Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2010. / The focus of the study was on the contribution of media exposure towards the functionality of dysfunctional schools in Limpopo Province: Capricorn District. The study was qualitative in nature and concentrated on the schools in Capricorn District that were affected by the media industry. Seven schools were selected as follows: one from Mankweng Circuit, two from Nokotlou Circuit, One from Sepitsi Circuit, One from Seshego Circuit, One from Pietersburg Circuit and one from Mogodumo Circuit. According to the research findings, the majority of the schools which were exposed by the media improved their functions. A positive impact of media exposure has also been identified through research findings in terms of the Department of Education’s involvement in the schools which were affected by the media.

Thesis (MPA.) -University of Limpopo, 2010 / The focus of the study was on the contribution of media exposure towards the functionality of dysfunctional schools in Limpopo Province: Capricorn District. The study was qualitative in nature and concentrated on the schools in Capricorn District that were affected by the media industry. Seven schools were selected as follows: one from Mankweng Circuit, two from Nokotlou Circuit, One from Sepitsi Circuit, One from Seshego Circuit, One from Pietersburg Circuit and one from Mogodumo Circuit. According to the research findings, the majority of the schools which were exposed by the media improved their functions. A positive impact of media exposure has also been identified through research findings in terms of the Department of Education’s involvement in the schools which were affected by the media.

In the present context of South African education many learners may be denied access to the modern world, and from developing as empowered individuals for a world of uncertainty, due to inadequate schooling. The learners’ poor results in national and international studies and dysfunctional schools, for example, are clear evidence of inadequate schooling. If we are to improve schooling, and hence, the quality of teaching and learning in South African schools, we need to address the quality of teacher education that student teachers receive as part of their professional development. These improvements in schooling will depend on how student teachers are professionally developed, not to teach, but to facilitate learning. It is on this basis that I explore how student teachers construct and use phronesis to enhance their professional development. Within this question I explore the student teachers’ baseline phronesis when they enter the programme and how the student teachers utilise the contribution of the mentor teacher and the specialisation programme to construct and use phronesis to enhance their professional development. An interpretive, mixed methods, case study participatory action research methodology was used to explore these research questions. The participants in this study were three Postgraduate Certificate in Education Life Sciences student teachers, the specialisation lecturer, mentor teacher and the researcher. The context of this study was in the setting of a radical, innovative teacher education programme at the University of Pretoria, which focused strongly on the construction and use of phronesis. A variety of data collection instruments, including visual data, personal profile questionnaires and document analysis were used to collect the data. Ethical and research rigour issues were attended to and implemented. The findings are presented in four case study participatory action research cycles, each having a particular context and purpose. The descriptive data from each of these cycles was analysed to develop responses for the research questions. The finding in response to research question one indicated that the student teachers’ beliefs, emotions, desire and vision for the type of facilitator that they wanted to be influenced their perception of a facilitator of learning. Furthermore, their awareness of the challenges and constraints that ‘teachers’ experienced when teaching in particular contexts did not deter them from becoming facilitators of learning. The mentor teachers’ contributions were: direct with regard to providing support in designing learning tasks, resources and assessment feedback. Indirect contributions were in terms of the student teachers developing the need to generate ideas for effective practice and to change their beliefs about the role of a facilitator of learning, and the impact of this role on the learners’ work ethic and relationships. The contributions of the specialisation programme were in terms of challenging and changing student teachers’ beliefs about the role of a facilitator of learning and the development of learning practice in authentic contexts. The student teachers constructed and used their phronesis to enhance their professional development. Incorporated in each student teacher’s practice theory are their personal and professional transformations on their journey to becoming facilitators of learning. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

The poor functioning of a large number of the black schools and the urgent need to transform them was identified as a problematic phenomenon particular to post apartheid South Africa. Notwithstanding various government interventions/initiatives (COLTS, Tirisano, Call to Action, Batho-Pele) for the improvement of schools aimed at correcting this situation, many schools remain dysfunctional and/or operate within a negative culture of teaching, learning and services. The purpose of the study was to determine whether or not the adoption of a TQM philosophy that complemented previous interventions could rectify the current situation. To this end, an exhaustive literature review was conducted on COLTS, Tirisano and TQM prior to and during the empirical survey of dysfunctional schools in District D3 - Tshwane-North schools. The empirical design is eclectic in the sense that it includes both qualitative and quantitative elements. Survey questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and unstructured observation were used to collect data in a case study of the District D3-Tshwane North schools, a triangulation process that enhanced the reliability and validity of the research findings. Emerging from the survey and the literature review was the need for a different intervention strategy, one that would accommodate differences in and between schools rather than assuming the appropriateness of a ‘one size fits all’ intervention model. Based on the research findings emerging from the literature review and empirical survey it was concluded that such a model should be integrated into a TQM intervention framework that would be flexible enough to accommodate differences in schools with regard to contexts, needs, strengths and weaknesses. Drawing role players into new managerialism - and so into the new episteme may enhance the improvement of schools. The primary outcome of this research project, and the contribution made to new knowledge in the field, is the development of such an integrated framework, one which is not only theoretically sound but one which has been customised for South African conditions. / Thesis (PhD (Education Management and Policy Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

The researcher investigated whether leadership is not held by one leader only, but by a leadership model where decision making is distributed among to the rest of the senior leadership team and leaders within the school. The researcher’s aims emanate from the research problem, what is the role of distributive leadership as strategy to ensure effective schools in South Africa. The researcher also attempts through the study to define effective school leadership, leadership strategies and distributive leadership and explore how distributive leadership supports change and improves schools effectively. The focus of the study was to obtained data that could facilitate an understanding of the participants’ experiences on the role of distributive leadership as strategy to ensure more effective schools in South Africa. It is the understanding that this data will form the basis for the conceptualising for school management and other leaders that will facilitate the successful management of the implementation of this approach. In order to achieve the aims of this study, a qualitative research design was adopted and the main form of data collection method was interviews. A total of 28 interviews were conducted. Eight themes were identified from the literature and the in-depth interviews and discussed in detail. The study found out that leadership should be managed through the distributed leadership strategy and that the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the OSCAR coaching model as distributed leadership strategy would ensure more effective schools in South Africa. The theoretical clustering of the leadership styles items and the distributed leadership model resulted in the identification of the shared leadership with elements of democratic leadership as significant contributors to the distribution of leadership and the OSCAR coaching model to facilitate meetings. This information is of importance for educational managers as they will be able to provide schools with suggestions for developmental programmes for leaders and managers in order to increase positive perceptions regarding the role of distributed leadership to ensure effective schools in South Africa. The study arrived at the conclusion that the core coaching skills are most likely to promote a successful coaching outcome. The challenge that lies ahead is for leaders to acquire these coaching skills so that they can make the transition to become a coaching leader and develop schools in such ways. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

The researcher investigated whether leadership is not held by one leader only, but by a leadership model where decision making is distributed among to the rest of the senior leadership team and leaders within the school. The researcher’s aims emanate from the research problem, what is the role of distributive leadership as strategy to ensure effective schools in South Africa. The researcher also attempts through the study to define effective school leadership, leadership strategies and distributive leadership and explore how distributive leadership supports change and improves schools effectively. The focus of the study was to obtained data that could facilitate an understanding of the participants’ experiences on the role of distributive leadership as strategy to ensure more effective schools in South Africa. It is the understanding that this data will form the basis for the conceptualising for school management and other leaders that will facilitate the successful management of the implementation of this approach. In order to achieve the aims of this study, a qualitative research design was adopted and the main form of data collection method was interviews. A total of 28 interviews were conducted. Eight themes were identified from the literature and the in-depth interviews and discussed in detail. The study found out that leadership should be managed through the distributed leadership strategy and that the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the OSCAR coaching model as distributed leadership strategy would ensure more effective schools in South Africa. The theoretical clustering of the leadership styles items and the distributed leadership model resulted in the identification of the shared leadership with elements of democratic leadership as significant contributors to the distribution of leadership and the OSCAR coaching model to facilitate meetings. This information is of importance for educational managers as they will be able to provide schools with suggestions for developmental programmes for leaders and managers in order to increase positive perceptions regarding the role of distributed leadership to ensure effective schools in South Africa. The study arrived at the conclusion that the core coaching skills are most likely to promote a successful coaching outcome. The challenge that lies ahead is for leaders to acquire these coaching skills so that they can make the transition to become a coaching leader and develop schools in such ways. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

DEd (Educational Management) / Department of Educational Management / The study aims to compare the role of the principal in implementing the culture of learning, teaching and service (COLTS) in the effective, ineffective and schools experiencing fluctuating NSC results for the past five years. The study explores why secondary schools located within the same socio-economic environment, with the same resources, uniformly funded and controlled by the same government and ultimately there are commitment variation, hence effective schools, ineffective schools and schools with fluctuating results. Therefore, in an attempt to attempt to answer the main research question for this thesis: What role should be played by the secondary school principals in implementing the culture of learning, teaching and service? Other identified sub-questions were raised. Furthermore, a review of relevant literature was conducted and uncovered what makes a good and good school leadership, management and provision of quality service on international scale, that is, in developed, developing and under-developed countries. The Situational Leadership Theory (SLT) of Hersey and Blanchard was regarded as the most suitable theory since the theory proposes that individuals can change their leadership style (behaviour) depending on the situation and the readiness of the followers. Mopani District consists of 24 circuits and 6 circuits were purposively sampled and data was collected from these 6 circuits which have effective, ineffective and secondary schools experiencing fluctuating NSC results for the past five years. Quantitatively, a total number of 38 secondary school principals as key-informants subjects were given a questionnaire to respond on the set questions which was later analysed through the SPSS version 17.1 programme and empirical deduction was made. Additionally, qualitative method of data collection was used on 20 participants, on-site observation and document analysis. The researcher utilised the focus group (semi-structured) interview on 7 secondary school principals and 7 SGB members and one-on-one semi-structured interview on 3 Curriculum advisors and 3 Governance officers in order to gather rich qualitative data. The principle of anonymity was utilised on which codes were used in order to conceal the identity of the participants so that they could participate freely in data collection. The researcher analysed data collected from focus group interview and visited vi schools (on-site observation) of the principals who participated in the interview in order to verify the authenticity of data and also checked school records to validate collected data. All the collected qualitative data (from interviews) and confirmed through site-observation and school records. Collected data was analysed and themes were developed linked to the objectives of the study. A number of findings emanated from this study. The principals were found to be the final authority and accounting officer for the school on which teaching, learning and service is the primary duty. The study revealed that the principals play a substantial impact for the implementation of the culture of learning, teaching and service. The study recommends that principals must ensure that planning, monitoring and support of teaching and learning must be a priority duty of the principal. Furthermore, basic policies that are necessary for the school to be effective must be compulsory to all schools and the DBE must ensure that its implementation is strictly monitored, for instance school starting and departure time and school uniform. The researcher developed a model which contributes to the new body of knowledge which emphasises the support from different stake-holders that can contribute extensively towards the implementation of the culture of learning, teaching and service in schools. / NRF

MEd (Educational Management) / Department of Educational Management / Subject heads of departments (SHDs) play pivotal role in the leadership and curriculum delivery in secondary schools; yet they are still expected to lead departmental teams and to promote quality of teaching and learning. They find themselves in complex situations of leading departmental teams and of leading instructions in secondary schools. The purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges facing SHDs in promoting quality teaching and learning of dysfunctional Secondary schools. Qualitative research methodology was employed using case study research design to collect data through interviews and on-site observation checklists. Purposive sampling procedure was used to select four (4) out of seven (7) dysfunctional secondary schools. Sixteen (16) SHDs from the seven secondary schools were the population of this study. A total of ten (10) SHDs were sampled to be the participants in this study. Semi-structured individual interview schedules and on-site observation check list were used to collect data from participants. A voice recorder was used to record interviews and data collected was interpreted verbatim. The purpose of using on-site observation was to serve check the practicability and verification of data collected during interviews. Data from the two instruments was triangulated, analysed and interpreted verbatim. Common themes were drawn followed by interpretations and conclusions. The researcher presented general views of participants and linked them with relevant literature. The researcher hoped that this study will benefit teachers, school management teams (SMT) and researchers in understanding the challenges facing SHDs in promoting quality teaching and learning in dysfunctional Secondary schools (DSS). Empirical findings revealed that SHDs are facing complex challenges of promoting quality teaching and learning in dysfunctional Secondary Schools. Furthermore, it is recommended that SHDs should be supported internally by Principals and deputy principals. Equally importance is that external support by curriculum advisors should be ongoing. / NRF