Learners with disabilities do not only incur various challenges in their learning encounters, but their presence also places many demands on Institutions of Higher Education (IHE). The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges and needs of learners with disabilities in an inclusive IHE and to use the findings to develop guidelines that will promote their accommodation in the learning environment. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative design where self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. A total of 67 learners from different disability categories participated in the study. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. Among the participants 50.7% were males, 41.8% were mobility impaired and 29.9% were visually impaired. While almost two-thirds (64.2%) of the participants indicated that they were born with the condition, 27.3% said they required regular medical attention and 9.0% indicated they needed assistance in performing their daily routine work. With regard to challenges facing the participants, 64.1% said lecturers were not flexible in their teaching methods, and 68.8% said lecturers did not make follow-ups on them when they failed to cope academically. Among this group of learners almost 3 in 4 (74.6%) participants repeated their courses at least once. In addition, whilst 43.8% indicated that the physical environment constituted a great barrier to their learning, 53.8% said they were vulnerable to abuses and dangers. The participants rated sanitation and extra-curricular programmes as the poorest. The study established that there were significant (p=0.007) relationship between blindness status and failure rate, and also between type of secondary school (special or regular) attended and the ability to cope with the demands of tertiary education (p=0.004). These findings suggest that there are a number of challenges that tend to exclude and marginalise learners with disabilities in IHEs. The study, therefore, recommended that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DoHET) must make it mandatory for all IHEs to develop and implement inclusive institutional policies that will remove academic and social barriers in IHEs in line with the Social Model of Disability. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

In the world in which we live today, information and communication technology (ICT) has proliferated in all spheres of society, including in the corporate, social and academic arenas. Within these arenas ICT has made noteworthy contributions. In the academic space, which is the focus of this study, ICT has made a significant contribution to the communication and consultation between students and higher education institution staff. One such example has been the emergence of learning management systems (LMSs) in higher education institutions, both locally and globally, with LMSs providing higher education institutions with several possibilities as regards facilitating the online teaching and learning process. Nevertheless, research has shown that there is underutilisation of LMSs throughout the world. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the utilisation of LMSs in an open and distance learning (ODL) institution in South Africa to ascertain whether they are being used to their full potential. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

This research set out to explore the curriculum experiences of French-speaking students in a private tertiary education institution. The study was qualitative in nature and utilized narrative inquiry and the case study approach. Data-gathering methods included a blend of semistructured interviews, document analysis, participant observation and field notes. Data analysis employed content and thematic analyses. Findings that emerged from the study were seven-fold: First, the academic experiences of French-speaking students from pre-degree to third-year degree programme entailed a rigorous negotiation with the LoLT. They negotiated the pre-degree route to mainstream degree programme due to non-compliance with academic standards set for higher education. Second, French-speaking students negotiated the pre-degree route to mainstream degree programme because their curricula of study, while they negotiated secondary school education in French-speaking countries were not recognized by most South African public universities. Third, French-speaking students experienced a number of hidden curriculum experiences which were not visible but influenced the planned, enacted and assessed curricula. Fourth, the deportment of lecturers was a useful asset. Lecturers were sourced from different sociocultural perspectives of the world. The impact of lecturers’ deportment led to commitment to achieve excellence and dedication towards student learning. Fifth, the use of Zulu, Sotho and sporadic use of Afrikaans languages by lecturers became sociocultural experiences of French-speaking students. The impact of this was felt by French-speaking students when they took a longer time to negotiate transition from French-speaking to English-speaking. The rate at which white lecturers spoke and the unfamiliar accents of black South African lecturers became important aspects of experiences they negotiated at Montana College. Sixth, learning ensues when there is a hybridization of the three sociocultural factors namely language of communication, acculturation to the domain of influence and mediated identity. Seventh, it was found that power relations manifested themselves in different perspectives at Montana College. Lave and Wenger (1991) proposed that power relations exist in the field of education where teachers exercise their roles as facilitators of learning and students see that they are in possession of economic power, by virtue of the fact that they pay fees. Consequently the issues of power relations abound in the form of the “continuity-displacement contradictions” as suggested by Lave and Wenger (1991:115-116). Much new knowledge came to light, especially in terms of the three sociocultural factors (language, acculturation and identity). When these are in a state of redress, there is an emergent learning, depending on the extent of hybridization between the sociocultural factors. The magnitude of learning is conceptualized to depend on the extent of redress or hybridization among the sociocultural factors. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The present study examines whether recognition of prior learning (RPL) is being implemented in the workplace, its effectiveness and impact on improving the lives of the previously disadvantaged groups and its contribution towards enhancing a culture of lifelong learning in South Africa. The main aim of this research is to explore the implementation of RPL and the extent of its effectiveness in the workplace, with particular focus on Northern Region of the Eskom Distribution. This was hoped to be addressed through the following objectives: The first objective was to determine the extent to which Eskom employees are aware of the RPL practices and to ascertain the level of awareness among employees. The second objective was to explore the current trends and practices on RPL at the workplace. The third objective was to determine and identify if there are any gaps. The last objective was to suggest ways that can be used to strengthen the RPL practice in the workplace. To this end, a questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 242 employees. In addition, interviews were conducted with three purposively selected (information rich) participants. The findings reveal that Eskom has policies and guidelines on RPL and a clearly stipulated purpose which is in line with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), however, the current RPL policies and procedures have not been piloted within the Northern Region, the information has not yet reached everyone in the business, and employees’ level of awareness is still low. Findings also reveal that RPL does exist in Distribution and efforts to implement it are visible/traceable. A number of milestones and achievements are noted in the business as a whole as well as in the region, although a lot still needs to be done to ensure full and effective implementation. The last finding shows that there are a number of gaps and challenges impeding the success of RPL. These range from capacity building to quality assurance. On the basis of the findings, a number of recommendations to strengthen the RPL practice in the workplace are proposed and suggested. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

This study was undertaken with the purpose of analysing the public accountability system of secondary schools in the Johannesburg North District. It also tested the relationship between the accountability system and the effectiveness and efficiency of secondary schools. Over and above principals, learners and parents, the study also utilised numerous published literature to analyse the current accountability system. The findings of the empirical study revealed that there were disparities between the literature review and the current accountability system. Three major findings were made by this study. Firstly, there is a lack of synergy between internal and external accountability systems. Secondly, there are different accountability systems used by different secondary schools in the same District and lastly grade twelve results are used to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of secondary schools in the chosen District. In conclusion, proposals which may assist in improving the current accountability system were made. / Public Administration and Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), an intellectual impairment, generally characterised by inattentiveness and impulsivity has become prevalent in South African schools. ADHD learners require support from within the classroom to accommodate their academic and behavioural needs. A quantitative research was undertaken to determine the impact of an educator's knowledge of ADHD on teaching support strategies. An educator's ADHD knowledge is based on their understanding of the diagnosis, causes, symptoms and management of ADHD as well as the effect that ADHD has on a learner's classroom skills. Data was obtained from responses to questionnaires from randomly selected respondents within randomly selected government secondary schools in the Umlazi District of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The data was descriptively analysed to conclude that the level of ADHD knowledge possessed by educators impact on the appropriateness of their teaching strategies. There is a need to impart knowledge regarding learning barriers to educators, to ensure the efficacy of teaching strategies. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The purpose of this study was to explore solution strategies that can enhance the achievement of low-performing Grade 12 learners in the following mathematical aspects: finding the general term of a quadratic sequence, factorising third degree polynomials, determining the centre and radius of a circle, and calculating the angle between two lines. A convenience sample of twenty-five low-performing Grade 12 learners from a secondary school in Capricorn District of Limpopo Province participated in the study which adopted a repeated-measures research design. Learners were exposed to multiple solution strategies and data were collected using achievement tests. Findings indicated significant differences in learners‟ average scores due to the solution strategies used. In determining the general term of a quadratic sequence, learners‟ scores were significantly higher when they used formula and the table method than with the method of residues and solving simultaneous equations. Synthetic division made learners to achieve better scores than long division and equating coefficients in factorising third degree polynomials. The use of formulae to find the centre and radius of a circle made learners to have better achievement scores than completing the square. In calculating the angle between two lines learners‟ scores were better using formula and the cosine rule than using theorems. It was concluded that exposing low-performing Grade 12 learners to multiple solution strategies would enhance their achievement in the mathematical aspects explored in the study. Some of the solution strategies that made learners to achieve better results were not in the prescribed mathematics textbooks. The study therefore recommends that mathematics teaching should not be textbook-driven and that low-performing Grade 12 learners should not be regarded as beyond redemption. / Mathematics Education / M.Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The theme of this study is an investigation of the financing issues of Universities, with specific reference to the Graduate School of Business of the University of Stellenbosch. The goal of the study is to determine what influence the successful or non-successful completion of studies at the Management School have on the subsidies that the University of Stellenbosch, and therefor the Business School, receive from the state. The following critical factors influence the University's revenue from subsidies. Firstly, time plays a role. It is a fact that when a student is successful in obtaining a degree within the minimum period or longer, or not al all, this directly influences the funding of the University, and therefor also that of the specific department, because each cost unit at University and Faculty level is directly influenced by the number of enrolled students who successfully complete their credits. The principles of the subsidising of instruction inputs and outputs causes that it is more important for the university that students attain their specific credits and therefor their degrees in the minimum prescribed period of time, rather than eventually attaining their degrees. If a student enroll for a number of credits in a specific year, but he does not attain those credits that year, it means that the university will effectively only receive half of the normal subsidy amount, because subsidy will not be calculated for the next year for success. The second factor is the demographic profile of students. Because of the entry of previously disadvantaged communities, and their bigger demand and need for training, there will in future be more and more pressure on the funding principles and the subsidies that universities receive from the government. This will force universities to find ways to support students, and encourage them to attain their degrees within the prescribed time frame, without compromising standards. The third factor is that the central government does not pay the subsidies that it should pay in terms of the so-called subsidy formula. These factors make it imperative that enrolled students should attain their degrees as soon as possible. This study focuses therefor on the so-called subsidy formula and how the success ratio of MBA-students impact on the financing of current expenditure of the Business School of the University of Stellenbosch. In order to make recommendations on which actions the Business School needs to take in the light of successful completion of studies, the following work method was followed. Various personnel of the Administrative Department of the University of Stellenbosch (US), as well as the Business School of the University of Stellenbosch (USB), was interviewed to determine how the formula is used within the framework of the University, as well as to obtain information and statistics on the study patterns of students of the USB. A study was conducted of previous, the current and future funding formulae. Personal interviews were conducted with people at the Management School of the University of Potchefstroom to compare their MBA-course with that of the USB. The most important finding of this study is that Universities should do everything in their power to ensure that students successfully obtain their course credits within the prescribed minimum period, as the subsidy payable for non-successful students are half of that payable for successful students. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tema van hierdie studie is 'n ondersoek na die finansieringsvraagstukke van universiteite, met spesifieke verwysing na die Bestuurskool van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Die doelwit van die studie is om te bepaal watter invloed die afstudering of nie-afstudering van studente aan die Bestuurskool (USB) het op die subsidie wat die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, en uiteindelik die Bestuurskool, van die Staat ontvang. Die volgende kritieke faktore beïnvloed die Universiteit se inkomste uit subsidies. Eerstens speel tyd 'n rol. Dit is 'n feit dat indien 'n student suksesvol binne die minimum tydperk of langer afstudeer, of glad nie, dit 'n direkte invloed op die befondsing van die Universteit, en uiteindelik die befondsing van die departement het, omdat elke koste-eenheid op Universiteits- en Fakulteitsvlak direk geraak word deur die getal ingeskrewe studente wat hulle krediete suksesvol voltooi. Die beginsels ten opsigte van die subsidiëring van instruksie-insette en -uitsette veroorsaak dat dit belangriker is vir die universiteit dat studente hulle spesifieke krediete en dus hulle grade binne die voorgeskrewe minimum periode moet behaal, eerder as dat hulle uiteindelik grade moet behaal. Indien 'n student inskryf vir 'n aantal krediete in 'n sekere jaar, maar nie in daardie jaar sy krediete behaal nie, beteken dit dat hy effektief net die helfte van sy normale subsidiebedrag vir die universiteit beteken, aangesien daar vir die volgende jaar nie weer subsidie bereken kan word ten opsigte van sukses nie. Die tweede faktor is die demografiese profiel van studente. Die toetrede van die voorheen agtergeblewe gemeenskappe, en hulle groter eise en behoefte aan opleiding, veroorsaak dat daar in die toekoms meer en meer druk op die befondsingsbeginsels en die subsidie wat universiteite van die staat ontvang, gaan wees. Dit sal universiteite noodsaak om wyses te vind om studente te ondersteun en aan te moedig om hulle grade binne die voorgeskrewe tyd te behaal, sonder om standaarde te verlaag. Die derde faktor is dat die sentrale regering vir die afgelope paar jaar al, nie die volle subsidies betaal wat hy behoort te betaal ingevolge die sogenaamde subsidieformules nie. Hierdie faktore noodsaak dit dat ingeskrewe studente dus so vinnig as moontlik moet afstudeer. Die studie fokus derhalwe op die sogenaamde subsidieformule en hoe die suksesratio van MBA-studente impakteer op die finansiering van lopende uitgawes van die Bestuurskool van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Ten einde aanbevelings te maak oor watter optredes die Bestuurskool in die lig van suksesvolle afstudering behoort te neem, is die volgende werkswyse gevolg. Onderhoude is gevoer met verskeie persone verbonde aan die Administratiewe Departement van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (US), sowel as die Bestuurskool van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (USB), om te bepaal hoe die formule binne die raamwerk van die Universiteit toegepas word, asook om inligting te opsigte van die afstuderingstendense van studente aan die USB te bekom. Daar is 'n studie gedoen ten opsigte van vorige, die huidige en toekomstige subsidieformules. Die respondent het ook onderhoude gevoer met persone verbonde aan die Bestuurskool van die Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys om vergelykings te tref tussen hulle MBA-program en die van die USB. Die belangrikste bevindings van hierdie studie is dat Universiteite alles in hulle vermoë moet doen om te verseker dat studente hulle kursuskrediete op tyd suksesvol voltooi, aangesien die subsidie betaalbaar ten opsigte van nie suksesvolle studente die helfte beloop van die subsidie wat betaal sal word vir 'n suksesvolle student.

Juvenile delinquency amongst school-going adolescents is a growing concern in South Africa. Initiatives by policy-makers, educationists and school authorities, amongst others, have not yielded the desired changes in learner behaviour. This dissertation focuses on adolescent delinquency amongst learners in Gauteng secondary schools, with the precise aim of making recommendations to address the problem. An extensive literature review was conducted. An interpretive-constructivist paradigm with a mainly qualitative design was followed. A questionnaire and focus group interviews were administered to teachers. The findings confirmed the researcher’s view that juvenile delinquency in schools is escalating and warrants attention and intervention from all stakeholders. The main conclusion drawn from this research was that current policies and interventions on learner behaviour had no impact because policy-makers lacked the necessary will to ensure that interventions were implemented, reviewed and monitored. This study argues for a multi-pronged approach to address the problem. The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) should review its policies and approach to the problem, and support teachers to ensure that teaching and learning remain the main priority of schooling. Future research could explore the role of social ills in the South African context on the development of learners’ antisocial behaviour. / Educational Foundations / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Conflicts and dysfunctionality in public schools is often the cause of poor school performance and learner outcomes. This often is a direct result of poor school governance. Studies have previously identified a number of factors affecting the standard of school governance. One of these is absence of an effective monitoring and evaluation system for school governance. The current approach of Whole School Evaluation, which incorporates the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS), unfortunately does not possess adequate tools for the measurement of school governance with view to identifying specific areas of failure. School governance failures are widespread and costly, but effective governance can provide significant benefits not just for the schools but also for the department, the community and the learners themselves. However, there are two challenges: moving beyond suggestive anecdotes to a systematic approach for measuring the governance of schools, and using the data and rigorous analysis to support schools and improve governance. The researcher has designed a measurement instrument to address this particular gap in the management of public schools. This takes the form of a balanced scorecard based on the Kaplan and Norton Model, but has been specifically developed for measuring the public, education and non-profit sector. A number of school governance performance areas based on regulatory frameworks such as the South African Schools Act (Act 84 of 1996) have been linked to specific indicators and measures. These performance areas related to key targets in order to ascertain the achievement of good school governance outcomes. A learning and developmental approach in the form of a peer review format using a clear and simple process has been developed to apply this measurement system. Through an evaluation study the normative model was applied and tested at selected special schools throughout the Education Management and Development Centres (EMDC) in the Western Cape to test the hypothesis that such a balanced scorecard effectively measures school governance while identifying actual areas of failure. It therefore enables School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to focus on these failures in order to improve school governance and therefore promote the schools’ overall performance. The outcomes of the study have been so impressive that the system can be further developed with stakeholder organisations utilising an online approach that can improve management and save time in view of the schools’ “time-on-task” focus. This is the national government term for time management in teaching and learning in schools. Participants at selected schools further indicated that, with effective orientation and training of SGBs and application teams, this instrument can produce good school and learner outcomes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Konflik en wanfunksionering in openbare skole is dikwels die oorsaak van swak skoolprestasie en leerder-uitkomste. Dit is dikwels ‘n direkte gevolg van swak skoolbestuur. Vorige studies het ‘n aantal faktore geïdentifiseer wat die standaard van skoolbestuur raak. Een van hulle is die afwesigheid van ‘n stelsel vir “doeltreffende monitering en evaluering” van skoolbestuur Die huidige benadering van Totale Skoolevaluering wat die Geïntegreerde Gehaltebeheerstelsel (IQMS) insluit, beskik ongelukkig nie oor voldoende meting van skoolbestuur met die oog op die uitkenning van spesifieke tekortkominge nie. Waar tekortkominge ten opsigte van skoolbestuur wydverspreid en duur is, is dit ook so dat doeltreffende bestuur beduidende voordele kan hê, nie alleenlik vir skole nie, maar ook vir die departement, die gemeenskap en die leerder as sulks. Daar is egter twee uitdagings wat gestel word: om verby voorgestelde wenke te beweeg na ‘n sistematiese benadering vir die meet van die bestuursaard van skole, en om van die data en nougesette analise gebruik te maak om skole te ondersteun en hulle bestuur ‘n helpende hand te bied. Die navorser het ‘n meetinstrument ontwerp om hierdie spesifieke gaping in die bestuur van openbare skole aan te spreek. Dit is in die vorm van ‘n gebalanseede telkaart, gebaseer op Kaplan en Norton (1996), maar wat spesifiek vir die meet van die openbare, onderwys- en nie-winsgewende sektor ontwikkel is. ‘n Aantal prestasies wat spesifiek met skoolbestuur te make het en op regulerende raamwerke soos die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet gerig is, is gekoppel aan spesifieke indikatore en maatreëls en met sleutel-teikens belyn met die oog op die bereiking van skooluitkomste. ‘n Leer- en ontwikkelingsbenadering in die vorm van ‘n portierhersieningsformaat, waar ‘n duidelike en eenvoudige proses gebruik is, is ontwikkel om hierdie metingstelsel toe te pas. ‘n Normatiewe model is deur middel van ‘n evalueringstudie toegepas en aan geselekteerde, spesiale skole regdeur die Onderwysbestuur en Ontwikkelingsentrums in Wes-Kaapland getoets met die doel om die hipotese te toets dat so ‘n gebalanseerde telkaart skoolbestuur doeltreffend meet en tegelykertyd ook tekortkominge identifiseer. Vervolgens stel dit Skoolbeheerliggame in staat om op hierdie tekortkominge te fokus ten einde skoolbestuur te verbeter en daarmee saam die skool se oorhoofse prestasie te bevorder. Die resultaat van die studie was so indrukwekkend dat die stelsel verder in samewerking met belanghebbende instansies ontwikkel kan word deur die gebruikmaking van ‘n aanlyn-benadering wat bestuur kan bevorder en tyd spaar, veral in die lig van skole se fokus op “tyd op ‘n taak.” Deelnemers by geselekteerde skole het aangedui dat dié instrument puik skool- en leerder-uitkomste sou kon lewer indien daar doelmatige oriëntasie en opleiding van Skoolbeheerliggame en toepassingspanne is.