Since the establishment of SGBs in 1996, one of the key problems confronting provincial education departments has been the building of capacity of SGB members. This is more so in the previously marginalised and disadvantaged school communities. These structures could not claim to be democratic enough without the necessary skills and knowledge for parent component members to participate fully in school governance. The purpose of this study then, was to explore the nature and function of the parent component of rural School Governing Bodies (SGB) with regard to school governance as stipulated by the South African Schools Act, 84 of 1996 (SASA). As it is anticipated that members of the SGBs and the parents in rural area; cannot lead on the governance issues, this study, therefore, hoped to identify the barriers that the stop parent component from functioning effectively. Hence, social capital theory was used to measure the imbalances within the SGBs of two Primary Schools in Ntabamhlophe Circuit which falls under the Estcourt Circuit Management Centre (Estcourt CMC). This is a qualitative research study, situated in the interpretive paradigm with the aim of investigating the nature and functions of the parent component in the rural School Governing Body in two primary schools in KwaZulu-Natal. The key question with regard to addressing the investigation also concerns the parent competencies in practicing the policies as stipulated in SASA. The secondary questions look at how ‘social capital’ impacts on the rural SGBs as well as dynamics between policy and practise in relation to decision- making. This in-depth investigation of parental involvement utilised semi-structured interviews, observation as well as documents to gather data. The research population for each school constituted the principal, chairperson of the SGB, two parents, two educators and one noneducator. As the focus was on the parent component: - the age, qualification and experiences with regard to school governance was highlighted. This does not mean my study was a quantitative one as well but this would establish the changes that would have added value to the life of these parents. The findings revealed that most of the parent components in the SGBs are unemployed and being unemployed resulted in poor networking with other SGBs of other schools. Illiteracy is one of the impediments that impacted negatively towards being involved effectively in the governance of these two schools. The findings further reveal that parents could not adopt and interpret policies that pertain to finances as well as administering schools’ property, without explanation by the principals. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This study reports on a qualitative study that sought to explore the experiences of female Heads of Department in Primary Schools. The study was carried out in KwaNdengezi, Pinetown South. It made use of qualitative methodology to obtain data using semi-structured interviews and observations as its methods of data collection. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants of the study, and the study sample consisted of four female heads of department in four primary schools, with whom the interviews and observations were conducted. The main findings of the study revealed that female heads of department experience and internalize negative stereotypes and believe males do not listen to them and they also experience gender stereotypes and their impact when performing their management duties in schools. Other findings include the experiences related to dynamics of being mothers and teachers at the same time. Further the communication with teachers, teacher discipline and the role that gender stereotyped held by members of the society. There is the issue of unequal power relations between men and women within the schools, which is an underlying factor behind all the gender-based experiences of female heads of department in the schools. Despite the fact that female heads of department encounter gender-based experiences in their management roles and responsibilities, they are engaged in empowering style of management by means of involving all the colleagues in the decision making processes. The study concludes by recommending that female heads of departments require support from all the stakeholders of the school, and that the government should hold workshops and seminars to support them. At the school level, they should resist all attempts at being treated in a condescending manner, and become role models to other aspiring females to assume school management positions for effective management and delivery of quality education. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2012.

This is a qualitative study of girls’ and boys’ understanding and experiences of genderbased violence in one co-educational primary school in KwaZulu-Natal. The study sought to get insights into the problem of gender-based violence by investigating the lived experiences of both male and female learners within the school context. The aim of the study was to unveil forms of gender-based violence that the learners experience and some contributory factors, as well as the strategies for alleviating gender-based violence in this schooling context. The study adopted a qualitative case study research design. It employed semi-structured interviews as its method of data collection and these took the form of focus group interviews and individual in-depth interviews. A total of eight learners (four girls and four boys) participated in the study. The study found that there was a high incidence of gender-based violence in the school under study. This took the form of demeaning gendered comments, unfounded sexual rumours, sexualized gestures and jokes, sexual harassment, bullying and corporal punishment. Some school spaces, peer pressure, media and dominant discourses of gender were found to be some factors contributing to gender-based violence in this school. The findings indicate that boys are the group most culpable of continuing the cycle of genderbased violence by perpetrating acts of aggression on others learners. Boys drew on dominant discourses of gender in this context, which generally accord power to masculinities, at the expense of femininities. The resultant inequitable gendered power relations played a vital role in the perpetuation of the cycle of gender-based violence in the school. The study also finds that school teachers too were implicated in acts of gendervii based violence, which mainly took the form of assaulting learners, both male and female. In addition, teachers display a general acceptance of gender-based violence incidents as normal children’s behaviour, and take no remedial actions to stop such abuses. The study offers some suggestions that relevant stakeholders could employ to address gender-based violence at schools. These include supplementing teacher education curriculum, to provide training on how to deal with gender-based violence, a campaign to bring about greater awareness in schools and in the communities where parents are involved, additional professional support for schools and setting up structures for learner peer support. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2012.

The main aim of educational institutions is to ensure that effective teaching and learning is achieved. My personal ontological disposition is that in order to reach this ideal, teacher leadership and professionalism needs to be a reality in all schools. It is for this reason that I embarked on this study to gain a meaningful understanding of how teachers felt they could lead schools better to ensure that they are professional places of teaching and learning. In developing this study I focused on two key areas, which were to examine teachers understanding of professionalism and I attempted to identify what factors enhanced or inhibited teacher leadership and professionalism in schools. The research methodology that I employed was a case study which was conducted in a secondary school. I employed five data collection tools to obtain the information I required. The first was a survey which was conducted among the entire staff of the school. The second tool was individual interviews that focused on five teacher leaders of the school who were the unit of analysis. The next data collection method involved all five teacher leaders in a focus group interview. The fourth tool was observations that were carried out throughout the research process. The final data collection tool was document analysis, which included a range of documents varying from staff meeting minutes to department policies. In addition, I kept a reflexive field note journal as a tool to enhance the validity of my study. This study revealed several key findings which I feel are vital for educational success to become a reality. At first this study revealed that teacher leadership was a reality in the case study school and was occurring in four zones: in the classroom, collaboration, whole school and with surrounding schools. Next this study revealed that teaching is a profession that is underpinned by key characteristics, namely: you have to study, uplift the name of the profession and behave and dress in a professional manner. Furthermore, this study revealed that there were several factors that promoted teacher leadership and professionalism, like incentives, school culture and relationships. Finally, this study revealed that there were various barriers to teacher leadership and professionalism, like, unions, formal leadership and teachers’ dispositions. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This research study is an examination of teacher engagement in pedagogy in the foundation phase, within the context of a literacy learning programme. The study explores what teachers know and do in foundation phase classrooms and how this impacts on learner performance. The study aims to identify areas of pedagogy that need to be strengthened so that all South African learners can compete with others, not only at national level (systemic evaluations), but also at international level in tests such as the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) and Progress in Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). The critical question of the study was: How do teachers‟ engagements in pedagogy influence their practice in the literacy learning programmes of selected foundation phase classes in KwaZulu-Natal? It is expected that the findings of my study will stimulate discussions on teacher development and classroom practices for improved learner performance. The research was conducted in three schools in urban KwaZulu-Natal. For purposes of confidentiality and anonymity, the exact location and names of the schools have not been indicated. These schools were selected on the basis of convenience sampling and are within close proximity of each other. Since teachers were the unit of study, learners were only involved as far as their participation in normal classroom lessons was concerned and where samples of their work were examined. This study is located in the interpretive paradigm. An interpretive approach allows me the flexibility to describe, make sense of and interpret teacher engagement in pedagogy within the literacy learning programme. A qualitative research method has been employed and involves the use of case studies as a means to gather information. First, individual face-to- face interviews were held with teachers; then literacy lessons in progress were observed, and finally, documents that the teachers used in planning, preparation and delivery of lessons were examined. Samples of learners‟ work were also examined. Results of the studies on teacher engagement in pedagogy revealed that teachers had followed the Foundations for Learning documents so religiously that they had neglected the essential components of pedagogy, namely the use of appropriate teaching strategies, creating of appropriate learning environments, establishing conducive learning climates, monitoring learners‟ achievements and giving feedback, and use of learner and teacher support materials. Arising from these findings, recommendations are made for these essential components to be considered when engaging in pedagogy for Foundation Phase learners. This study concludes with the recommendation of a teacher engagement model labeled The Teacher Engagement for Learner Improvement Model. This model focuses on improving learner performance and is built around the six interconnected components of pedagogy. The model suggests that the level of learners' achievements will improve as the level of teachers' engagement with these components increases. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2011.