after-school care facilities. It develops a profound description of the functions of the after-school care facilities in all aspects of their activities. The after-school facilities are included amongst school institutions; they are one of the most important organisations when it comes to the free time of children from the first school. Despite that, they have not been given much attention. This dissertation brings, in its theoretical part, the basic information about the environment and function of the after-school care facilities, the personality of their educators but it also characterises the children from the first school for whom the facilities are intended. In the practical part, it expounds the environment of the after-school care facilities in the deep description of their organisational matters and activities. It also brings the analysis of the main benefits for children and seeks to find the possibilities of improvement of the functions of the after-school care facilities from the points of views of the educators working there. This dissertation also brings the opinions of the educators; it shows which activities they think are the most popular amongst children. A significant part of the practical part deals with individual activities; organised...

[pt] A Teoria do Capital Humano defende que a educação formal é necessária para aumentar a capacidade de produção de uma população: uma população educada é uma população produtiva e dotada de maior nível de bem-estar social, o que, por sua vez, proporciona a diminuição da pobreza e da desigualdade de renda. Na década de 1970, Carlos Geraldo Langoni estudou, de forma pioneira e com o auxílio da Teoria do Capital Humano, a variação da desigualdade de renda no Brasil na década de 1960. Seu trabalho demonstrou que a variável educação possuía a maior correlação para explicar os resultados observados de desigualdade nos rendimentos do trabalho. Desníveis provenientes do sistema educacional brasileiro, envolvendo crianças e adolescentes, resultavam em desníveis salariais entre os trabalhadores no mercado de trabalho. Langoni contribuiu para a formação de um grupo de pesquisadores brasileiros que, influenciados por aquela perspectiva teórica, participaram a partir da década de 1990, do debate público envolvendo a formulação de programas de transferências de renda condicionadas à frequência escolar. Embora as teses baseadas na Teoria do Capital Humano apresentadas por Langoni, em 1973, fossem consistentes e representassem importante contribuição para a compreensão da desigualdade de renda, o ambiente político e acadêmico dos anos de 1970 terminou por inibir a repercussão e o reconhecimento de seu trabalho. Apenas a partir de 1990, tendo à frente seus seguidores, aquelas ideias e a própria Teoria do Capital Humano passaram a influenciar governos, políticas sociais, e, de alguma forma, as escolhas da própria sociedade brasileira. / [en] Human Capital Theory proposes that formal education is necessary to increase a population s productivity: an educated population tends also to be a productive one and to present a higher level of social well-being that provides reduction of poverty and income inequality. Based on Human Capital Theory, Carlos Geraldo Langoni pioneered, in the 1970s, a study on the variation of income inequality in Brazil during the 1960s. His work demonstrated that education was the variable that best correlated with future income inequality. The inequality gaps involving children and adolescents in the Brazilian educational system were reproduced in wage gaps among workers in the labor market. Langoni contributed to the formation of a group of Brazilian researchers who were influenced by this theory. As of the 1990s, these researchers were involved in the public debate regarding the issuance of cash transfers conditional on school attendance programs. Although these conclusions based on Human Capital Theory presented by Langoni in 1973 were consistent and represented an important contribution to the understanding of income inequality, the political and academic environment of the 1970s ended by inhibiting the impact and recognition of the work. Starting in the 1990s, headed by his followers, those ideas and Human Capital Theory influenced governments, social policies, and somehow the choices of Brazilian society.

[pt] O presente estudo tem como objetivo indagar sobre as concepções de leitura e de cidadania que estão por trás dos discursos da política pública de leitura no México, particularmente no Programa Nacional de Leitura para a Educação Básica (PNL) entre os anos de 2002 e de 2012. A metodologia consistiu na análise dos documentos oficias da política pública articulada a uma discussão teórico filosófica em torno dos conceitos de cidadania e de leitura. A partir da critica marxista ao conceito de cidadania foi possível entender que a escola participa, com programas compensatórios como o PNL, na formação de cidadãos alinhados aos princípios de um Estado liberal democrático, ao mesmo tempo em que abre brechas, através da formação de leitores críticos e autônomos, para à emancipação humana. / [en] The objective of this dissertation is to explore the different conceptions of reading and citizenship behind public policy discourse in Mexico, particularly in the National Reading Program for Primary Education (Programa Nacional de Lectura para la Educación Básica, PNL) in the period between 2002 and 2012. The methodology used for this research consisted of analysis of official documents regarding public policy, and a theoretical-philosophical discussion of the concepts of citizenship and reading. From a Marxist critique of the concept of citizenship it was possible to understand that schools participate, through compensatory programs like the PNL, in the formation of citizens who are aligned towards the principles of a liberal democratic state, while opening loopholes for human emancipation through the formation of critical and autonomous readers. / [es] La presente investigación tiene como objetivo hacer una indagación sobre las concepciones de lectura y ciudadanía que están detrás los discursos de la política pública de lectura en México, particularmente en el Programa Nacional de Lectura para la Educación Básica (PNL) en el periodo 2002-2012. La metodología consistió en el análisis de los documentos oficiales de la política pública articulado a una discusión teórico-filosófica entorno a los conceptos de ciudadanía y lectura. A partir de la crítica marxista al concepto de ciudadanía fue posible entender que la escuela participa, con programas compensatorios como el PNL, en la formación de ciudadanos alineados a los principios de un Estado liberal democrático, al mismo tiempo que abre brechas, a través de la formación de lectores críticos y autónomos, para la emancipación humana.

A national education policy proposal to integrate adult basic education and training (ABET) in South Africa came about largely because of pressure from trade unions to introduce training at the workplace which would make workers more marketable in case of retrenchment. Workplace ABET programmes provide literacy and numeracy skills, after which some workers have a chance of joining further training opportunities provided by their employers. The Independent examinations Board (JEB) provides adult examinations and certifies those learners who pass. This study aims to find out whether the ABET certificates issued by the IBB, particularly Level 3 certificates, open up job opportunities for their holders. A qualitative approach was adopted to research the views of ABET learners and their managers. A small scale survey was undertaken in which four industries providing ABET in the Gauteng area were visited. Interviews were conducted to access information on learners’ and managers’ views on ABET certification. This proved a suitable method for the study because the researcher managed to build confidence in learners and at times used the learners’ home language to clarify questions. The study concludes that ABET empowered learners by giving them reading, writing and communication skills. These skills helped them in building their confidence when communicating with their supervisors and to work with less supervision. On the other hand the study showed that there was no direct relationship between the certificates that learners earned and work opportunities. Managers could not clearly identify the kind of work that learner who had attained ABET Level 3 certificates could perform. The recommendations call for a clear' policy by both unions and employers on ABET. Workers need to be rewarded for the effort they put into learning, even if the rewards are not the reasons which lead them to learn.

The aim of the study was to ident-fy issues involved in the establishment of an ABET centre in a rural secondary school. A case study of two schools with ABET centres and one without an ABET centre as well as a community college was undertaken. The procedure involved gathering information on how ABET was established and how it is implemented in the two schools. Observations and unstructured interviews were carried out in the four institutions. The information which was gathered was analysed to identify themes related to the establishment of an ABET centre. Factors which were investigated in the four institutions included among others, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (herein referred to as swot-analysis, see Abbreviations, Acronyms and Terminology). All the stakeholders such as ABET practitioners and governing bodies were requested to, for example, list and explain factors of 'swot' which they were experiencing. The analysis of the information gathered was used to inform the ’ researcher what factors to consider in es'tXL ishing an ABET centre in a rural school,, A procedural model for the establishment of an ABET centre is proposed in this study. The proposed model can be used not only by the sale rural school alone, but by other schools both in the rural and urban areas wishing to establish ABET centres in future. The decision, to :ise the model will depend on the evaluation by ABET implementers.

[pt] Esta dissertação analisa a experiência da gestão educacional em Tocantins, no período de 2000 a 2006, com o objetivo de identificar suas principais características e verificar possíveis impactos nos indicadores educacionais do estado. Ao longo do período analisado, a Secretaria de Educação e Cultura de Tocantins teve seu trabalho orientado por um processo de planejamento estratégico e esteve comprometida com a qualificação profissional e com a melhoria dos seus indicadores educacionais. Entre os programas e ações implantados, destacam-se: o Planejamento Estratégico da Secretaria (Pes), o programa Escola Compartilhada de Gestão Comunitária, a Formação Continuada de Gestores Escolares (Progestão), a Formação Continuada de Professores, o programa Evasão Escolar Nota Zero e o processo de seleção de diretores de unidade escolar. A gestão educacional de Tocantins é analisada a partir da revisão da literatura sobre o tema, do estudo de documentos oficiais, de entrevistas com membros da equipe gestora da secretaria e da análise da evolução dos principais indicadores educacionais do estado, a saber: acesso, fluxo (aprovação, reprovação e abandono) e desempenho dos alunos do ensino fundamental e médio. A análise dos dados mostra que houve melhora no acesso, e no fluxo escolar, tanto no ensino fundamental quanto no Ensino Médio. E também houve uma melhora significativa no desempenho dos alunos tocantinenses avaliados pelo Sistema de Avaliação da Educação Básica na 4a série do Ensino Fundamental e no 3º ano do ensino médio, tanto em Língua Portuguesa quanto em Matemática. / [en] This dissertation analyses the experience of educational management in Tocantins, between 2000 and 2005. The purpose of this research is to find out the main characteristics and verify possible impacts in the educational indicators of the state. Through the period analyzed, the Education and Culture Secretariat of Tocantins had its work oriented into a strategic planning process, which was compromised with the professional qualification and the improvement of its educational indicators. Among the programs and actions implemented, the most important are: the Strategic Planning of the Secretary (PES); Shared Management Communitary School program; Continuing Formation of the Educational Managers (Progestão), the Continuing Formation of the Teachers; the -Zero Grade- Droup-out program and the selection process of the directors of educational units. The Tocantins educational management is analyzed through the literature review about this theme, the study from official documents, interviews with the management team of the secretariat and the analysis of the progression of the main educational indicators of the state: access, student flows (approval, failure, drop-out) and the performance of the students of primary and secondary school. The data analysis shows that there was an improvement in access and an improvement of the student flows, there was an increase in approved and a decrease in the drop-out rates, in the primary and in the secondary school. Finally, there was a significant improvement in the performance of the Tocantins students evaluated for the System of Evaluation of Basic Education (Saeb) in the 4th year of primary school and the 3rd year of secondary school both in Portuguese.

Esta é uma pesquisa que se inscreve nos estudos autobiográficos. Por meio de relatos de sujeitos que construíram sua experiência como professores de História na rede pública estadual, procurou-se investigar dimensões do trabalho docente no Estado de São Paulo. O objetivo é deslindar como os sujeitos percebem a sua existência como professor, constroem a sua identidade, avaliam seu percurso no trabalho docente. Assim, por meio das rememorações, histórias de vida, o que se quer é apreender a historicidade de seu desenvolvimento profissional e, dessa forma, os múltiplos processos que ajudaram a constitui-lo na totalidade dos processos formativos. O texto que ora apresentamos centrou-se na análise em três fatores da prática docente. Em primeiro lugar, descrevemos e analisamos os dilemas da formação inicial, Básica e Superior, um processo de ensino e aprendizagem que foi marcado por práticas docentes fragmentadas, sem inter-relação entre as disciplinas e a falta de um trabalho pautado no diálogo. A seguir, analisamos a trajetória do ensinar História na escola, entrecruzando as falas dos professores entrevistados com documentos oficiais, buscamos discutir as finalidades dessa disciplina escolar, seus métodos de ensino e as controvérsias em torno da idéia de professor \"tradicional\", perspectivas que dicotomizam um ensino \"centrado no aluno\" versus um ensino \"centrado no professor\". Finalmente, analisamos o lócus no qual esses sujeitos exerceram a sua experiência docente: a escola pública estadual. Assim, são discutidas questões relativas às condições de trabalho, a deterioração da escola, o trabalho solitário. Efetuamos também uma discussão acerca da idéia de cidadania por meio da elaboração do projeto político-pedagógico da escola numa perspectiva da cidadania ativa, participativa, na qual os sujeitos que compõem a comunidade escolar possam discutir suas necessidades e as finalidades. Por meio deste estudo concluímos como a escola pública se deteriorou, principalmente, com as \"políticas públicas\" neoliberais, na qual a cidadania é percebida como uma relação de mercado e participação como sinônimo de trabalho voluntário na escola. Dessa forma, ocorre um processo de expulsão de professores da rede pública estadual. / This research concerns autobiographic studies. Based on accounts made by subjects who have built their experience as History teachers of state public schools, it seeks to investigate different dimensions of the teachers\' work in São Paulo State. Its aim is to reveal how the subjects perceive their existence, build their identity and evaluate their own path as teachers. Through their memoirs and life histories, it intends to apprehend the historicity of their professional development, and so the multiple events that contributed to constitute them, as a whole formation process. The text presented here is centered on the analysis of three factors of the teaching practice. First, we describe and analyze the dilemmas of the teachers\' initial education, both in Basic Education and University, a teaching and learning process affected by fragmented teaching practices, disconnection among curriculum subjects and the lack of dialogue between teacher and students. Secondly, we analyze their path of teaching History at school. By crossing the teachers\' accounts and official documents, we sought to discuss the objectives of this school subject, its teaching methods and the controversies around the idea of \"traditional teacher\", which opposes a \"student-centered teaching\" to a \"teacher-centered teaching\". Finally, we analyze the locus where these subjects have lived their teaching experience: state public schools. Issues concerning work conditions, school deterioration, solitary work are discussed in this session, as well as the the idea of citizenship at the school context, through the elaboration of the political-pedagogic project under the perspective of active and participatory citizenship, through which the subjects who compose the school community may discuss their needs and goals. We concluded, thorugh this study, that public school has deteriorated, especially due to neoliberal \"public policies\", which perceive citizenship as a market relationship, and participation as a synonym of voluntary work at school. It all leads to a process of banishment of teachers from public school.

A Avaliação Psicológica é um dos temas de debate atual na Psicologia e, em virtude de sua complexidade, tem sido considerado ponto nevrálgico na área. Encontram-se na história da Psicologia, enquanto ciência, influências e diversas formas de avaliação, pautadas em diferentes concepções teórico-metodológicas. Nesta tese, a Avaliação Psicológica é tomada como objeto de estudo fundamentada nos pressupostos da Psicologia Histórico-Cultural cujas bases se ancoram no Materialismo Histórico e Dialético. Assim, o objetivo geral desta pesquisa se configura em formular uma proposta de Avaliação Psicológica, pautada nos pressupostos da Psicologia Histórico-Cultural, tomando como elementos constitutivos o processo de escolarização de crianças com queixas escolares e o desenvolvimento das Funções Psicológicas Superiores. Destaco como foco de pesquisa o processo de escolarização das crianças e como é possível que, ao se apropriarem da condição de produção das dificuldades escolares, desenvolvam suas Funções Psicológicas Superiores, e constituam formas de aprendizagem que se estabelecem na apropriação do conhecimento. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter interventivo, cuja convivência em campo deu-se durante nove meses em uma escola pública. Foram desenvolvidos os seguintes procedimentos metodológicos: acompanhamento da sala de aula no seu dia-a-dia; conversas com as professoras de séries iniciais, com pais, coordenadora pedagógica e diretora; encontros com os estudantes individualmente e em grupo, tendo a participação ativa da pesquisadora. A análise do tema destaca aspectos da influência da medicina e da psicometria na história da Avaliação Psicológica na Psicologia, assim como críticas à psicometria e às formas tradicionais de avaliação. Além disso, com base nos pressupostos da Psicologia Histórico-Cultural na compreensão do desenvolvimento do psiquismo humano, esta tese apresenta propostas de intervenção que caminhem em prol do processo de humanização, entendendo o homem como síntese das relações sociais. Dentre os resultados da pesquisa, apresento: a) o caminho percorrido para a construção de um processo de Avaliação Psicológica na perspectiva teórica adotada, contendo: o levantamento histórico da realidade escolar, as análises das dimensões implícitas no contexto e o desenvolvimento das Funções Psicológicas Superiores, visto sua importância no processo de escolarização das crianças; b) a proposta metodológica para um processo de Avaliação Psicológica na perspectiva Histórico-Cultural, constituída pelos pressupostos teóricos, pelas formas concretas e pelos instrumentos utilizados para compor o processo investigativo e interventivo no âmbito da escolarização. Para finalizar, provoco algumas reflexões, considerando aspectos envoltos em um processo de avaliação numa sociedade capitalista e suas implicações, com vistas à novas pesquisas / Psychological Assessment is a topic of current debate in psychology and, due to its complexity; it is considered a critical point in this field. Various forms of assessment and influences, guided by different theoretical and methodological concepts lie in the history of psychology as a science. Psychological Assessment is the object of study in this thesis based on the assumptions of the Historical-Cultural Psychology - whose foundations rest on the Historical and Dialectical Materialism. Thus, the general objective of this research is to formulate a proposal of Psychological Assessment, based on the premises of the Historical-Cultural Psychology, taking as building components the educational process of children with learning disorders and the development of Higher Psychological Functions. The focus of this research is the educational process in children and how it is possible for them to develop Higher Psychological Functions and build means of acquiring established knowledge, although they may face learning disabilities. This is a qualitative, interventionist research, carried out during the period of nine months in a public school. The following methodological procedures were developed: tracking classroom activities on a day- to-day basis; conversations with teachers, parents, educational coordinator and principal from early grades; private and group meetings with students, having the active participation of the researcher. The analysis of the current debate highlights aspects of medicine and psychometrics influence on the history of psychological assessment in psychology, as well as criticism to psychometrics and to the traditional means of assessment. Furthermore, based on the assumptions of Historical-Cultural Psychology in the understanding of the human psyche development, this debate presents proposals for intervention towards the humanization process, understanding the man as a synthesis of social relations. Among the results found in this research the following are presented the path to build a process of psychological evaluation in accordance with the adopted theoretical perspective, including the historical survey of school reality; the analysis of the dimensions in this context and the development of Higher Psychological Functions due to its importance in childrens educational process; and the methodological proposal for a process of Psychological Assessment grounded on the Historic-Cultural perspective, made up from the theoretical assumptions, by the concrete forms and tools used to frame the investigative and interventional process within the school. Finally, some reflections are left to be considered regarding aspects wrapped in an evaluation process within a capitalist society and its implications, with a view to further research