M.Ed. (Educational Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. / With the changes in the „new South Africa‟ came a change of approach in the curriculum from content-based to outcome-based, with the movement to develop inclusive education. This was necessary to accommodate a diverse range of learning needs. This required teachers to adopt a new form of teaching and a new way of thinking for which many teachers were not prepared or trained for. With this movement came the need for school-based support teams (SBST) to assist teachers to cope with the new paradigm. The focus of this paper was to study a best practice case of a school-based support team in an inclusive LSEN (Learners with Special Educational Needs) secondary school. According to White Paper 6 the key function for any SBST is to support all the learners, educators within the school environment to ensure that the full range of learning needs is met. The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of the functioning of a SBST in an LSEN environment. A case study design was chosen as it allowed for an in depth investigation into the functioning of a „supposedly best practice‟ school-based support team within an inclusive LSEN Secondary school context. One LSEN school was used in the research as it was seen by surrounding schools as a „supposedly best practice‟ SBST. Focus group interviews were conducted with school-based support team members, SBST documentation collected, SBST meetings were observed (field notes made) and document analysis was undertaken.

Bibliography: pages 252-280. / Special Education encompasses a wide field. It is an expensive form of education and is often criticized for its shortcomings. One part of Special Education is remedial teaching for children with learning disabilities. In order to provide good quality services, it is necessary to evaluate what is currently being offered and what is envisaged as desirable for the future. This study focusses on those two factors by examining the perceptions of remedial teaching as held by educators (principals, regular class teachers and remedial teachers themselves) in fifty-two schools of the Department of Education and Culture - House of Representatives (DEC-HR). Current service provisions and the desired role of the remedial teacher are thus examined to determine whether educators perceive these as adequate and desirable. A study of the literature was undertaken and guided by those insights a questionnaire was drawn up. This was distributed to educators and the information was verified and augmented by personal interviews with remedial educators. Three hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed. The views of principals, regular class teachers and remedial teachers were surveyed in those primary schools served by a remedial teacher. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to arrive at both quantitative and qualitative assessments of the position of Remedial Services in the Department of Education (House of Representatives). The study revealed a strong correspondence between the three groups of educators regarding their perception of remedial services. The author endeavours to illustrate that the lack of consensus about criteria for definition and classification of Learning Disability and consequently Remedial Education, leads to confusion of the role(s) remedial teachers are expected to fulfil. This affects the provision of adequate and effective remedial services to pupils in need of such specialised educational facilities. Results from this study led the author to draw up a proposed structure for Specialised Education, in particular, Remedial Education, in a unitary Education System in South Africa.

Masters of Education by dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, 2016 / The researcher explored the role of pedagogical documentation in a multimodal Grade R classroom. The purpose of the research was to see how pedagogical documentation would work together with a multimodal approach to enhance learning in Grade R children in an urban South African school. A qualitative case study was conducted at a private girls’ school in Johannesburg with a class of 22 Grade R children over the time frame of eight weeks. The children were exposed to a multimodal approach and pedagogical documentation was used in the classroom to make learning visible and to create a focus for discussion and planning. The research focused on an in-depth analysis of five participants although all the children in the class were part of the data collection process. The children demonstrated an ability to make decisions regarding their learning and the curriculum developed around their interests rather than being predetermined by the teacher. The children also developed a willingness to reflect on their learning processes. They took complete ownership of their environment and were able to use all available resources: the environment, the materials, and those emerging from collaboration with their peers and reflecting on their own learning. An open curriculum was successful with children of this age. However, it is proposed that pedagogical documentation together with a multimodal approach would be more effective in collaborative whole school interventions. / MT2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2017. / The potential for South African science teachers to become powerful agents of transformation needs to be explored. Speaking of Fensham's (2002) term “educo-politics” Aikenhead (2010) argues that, "all science teachers are constantly engaged in ‘educo-politics'” (Aikenhead, 2010:615). In this study I attempted to uncover some of the socially critical aspects of science and society related themes. This study investigated how science and society themes outlined in the Natural Sciences Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) (Department of Basic Education [DBE], 2011) are understood and valued by teachers. The study provides an account of how science teachers under the direction of the curriculum statement conceptualise the pedagogical use, and social value, of Specific Aim 3 in their regular teaching of Grade 9 Natural Sciences. The Science-Technology-Society- Environment (STSE) currents presented by Pedretti & Nazir (2011) provided a theoretical framework from which this inquiry was conducted and structured. This was a qualitative, small-scale study limited to 32 participants. The theoretical foundation of this study was influenced by the ideology and pedagogical frameworks which underpin science and society philosophies and movements in science education. An evaluation of the Natural Sciences CAPS (DBE, 2011) using such frameworks informed the development of the two research instruments used. A questionnaire was administered to 32 Grade 9 Natural Sciences teachers from government schools in the Johannesburg-West and Johannesburg-North districts in Gauteng. Three of the questionnaire participants were then interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The participants varied in age, race demographics, distribution of home languages, professional qualifications and years of teaching experience. The schools where participants teach were varied in terms of demographics and available resources. The study found that participants did not communicate a clear understanding of the principles which form science and society in the Natural Sciences CAPS. Time constraints, deviation from science content and limited usefulness for science learning were commonly cited to justify limited science and society practices. Furthermore, participants regularly made statements which communicated their belief in the superiority of science in terms of its explanatory value. In this regard participants showed insensitivity to the cultural barriers students may experience when learning science. This study has contributed to our understanding of how South African science teachers conceptualise and use science as society themes as outlined in the Grade 9 Natural Sciences CAPS. The findings of this study confirmed that the effects and consequences of the prescriptive elements and nature of the Natural Sciences CAPS (DBE, 2011) need to be critically evaluated. Although curriculum reform in South Africa was intended to empower teachers in their decision-making about what and how to teach, over-reliance on work schedules and Learning Support Materials (LSMs) results in the constriction of teacher agency (Stoffels, 2008). Such tendencies were observed in this study and hence it is suggested that this aspect of teacher agency be explored in further research. KEY WORDS Science and Society Scientific literacy Humanistic science education Curriculum Teachers Science-Society-Technology Science-Society-Technology-Environment Socioscientific Issues / EM2018

MGS / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / Gender mainstreaming has been adopted as a strategy for promoting gender equality in institutions of higher learning worldwide, and not least in Africa. There are perceptions that most strategic higher positions in institutions of Higher learning are dominated by men while women are marginalized. This study therefore explored Gender Mainstreaming in institutions of higher learning. In particular, the study was based at a rural university in Limpopo, South Africa. The study was based on a Feminist Theoretical Framework, where a mixed method approach was embarked upon. The study involved a population of 840 participants who were sampled to 84. Purposive sampling was used to select 9 participants who were interviewed and stratified sampling was used to select a sample of 75 participants who were given questionnaires. The findings of the study are as follows: Males at the University of Venda continue to occupy higher echelons of power. Women continue to be under-represented in the positions of Deans, HODs, School Administrators and Directors. The university has strategies in place for female staff to acquire equal representation in senior management positions. Factors hindering the implementation of the 50/50 parity on gender stem from the lack of commitment from top management, and the stereotyping of women’s roles. Some respondents indicated that they do not know of the gender policy at the University of Venda. The university uses the Employment Equity Act of 1998, but, it is not clear whether line managers are aware how it should be implemented. Gender mainstreaming policy is feasible. The study recommends that there should be more gender awareness activities such as workshops, conferences, and symposia for workers and staff members in order to sensitize them about gender mainstreaming.

The study investigates the educational role of the public service broadcaster in post-apartheid South Africa. The aim was to investigate the educational role of the programme Shift as part of the content offering of the public broadcaster and the extent to which it satisfies the educational needs of its audiences. The main objective of the study is to investigate factors that influence the educational role of the SABC. The study focused on three different forms of educational television which are the formal, informal and no-formal education. The theoretical point of departure is the critical political economy theory, and the public interest theory which focuses on the interests of the public. A content analysis of Shift was conducted to determine the educational role of this programme. The study also investigates how political and economic factors influence the educational role of the SABC in the post-apartheid South Africa. The study also examines the impact that media funding can have on the educational role of the public broadcaster. The episodes of Shift are analysed in order to understand if political and economic factors can influence the educational role of the SABC. The study critically analysed whether the relevant media policies are driven by profit making motives. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)

No abstract available / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Didactics)

Text in Afrikaans / OPSOMMING: In 'n transformerende samelewing waar die klem is op die realisering van die individu se potensiaal en erkenning van alle vaardighede teen 'n Nasionale Kwalifikasie Raamwerk, verkeer ook die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag in 'n staat van verandering. Die diverse menslike hulpbron - burgerlikes en 'n uniformdraende komponent van ge'integreerde magte - vereis opleiding om effektiewe verdediging aan Suid-A:frika en sy inwoners te bied. Nie net die permanente komponent moet die nodige vaardighede ontwikkel nie, maar ook die Deeltydse Mag ('n totaal van meer as 140 000 lede). Hierdie opleidingsbehoefte en die krimpende begroting, noop die Weermag om koste-effektiewe menslike hulpbronontwikkelingstrategiee toe te pas. Afstandsonderrig, met veral die nuwe interaktiewe karakter daarvan, kan 'n lewensvatbare strategie wees. 'n Vraelystudie na die stand van afstandsonderrig in die Weermag het getoon dat afstandsonderrig reeds op beperkte skaal bedryf word, maar met leemtes in die leermateriaal en 'n gebrek aan noodsaaklike ondersteuning van die bevelstruktuur. Die skep van leerbevorderlike leermateriaal met 'n interaktiewe karakter, soos dit in resente literatuur beskryfword en in algemene afstandsonderrig sigbaar is, kan 'n effektiewe didaktiese leeroordragstelsel vorm. Van die verskeidenheid nuwe mediategnologiee wat tans in die makro-afstandsonderrigomgewing benut word, kan veral rekenaargebaseerde opleiding en oplyn-opleiding in die Weermag aangewend word. Gedrukte materiaal sal steeds die basis vorm en kan aangevul word met interaktiewe televisie-uitsendings - wat tydens 'n loodsaanbieding aan Weermaglede oorweldigend positief ervaar is, om wisselwerking tussen die instrukteur en die leerder, en die leerders onderling te verhoog. vu 'n Afstandsonderrigmodel, gerig op die spesifieke situasie van 'n organisasie soos die Weermag wat self verantwoordelik is vir die ontwikkeling van sy menslike hulpbron, is ontwerp as hoofriglyn vir die ontwikkeling van 'n afstandsonderrigstelsel. Dit beklemtoon die basiese opleidingskomponente van die leerder, die instrukteur en die leermateriaal wat gesien moet word binne die spesifieke omgewing waarbinne hulle funksioneer. Die essensiele rol van die beleidmakende komponent is ook bespreek, aangesien die afstandsonderrigstelsel slegs suksesvol bedryf kan word as daar beleid gepromulgeer is wat die afstandsonderrigstelsel bemagtig. Ontwikkelingsriglyne en implementerinsgriglyne vir 'n afstandsonderrigstelsel in die Weermag sluit ook 'n voorgestelde ontwikkelingsprogram van die afstandsonderriginstrukteurs in. / Summary : In a transforming society where the emphasis is on realizing the potential of the individual and accrediting all competencies against a National Qualifications Framework, the South African National Defence Force is also in a state of change. The diverse human resources demand training in order to effectively defend South Africa and its inhabitants. Competency development is needed by both the permanent component and the Part-time Force. This training requirement and the shrinking budget impel the Defence Force to apply cost-effective human resource development strategies. Distance learning, especially with its new interactive nature, can be a viable strategy. A questionnaire study of the status of distance learning in the Defence Force showed that it is already practised on a limited scale, but with deficiencies in the learning material and a lack of support from the command structure. The creation of interactive learning materials that enhance learning as described in current literature and found in general distance learning practice, can form an effective didactical learning transfer system. Of the various media technologies presently utilised in the macro-distance learning environment, computer-based training and on-line training can be applied in the Defence Force. Printed materials forms the basis and can be supplemented with interactive television broadcasts - which were overwhelmingly positively accepted by Defence Force members during a pilot presentation. - to improve the interaction between the instructor and learner and between learners. A distance learning model focussed on the specific situation of an organisation such as the Defence Force, which is responsible for the development of its own human resources, was designed as main guideline for the development of a distance learning system. It emphasizes the basic components of the learner, the instructor and the learning material that have to be seen within the specific environment in which they operate. The essential role of the policy making component is discussed, since a distance learning system can only be applied successfully if there is promulgated policy to empower the distance learning system. Development and implementation guidelines for a distance learning system in the Defence Force also include a suggested development program for distance learning instructors. / Didactics / D. Ed. (Didactics)

The aim of this study is to deal with the theoretical and philosophical aspects of Christian education and to evaluate the realisation thereof in Gazankulu schools. Concepts dealing with the study, such as education, Christian education, learning, teaching, pedagogy, religion and Christianity are firstly discussed. A brief background of the area of study is also given. Secondly a philosophical orientation is given in which an attempt is made to answer the question 'What is philosophy?'. Important aspects of a Christian philosophy is also established and philosophical categories, the nature and aims of Christian education are discussed. Christian schooling are thirdly discussed, especially Christian schooling as it ought to be. Important aspects thereof, such as major learning goals and components of the education situation are dealt with. The position and status of scripture teaching in school, as well as the position of religious education in Gazankulu are outlined. In the fourth place, an empirical study to evaluate the stand of Christian education in Gazankulu schools, are discussed. This study involved principals, parents, pupils and teachers. Finally conclusions are given and certain recommendations regarding Christian education are made. / Die doel van hierdie studie is om die teoretiese en filosofiese aspekte van Christelike onderwys te deurgrond en om die realisering van hierdie aspekte in skole in Gazankulu te evalueer. Begrippe wat met die studie te make het, soos opvoeding, Christelike onderwys, onderrig-leer, pedagogie, geloof, en Christelikheid, word bespreek. 'n Beknopte oorsig van die studiegebied word ook gegee. Daar word tweedens 'n filosofiese orientering gegee, waarin daar gepoog word om vrae soos 'Wat is filosofie?' te beantwoord. Belangrike aspekte van 'n Christelike filosofie word ook bespreek en filosofiese kategoriee, die aard van en doelstellings met Christelike onderwys, word aangespreek. Christelike onderwys, en veral Christelike onderwys soos dit behoort te wees, word derdens bespreek. Belangrike aspekte daarvan, soos die onderrigleerdoelstellings en die komponente van die opvoedingsituasie word aangeraak. Die plek en status van Bybelonderrig in Gazankulu word ook beskryf. In die vierde plek word 'n empiriese ondersoek om die stand van Christelike onderwys in Gazankulu te evalueer, bespreek. Hierdie ondersoek het hoofde, ouers, leerlinge en onderwysers betrek. Laastens word daar tot sekere gevolgtrekkings gekom, en aanbevelings gemaak ten opsigte van Christelike onderwys. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)