Thesis (MEd)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Many schools in the Western Cape Province of South Africa have opted to change from a fee-paying school to that of no-fee paying school, due to the small or no income of funding received annually from learners from poor economic backgrounds. The study aimed to investigate whether this school fee system was able to successfully address barriers which the previous system was unable to, and for this reason I addressed the stakeholders who are involved in the implementation of this no-fee school policy. This study aimed to explore the experiences of teachers and parents at the no-fee school well after its transition from feepaying. In summary, the study examined whether the no-fee allocated funds per learner were able to improve the school performance indicators (school facilities, resources, teacher complement, pass rates, infrastructure, etc.), since the change took place. The study applied a qualitative case study methodology to realize its purpose. I used purposeful sampling to select one newly declared no-fee school. From this school, one principal, six teachers and four sets of parents were interviewed on their experiences regarding this policy. Semi-structured interviews and observation with document analysis were triangulated to collect and enrich the data. The study revealed that this no-fee school was able to address the needs of the poor in the Lotus River historically disadvantaged community.

M. Ed. (Education Management) / Schools for Specialisted Education cater for pupils who suffer from a wide range of disabilities. At these schools the staff component is diverse in order to cater for all the needs of the pupils. Because of the diversity of staff members, which include teaching staff, therapists, nursing staff, hostel staff, administrative staff etcetera, special care must be taken to address the staff development needs of all staff members. The purpose of this study therefore had two main objectives, namely : (1) To do a survey and establish exactly what is being done in practice regarding staff development at schools for Cerebral Palsied and Learning Disabled. (2) To draw up guidelines to assist principals when planning their annual staff development and in-service training programme. It was found that very few schools for Specialised Education plan specifically for the needs of a diverse staff, but rather include topics that will interest most staff members as a group. Staff members also expressed the need to be included in the planning stages to ensure that their needs are addressed and that they are empowered to perform their tasks to the best of their ability. After a general overview of the essence of any staff development programme, more specific guidelines are given to assist principals of schools for Specialised Education and schools for Cerebral Palsied and Learning Disabled in particular.

D.Ed. / Education for the Deaf in South Africa appears to be insufficiently researched, contributing to a less than ideal educational situation. Teachers are not trained to address the special needs of Deaf learners, there is limited cohesive instructional theory and the educational policy focussing on the needs of Deaf learners is limited in both range and depth. Due to the ineffectiveness of Deaf education in South Africa, the majority of Deaf school leavers leave school linguistically impoverished, 'disabled' by the lack of effective educational opportunities, thus carrying the main barrier to learning' with them into life. In an effort to ascertain why the educational system is deemed ineffectual, I identified the lack of training programmes for teachers of the Deaf in South Africa as a main cause of inadequate Deaf education in South Africa. In order to assess this working hypothesis, I initiated an investigation into the perceptions of the crucial role players in Deaf education, namely the teachers of the Deaf and Deaf adults (former learners). The purpose of the study was thus to find out why the Deaf education system is ineffectual. An inquiry was therefor conducted into the emic views of teachers of the Deaf and also Deaf adults who had experienced the education system in South Africa first-hand. I aimed to study rigorously and methodically these perceptions and experiences with the view of contributing to the discourse about the improvement of Deaf education in South Africa. These personal views were obtained in a 'bottom-up' research mode and could be essential in contributing to the sparse body of knowledge on Deaf education in South Africa from the Deaf adult's perspective. The study should also contribute to the Deaf community's move toward empowerment and equality. The findings that emerged from the study support the hypothesis that the present situation in Deaf education is unacceptable to both educators and learners alike and that specialised training for teachers of the Deaf, including knowledge of Sign Language, is essential. The investigation concludes with a consolidation of the findings into a framework for a proposed teacher training programme for teachers of the Deaf, which is presented within the outcomes based paradigm.

D. Ed. (Adult and Higher Education) / The aim of this study was to investigate and formulate criteria for distance education programmes at residential South African universities. The objectives of the study included the following perspectives: * Definition and conceptualization: to define and conceptualize the relevant concepts regarding distance education programmes for residential South African universities; * A perspective for change: to discuss the challenges faced by South African universities, comprising certain external and internal determinants, in order to justify the reconsideration of present university education programmes; * A perspective on residential university education: to analyze the composition and format of residential university education programmes. * A perspective on distance education university programmes: to analyze the composition and format of distance education university programmes. * A comparative perspective: to compare typical residential and distance education university programmes. * A perspective on the criteria: to design criteria for distance education programmes at residential universities, which could be employed as recommendations for implementing such programmes.

D.Phil. / The purpose of this research is to develop a curriculum framework for a distance education course in sustainable urban agriculture, whereby it is envisaged to train the trainers of urban farmers. The factors which motivated this study are mainly socioeconomic and ecological in nature and include the food crisis of the urban poor, unsustainable agricultural practices, malnutrition, starvation, health risks and high population growth in cities. Sustainability in urban agriculture implicates a need for environmental education and ecological agriculture. An exploratory and descriptive research design was used in the empirical study to determine the feasibility of an urban agriculture course through distance education. The need for Environmental Education in this course as well as the best media to use for the course were determined. Secondly, the policies and assistance by local governments to establish an infrastructure for practising sustainable urban agriculture, aimed at improving socio-economic and environmental sustainability, were determined. In both these cases a quantitative research study was undertaken, using a questionnaire as the data collecting instrument and a research survey as the method of enquiry. The sampling population was purposively selected. The questionnaires were coded and the data from the closed-ended questions was computer-analysed while data from the open-ended questions was content analysed, using Kerlinger's method of content analysis. Thirdly, a literature study was done on the educational philosophies and the philosophical base undergirding this curriculum as well as curriculum design models and sources of change, influencing this curriculum. A curriculum design model was chosen to serve as a theoretical foundation for designing an urban agriculture curriculum. Finally an empirical study with a discriptive and exploratory research design was undertaken in a qualitative research study to set the curriculum framework for a distance education course in urban agriculture.

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. / The research report in this study is an attempt to ascertain young women's needs for non-formal education and training programs in the area of Thulamahashe. The study explored - through the combination of personal survey interviews and direct observation - the needs as expressed by these women in the area. The study focuses on empowerment for rural women and involves activities such as vocational education and non-formal education programs. Evidence from the study suggests that the members of the research sample view themselves as victims of unemployment. Findings from the study suggest that these women are losing community status and they need to be helped to acquire a skill through non-formal training programs. The main implications of the findings are: There is a need for non-formal education and training programs in the area. There is a need for the community leaders to seek financial assistance from non-Govenmental Organisations (NGO's) so that these women can be trained and be self-employed.

The main aim of this study was to explore and describe the development and cognitive ability of a sample of children aged six to eight enrolled in specialised education, in the category of specific learning disability (SLD). This was achieved through the utilization of the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition and input from the trans-disciplinary team. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was employed and the sample consisted of eight participants. The multiple case study method was used in order to achieve the aim of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were incorporated to provide a holistic description of the participants. Quantitative data was obtained from the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition while qualitative data was obtained from the Biographical Questionnaire, input from members of the trans-disciplinary team, data from the participants‟ archives as well as clinical observations made during the assessment process. The data was analysed according to the domains of childhood development.The results obtained revealed that the general development of the sample as measured by the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised was average. The Eye and Hand Co-ordination Subscale was the most problematic for the participants. The majority of the sample obtained below average scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition‟s full scale IQ (FSIQ). The Verbal Reasoning Index and the Working Memory Index yielded the lowest scores amongst the sample. The results indicated that the majority of the participants are stronger with non-verbal as opposed to verbal reasoning. The study revealed that the two measures, the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition complement one another. The developmental and intellectual nature of the measures allow for gaps left by the one measure to be filled by the other. The study highlighted the importance of gaining information from the trans-disciplinary team and not relying purely on psychometric measures. It was made clear through the study that deficits often exist that are not picked up by assessment measures alone. In order to gain a comprehensive, holistic picture of a child, one needs to consult a variety of sources. Questions regarding the classification system of high needs learners as well as the current system of specialised education were raised.

This research explores issues relating to language policy, and language learning and teaching. It further looks at the relationship that exists between language policy and language learning and teaching. In the research I argue that well-thought out and well-meaning language policies will fail to be implemented meaningfully if there is no clear and unambiguous implementation plan. I also note that the national vision and ideals which are often embodied in the language policy fail to take effect if, again, there is no comprehensive implementation plan. This view is held by many scholars and researchers in the areas of language policy and planning.

This thesis is concerned with the impact of Western education on the social life of the members of a Transkeian village. Various authors in the locally relevant literature, have for a long time commented that, due to Western education and Christianity, African societies became divided into 'school'people, who readily accepted Western education and culture, and 'red' people, who initially resisted these. Whilst the terms 'red' and 'school' became used as analytical constructs for the differing responses to Western culture, they were also used by African people. My findings at Qhude, Transkei, confirmed such a social division. I argue that this social division does not present an absolute distinction, but may best be conceived in terms of a continuum. Whilst the thesis considers interaction between the 'school' and the 'red' people of Qhude in various fields of life such as politics, law, religion (see Chapter Two) and education (see Chapter Six), the main emphasis is on the 'red' people. Thus, the thesis concerns itself, to a large degree, with an analysis of the 'red' people's experience and interpretation of Western education and Western educated people. The main argument is that the 'red' people's perception of Western education and Western educated people is ambiguous. That is, they see them in both positive and negative terms (see Chapter Five). This ambiguity is looked at here as a manifestation of the difficulties encountered by the 'red' people in adjusting to an institution (i.e Western education)that was initially foreign, and to which they were initially opposed. The perception of Western education as positive follows from the fact that it is seen as leading to economic empowerement by the 'red' people of Qhude, who are facing poverty, due to an economic decline (see Chapter Three). However, the economic contribution of the young (who are the ones receiving western education) and the knowledge they gather from school, threaten the authority of elders, as the young become increasingly independent from the elders. As a result of such independence, and other factors, Western education is seen in negative terms by the 'red' people. Such potential dangers of Western education are well recognised by the 'reds' of Qhude, and are dealt with culturally. That is, it is made clear to the young, in particular during occasions such as circumcision rituals, that education has to be made relevant to the building of the homestead, which is under the overlordship of parents whom the young are called upon to respect (see Chapter Six). In conclusion, it is argued that the use of culture in this way, shows how 'tradition' is employed to deal with crisis. Such use of culture necessitates a clarification of the opinion that uneducated Africans rejected Western education (see Chapter Seven).