Site-based management (SBM) is recent restructuring initiative in schools. The study is carried out with the aim of investigating the extent to which teachers participate in site-based management in schools. The researcher assumes that teachers are sidelined in site-based management in schools. An extensive literature review provides a theoretical foundation of the study and exposes the nature of site-based management. The qualitative approach is used in the case study. Data are collected through interviews that were conducted between July and September 2004. The interpretive paradigm is used in data collection, analysis and interpretation. The collected data are analysed through inductive analysis. The major research finding is that teachers are marginalised in site-based management in schools and that school-based decision making is still largely in the hands of school principals. It is recommended that principals and SMT's improve their management and leadership styles in order to allow for real participation of teachers in decision-making to take place. / Educational Studies / M.Ed (Education Management)

The South African Schools Act No. 84 of 1996 mandated the establishment of the democratically elected School Governing Body (SGB). The SGB’s mandate was to ensure the smooth running of the school, quality education and parental involvement in learners’ academic achievement. The study examined the effect of school governance and parental involvement in raising Grade 12 academic achievement in rural schools. A qualitative investigation at three schools in the Mkhuhlu circuit, Bohlabela District in Mpumalanga was done. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with one principal, one teacher, one SGB member, three Grade 12 learners and three parents at each of the three participating schools and document analysis was done as a method of collecting data. The findings of the study revealed that SGBs and parents are not aware of their importance on the learners’ education. The study recommends that SGBs and parents be empowered by principals in order for them to execute their roles effectively. / Umthetho wezikole waseNingizimu Afrika Nombolo 84 wango 1996 wagunyaza ukusungulwa kwekomiti lesikole (SGB) elikhethwe ngokwentando yeningi. Lomthetho ugunyaze lelikomiti lesikole ukuthi lenze isiqiniseko sokuthi isikole sihamba ngokwendlela, imfundo isezingeni eliphezulu kanye nokubandakanya abazali ukuze imiphumela yesikole ibe phezulu. Lolucwaningo luhlole umphumela wokubandakanya ikomiti lesikole kanye nabazali emfundweni yezingane ukuphakamisa imiphumela yebanga leshumi ezikoleni zasemakhaya esifundazweni saseMpumalanga. Lolucwaningo lwenziwe ezikoleni ezintathu zesifunda saseMkhuhlu eBohlabela. Uphenyo nzulu lwenziwe kuthishanhloko oyedwa, uthisha oyedwa, ilunga lekomiti lesikole elilodwa, abafundi bebanga leshumi abathathu kanye nabazali abathathu kwase kuhlaziywa nezincwadi zesikole. Imiphumela yalolucwaningo ikhombise ukuthi amakomiti ezikole kanye nabazali abanalo ulwazi oluphelele ngokubaluleka kwabo emfundweni yezingane. Izincomo ezenziwe ezokuthi othishanhloko kufanele baqeqeshe amakomiti ezikole kanye nabazali ukuze benze umsebenzi wabo ngempumelelo. / Mulayo wa Afrika Tshipembe nomboro 84 wa 1996 wo nea maanda u tewa ha komiti dza u langula matshimbidzele a zwikolo (SGB) yo khethwaho nga lutamo lwa vhathu vhanzhi. Ndivho ya komiti iyi ndi u langulwa ha zwikolo nga ndila kwao, pfunzo ya maimo a ntha na u dzhenelela ha vhabebi kha ubvelela ha vhagudiswa kha mishumo ya tshikolo. Tsedzuluso ino yo sedzulusa ndeme ya komiti ya u langula matshimbidzele a zwikolo na u dzhenelela ha vhabebi kha u khwinisa mvelelo dza murole wa vhufumi na vhuvhili kha zwikolo dza mahayani. Tsedzuluso iyi yo itwa kha zwikolo zwiraru kha dzingu la Mkhuhlu, Tshitirikini tsha Bohlabela, vunduni la Mpumalanga. Mawanwa a tsedzuluso iyi o kuvhanganywa uya nga mbudziso dza vhudzivha na thoho ya tshikolo, mudededzi muthi, murado muthi wa komiti ya matshimbidzele a tshikolo, vhagudiswa vhararu na vhabebi vhararu kha tshinwe na tshinwe tsha zwikolo zwo bulwaho afho ntha, na tsedzuluso ya manwalwa. Mawanwa ayi tsedzuluso a sumbedza uri SGB na vhabebi avhana nzhele nga vhuthogwa havho kha pfunzo ya vhagudiswa. Tsedzuluso ino i themendela uri SGB na vhabebi vha maandafhadzwe nga thoho ya tshikolo hu u itela uri vha kone u ita mushumo wavho nga ndila kwao / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Site-based management (SBM) is recent restructuring initiative in schools. The study is carried out with the aim of investigating the extent to which teachers participate in site-based management in schools. The researcher assumes that teachers are sidelined in site-based management in schools. An extensive literature review provides a theoretical foundation of the study and exposes the nature of site-based management. The qualitative approach is used in the case study. Data are collected through interviews that were conducted between July and September 2004. The interpretive paradigm is used in data collection, analysis and interpretation. The collected data are analysed through inductive analysis. The major research finding is that teachers are marginalised in site-based management in schools and that school-based decision making is still largely in the hands of school principals. It is recommended that principals and SMT's improve their management and leadership styles in order to allow for real participation of teachers in decision-making to take place. / Educational Studies / M.Ed (Education Management)

The main purpose of the study was to develop a cognitive model to motivate principals in the Mpumalanga Province, particularly in the Bohlabela District. That was done firstly by identifying and explaining main factors affecting motivation of principals, and later developed a cognitive model of motivation from such factors. The study used the interpretative approach, particularly constructive-interpretative paradigm to collect and analyse principals’ subjective, but accurate accounts of their views, feelings, perceptions and experiences regarding the factors they had found motivating or de-motivating. A case study method was used as the main design method and was implemented through purposive sampling to identify information-rich participants. Semi-structured interviews were employed as the main data collection technique and the data obtained were confirmed, corroborated and augmented by observational field notes and documents analysis, particularly during data analysis. The researcher segmented and coded the data inductively into two main themes, which served as the main empirical research findings. Such findings indicated that motivation is influenced by both cognitive and systemic factors. It is recommended that setting difficult, but specific intrinsic outcomes and consciously employing cognitive abilities to pursue them, might improve motivation. Furthermore, full personal responsibility should be taken regarding the attainment of such intrinsic outcomes. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Thesis (M. A. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / The study examines the origin of place names and naming patterns of some communities in Mhala Sub-district in Bohlabela district in Mpumalanga Province. The study will deal with the various reasons underlying the naming of these place names and their origins. Furthermore the study will seek to find out how these place names were of great significance in that they are meaningful and preserve history. In order to achieve the aims of the proposal, the researcher will employ the qualitative research method. This qualitative research method will be supported by both primary and secondary methods in terms of data collection. The study will make people aware of the reflection of the value, importance and meaning attached to place names since it shows how people name their different places, which are in most instances body of history and meaningful. In other words, the study will endeavour to contribute to existing body of knowledge and understanding of the naming practices of some place names in Mhala sub-district of Bohlabela district in Mpumalanga Province.

The primary aim of this study was to explore primary school teachers’ experiences that influence their morale in Bohlabela District, Mpumalanga Province in order to improve practice and create a suitable environment for effective teaching and learning. The aim was achieved by exploring teachers’ experiences, identifying factors which influence the morale of teachers and developing strategies which could be applied to motivate teachers in their profession. The empirical inquiry was informed by behaviourism as a theoretical framework as well as the extant literature on teachers’ morale. The study applied an interpretive paradigm which is qualitative in nature to collect and analyse teachers’ subjective but accurate accounts of their opinions, experiences and perceptions regarding their morale. A case study was opted as the research design method and purposive sampling was used to identify 12 poorly performing rural primary schools and to select information- rich 36 teacher participants, all of who were teaching Grade 6 Mathematics and English. The primary data gathering technique was focus group interviews with teachers. Data extracted from the participants were augmented, supported, confirmed and corroborated by observations. Data were analysed using a thematic data analysis approach. Data were segmented and inductively coded into three main themes which served as the main empirical research findings. The first theme of this study dealt with experiences that influence teachers’ morale which included boredom, frustrations, lack of professional development and feelings of neglect and violence.InIn this theme it was found that experiences such as boredom, lack of professional development, feelings of neglect and school violence negatively affected the morale of teachers. The second theme comprised factors that affect teachers’ morale which included personal factors; work related factors and socio-economic factors. Personal factors and work related factors were also found to play a negative role in the morale of teachers. The third theme comprised intervention strategies to enhance teachers’ morale which included improved communication, family support, safety in schools and parental involvement. Based on the findings of the literature review and the empirical investigation, recommendations were made for the improvement of practice. It was concluded in this study that low teacher morale is a challenge in the schooling systems globally including South Africa. The study further concluded that low teacher morale negatively affects both teachers’ and learners’ productivity. As a way of mitigating problems associated with low teacher morale, it was recommended that the Department of Education should prioritise the issue of consulting teachers as an important component when developing professional development programmes aimed at assisting teachers, this is thought will assist in identifying problem areas which affect the work of teachers which ultimately affects their morale. / Educational Studies

The main purpose of the study was to develop a cognitive model to motivate principals in the Mpumalanga Province, particularly in the Bohlabela District. That was done firstly by identifying and explaining main factors affecting motivation of principals, and later developed a cognitive model of motivation from such factors. The study used the interpretative approach, particularly constructive-interpretative paradigm to collect and analyse principals’ subjective, but accurate accounts of their views, feelings, perceptions and experiences regarding the factors they had found motivating or de-motivating. A case study method was used as the main design method and was implemented through purposive sampling to identify information-rich participants. Semi-structured interviews were employed as the main data collection technique and the data obtained were confirmed, corroborated and augmented by observational field notes and documents analysis, particularly during data analysis. The researcher segmented and coded the data inductively into two main themes, which served as the main empirical research findings. Such findings indicated that motivation is influenced by both cognitive and systemic factors. It is recommended that setting difficult, but specific intrinsic outcomes and consciously employing cognitive abilities to pursue them, might improve motivation. Furthermore, full personal responsibility should be taken regarding the attainment of such intrinsic outcomes. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

After teaching in High school for six years, I was frustrated to see the institutional action on the issue of school violence. The creation of a climate conducive to teaching and learning has become a serious challenge to many educators. Through research, it became clear that enough has not yet been done. Therefore, an empirical investigation into this problem was necessary to determine the nature of violence in order to enhance better understanding of the phenomenon under study. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the prevalence of violence in rural secondary schools in the Bushbuckridge (Bohlabela) district in Mpumalanga province. This research employed a qualitative research approach to answer the research question. The study aimed to provide an accurate, objective, representative and empirically sound body of data on the extent of violence within schools in the Ximhungwe circuit in Bohlabela district, Mpumalanga. The research design comprised a case study that included focus group interviews with six participants in each group. In addition, I employed participant observation and document analysis. The study focused on four rural secondary schools that were purposefully selected in the Ximhungwe circuit in Bohlabela district, Mpumalanga. Ethical issues were taken into consideration while conducting the sampling and the selection of learners was based on their accounts of frequent violence against learners or teachers, and because they were considered knowledgeable and informative about the phenomenon under study. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

After teaching in High school for six years, I was frustrated to see the institutional action on the issue of school violence. The creation of a climate conducive to teaching and learning has become a serious challenge to many educators. Through research, it became clear that enough has not yet been done. Therefore, an empirical investigation into this problem was necessary to determine the nature of violence in order to enhance better understanding of the phenomenon under study. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the prevalence of violence in rural secondary schools in the Bushbuckridge (Bohlabela) district in Mpumalanga province. This research employed a qualitative research approach to answer the research question. The study aimed to provide an accurate, objective, representative and empirically sound body of data on the extent of violence within schools in the Ximhungwe circuit in Bohlabela district, Mpumalanga. The research design comprised a case study that included focus group interviews with six participants in each group. In addition, I employed participant observation and document analysis. The study focused on four rural secondary schools that were purposefully selected in the Ximhungwe circuit in Bohlabela district, Mpumalanga. Ethical issues were taken into consideration while conducting the sampling and the selection of learners was based on their accounts of frequent violence against learners or teachers, and because they were considered knowledgeable and informative about the phenomenon under study. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)