M.Ed. (Multiculturalism and Education) / This project will endeavour to turn misconceptions of the past into mutual trust, understanding and respect for each of the population groups involved. It is hypothesized that: Intergroup contact can help refine information related to stereotypes and prejudice (Engels, 1993:1). Engels (1993:1) further argues that "intergroup contact alone is not sufficient to improve intergroup relationships and counter prejudices permanently". This research endeavours to probe into the possibility of reducing prejudice by creating a situation in which juveniles from different population groups will interact and engage in communication. To this, Czula (1979:31), contends that "only the type of contact that leads people to do things together is likely to result in changed attitudes". As a result, non-racial extra-curricula activities have been organised to provide a common ground where interpersonal and intergroup encounters will take place. Such an encounter is meant to instill in the youth (i.e. high school students, black and white) respect and understanding for other cultural groups irrespective of their pigmentation. In preparation for an integrated, multicultural education system which does not deny cultural plurality, it is necessary to prepare our youth for the advent of such a system by exposing them to a situation in which they will learn about each other's perceptions. It is hoped that this will enable students to rid themselves of unfounded misconceptions by laying the ground for them to acquire knowledge about each other and share matters of common concern, in order to bridge the chasm which exists between them.

D.Ed. / The primary goal of this research is to describe a model for educational psychologists to guide the child in the informal housing community to deal constructively with anger. The rationale for the research is derived from changes in the South African society. In the struggle for survival, the child develops inappropriate ways of dealing with anger. The child's mental health is therefore endangered and through facilitative interaction the educational psychologist can support the child in developing skills in dealing constructively with anger. The study commences with a theoretical framework in which the suppositions of the research are discussed. The meta-theoretical suppositions, based on the theory of educational psychology for the whole person, phenomenology, educational philosophy and developmental psychology are discussed. Thereafter theoretical suppositions developed from the meta-theoretical suppositions are discussed. The theoretical suppositions are complemented by a chapter on the design of the research. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design and functional school of thought are followed. The principle of logic and justification for scientific research is answered from a postmodern perspective. The descriptive phenomenological method of Giorgi (1985:8-19) was used to conduct an in-depth exploration of the child's management of anger. Guba's model of trustworthiness (1985:201) - which was used and based on truth-value -applicability, consistency and neutrality is then discussed. Ethical precautions that were taken are discussed. The discussion of the research results is presented from the child's perspective - interviewing, observation and information are derived from documents during the course of twenty-one weeks. Eight children took part in exploring their management of anger. During the course of eleven weeks facilitative interaction supported by the Gestalt-therapeutical process of Oak!ander (1978:53-66; 2002:1-17) took place in a group context. Individual interviews were then conducted. The last six weeks were succeeded by informal sessions with soccer play as main activity. The children revealed how they experience difficulty in dealing with anger due to inadequate support and modelling in their interaction with the community in which they live. This was done by means of projective media. The child's predisposition in relation to anger is reflected in an external locus of control. It develops into a cycle of problematic management of anger. The research resulted in the development of a model for educational psychologists. The primary supposition of the model is that facilitative interaction supported by the Gestalttherapeutical process of Oaklander can aid the educational psychologist to guide the child between the age of eleven and twelve, to deal constructively with anger. In the process of facilitative interaction the child is supported to develop self-awareness, self-knowledge and self-regulation through which the child is enabled to deal with anger constructively. The development of the model is initiated by identification, definition and classification of central and associated concepts. The relationships between the concepts are drawn, involving the description of the model. This model is of particular significance to the child living in the informal housing community who has little access to mental health resources. A continued co-operative process involving the educational psychologist as interactive-facilitator consulting with community services and resources is brought about as the child's needs surrounding the issue of anger become apparent. This process not only benefits the child in question, but also serves as an educational opportunity involving the child's micro-, meso-, eco- and macro-systems in accepting the educative responsibility of supporting the child in dealing with anger, working towards self-regulation and mental health.

M.A. / The literature is unclear whether bilingualism has cognitive advantages, disadvantages or neutral cognitive effects on the child. In order to investigate this discrepancy in the research data, this study aimed at comparing the nonverbal cognitive abilities of a fairly large sample monolingual versus bilingual girls, while comparing for certain variables, not addressed in the literature. The research question is thus formulated as follows: Are there differences in the nonverbal cognitive abilities of monolingual versus bilingual girls, when measured with four non-verbal cognitive test batteries? According to the literature, first language development can be divided into pre-linguistic and linguistic speech, while second language development is either acquired simultaneously or sequentially. Many theories attempt to explain how first and second languages are acquired and used. These theories on the developmental process of first and second languages can be divided into learning, nativist and cognitive theories. Learning theories focus on the effect the environment has on language acquisition, while nativist theories accentuate the influence of genetic factors. Cognitive theories focus on the child's cognitive development as a prerequisite for language acquisition and functioning. Bilingualism is defined differentially in the literature, which presents one of the major reasons for divergent results. In this study a person was defined as bilingual when he or she was capable of one language function, such as reading, writing, listening or speaking at any level of proficiency. Various factors may, however, influence a person's bilingual status. In this regard, age and method of acquisition is important, as well as patterns of sage of the second language, socio-emotional factors and the linguistic relationship between the two languages.

M.A. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Mathematics Education) / This research aimed to explore errors associated with the concept of fractions displayed by Grade 5 learners. This aim specifically relates to the addition and subtraction of common fractions. In order to realize the purpose of the study, the following objective was set: To identify errors that learners display when adding and subtracting common fractions. The causes which led to the errors were also established. Possible ways which can alleviate learners' misconceptions and errors associated with them were also discussed. The study was conducted at Dyondzo (Fictitious name) Primary School, Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. The constructivist theory of learning was used to help understand how learners construct their meanings of newly acquired knowledge. It was a qualitative study where most of the data and findings were presented with think descriptions using descriptive analysis techniques. A group of forty nine learners was selected purposively within two classes of Grade 5 to write the class work, home work and test on addition and subtraction of fractions. Learners were interviewed and so were two teachers. The five teachers also completed a questionnaire of five questions to supplement the interviews. The study found that learners made a number of errors in the addition and subtraction of fractions, including conceptual errors, carelessness errors, procedural errors and application errors. This finding supports findings that primary school children experience difficulties when learning the concept of fractions.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The main purpose of this study is to determine whether pupil quality influences educational standards. The development and growth of pupils are the result of hereditary and environmental factors. Environmental factors inter alia include the school's and teacher's involvement with pupils. The role that the school plays in the life of the pupil, is very important for his development. The school is the pupil's living place in which he becomes involved with his peer group. The pupil has to learn to socialise and to respect authority. Knowledge becomes unlocked through the pupil as well as for him. The school is the preparatory phase for his adult life. The qualities that the pupil obtains during his school years, largely determine the career that he will follow, his social status, his economic welfare and his self-concept. The empirical component of the investigation was based on the implementation of a questionnaire. Concerning validity and reliability, a principal component analysis (P.C.A.) was followed by a principal factor analysis (P.F.A.) in the first order analysis. This was followed by a second order P.C.A. and P.F.A. The variables resulting from this factor analysis procedure were then subjected to an item analysis. The identified variables, i.e, sex differences, educational qualifications, occupation, primary and secondary schools, school models, permanent place of residence, religion, marital status, children and income, were used to investigate the importance of pupil qualities and educational standards. The most important findings are: The majority of respondents regards pupil quality as a very important determinant which can influence educational standards. Great emphasis should be placed on reading in primary schools. Pupils with specific reading problems should receive continuing formal reading tuition in the secondary schools. Rationalisation within the teaching profession should not have an effect on support classes and remedial education. As far as achievement oriented education is concerned, care should be taken to ensure that pupils with problems and needs receive the necessary attention. The primary aim should be child centred education.

This study focuses on the process of custody decision-making in a South African divorce context with the aim of critically examining the operation of the principle of the best interests of the child. A narrative approach is incorporated into Parker and Fairclough's discourse analytic approaches in the context of an instrumental case study. More specifically, the focus falls on moving beyond the understandings of custody embodied within the current psychological literature in order to examine the relationship between theory and practice and to view custody as a dynamic process at both a textual and analytical level. Concepts of dialoguing, context, audience and intertextuality together with a storied approach are central. Further, an attempt is made to provide a disruptive reading of the case through the use of notions of power, ideology and institutional practices embedded within the case and its broader contexts. The analysis demonstrates the need for decision-making to be viewed as a broader process situated across multiple professional, institutional and socio-political texts and contexts. Further, it is argued that in order for the process to uphold the principle of the child's best interests, specialised training must be supplemented with changes at the level of policy, aimed at moving toward a more inclusive, process-oriented approach to custody decision-making.

The development of private divorce mediation appears to offer a friendly and informal alternative to the "hostile" adversarial divorce. A close analysis of its claims, however, shows them to be largely unproven. Urgent attention should therefore be given to the philosophical base of the movement. There is also a need for empirical research and for standardised training. Further unanswered questions relate to the part to be played by different professions, and to professional ethics. It is submitted that the appointment of Family Advocates is a step in the right direction but that the establishment of a full Family Court will best protect children's interests.

Issues concerning children may be the most intense and emotive areas of divorce and can lead to spectacular legal battles. Social work practice revealed that it is often the father who leaves the court, stripped of his fatherhood by a court order that only grants him limited access to his own children. Some divorced fathers disengage from their children's lives but there is documented evidence of South African fathers who desire continuity in their relationships with their children after divorce. An interest in these fathers prompted this study. Fathers who challenged maternal custody were selected since it was assumed that their lived experiences would include non-custodial as well as custodial fatherhood. The study was approached from a constructivist position and was further informed by a family systems theory. South African and international literature was perused followed by an exploratory study on the relatively uncharted terrain of paternal custody. A qualitative method was used and one unstructured interview with a schedule was conducted with each of the five respondents who were selected according to non-probability purposive sampling methods. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed cross-sectionally around certain themes and categories that were extracted from the data. The most significant findings of the study which appear to resemble some earlier national and international findings, are summarised as follows: Some fathers appear to have sound motives for pursuing custody of their children. These fathers, if afforded the opportunity, find fulfilment in parenting their children whom they perceive to be happy and prosperous in their care. There are fathers in whom divorce causes clear and profound signs of distress which appear to be related to the loss of the pre-divorce father I child relationship. The feeling of powerlessness to effect the well-being of their children as they see it was emphasised. Recommendations generated from these findings relate to the elimination of gender bias from custody decisions, including fathers in therapeutic interventions with divorced families and the provision of family courts and mediation services as suggested in the White Paper for Social Welfare. Recommendations for future research are also presented.

The main aim of this dissertation was to examine the status of Physical Education for senior primary girls in KwaZulu-Natal. Two sets of questionnaires were used to acquire information from Physical Education teachers and management staff involved in supervision of Physical Education at primary schools. The data obtained were then analysed. • To determine the degree of constructive guidance given in the teaching of senior primary Physical Education by school management • To determine whether physical educators are suitably qualified • To determine whether Physical Education forms part of the core curriculum at school • To make a historical comparative study of the development of Physical Education in primary schools and in KwaZulu-Natal in particular • To determine whether schools have the necessary resources needed in order to teach Physical Education • To make recommendations for the improvement of teaching Physical Education in the senior primary phase in the primary schools of KwaZulu-Natal The main findings of this study were as follows: • Presently there are only 28% of Physical Education specialists teaching Physical Education • The majority (60%) of the educators teaching Physical Education to senior primary learners is males • That about 36% of the educators do not actually teach Physical Education during the Physical Education lesson • An overwhelming majority (100%) of Physical Education educators indicated that they were not supervised in the last 36 months. Some go far back as seven to ten years • A little more than half (58%) of the schools had specialists in school- but they were classroom-based educators. Several recommendations are made out of these findings ranging from making Physical Education part of the core curriculum, ensuring Physical Education is taught by a specialist educator, providing facilities and equipment, supervising of Physical Education and the role of the Physical Education subject advisors. It is expected that such recommendations, if implemented, would contribute towards the elimination of problems that face Physical Education specialists and in improving the status quo of 'Physical Education. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Humanities Education / MEd / Unrestricted