The researcher wants to create a learning environment where learners are much more involved in their own learning. The progressive teaching design implies that the contribution of the learner to the development of knowledge is recognised. The educator also acknowledges the learner as a social being reliant on interaction with others to generate meaning. The problem statement for this study is based on the researcher’s opinion that In South African schools rote learning and memorisation are still the main methods of learning. The reason for this is because the majority of educators have been schooled in the traditional educational paradigm where the teaching process essentially revolves around the educator. In such a system learners who can recall facts best and obtain the best grades are regarded as having learnt well. The researcher contests the assertion that the learners learnt authentically. The progressive teaching approach is proffered by the educator as an alternative for the attainment of authentic learning in a grade 10 Economics classroom. In an authentic learning environment learners are prepared to face challenges in the real world through the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learners collaborate and cooperate as members of a group to unravel problems. The researcher makes use of a qualitative research design for this study. The grade 10 Economics class of the researcher is used a case study to ascertain whether a progressive teaching approach can enhance authentic learning. Twelve learners out 26 that indicated that they would participate eventually took part in the study. The research instruments used were the video recorded lessons, teacher observation sheets and learner focused-group interviews. One of the findings from the study was that authentic learning skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking can be developed through the educator using the progressive teaching approach. This is in line with the principles of the CAPS for Economics. Another finding is that although more learner involvement is required for the progressive approach, the role of the educator remains crucial as a knowledge expert and a facilitator in the classroom. A further finding was that learners embraced the co-operative learning strategy which is one of the fundamentals of authentic learning. They enjoyed teaching to and learning from one another in group work. Finally, learners appreciated the use of cartoons and team-games by the progressive educator as additional strategies to further authenticate and enhance the learning experience. In summary the researcher wants to contend that from the literature study, the findings of the empirical research and the recommendation of this study that by working within the parameters of the CAPS for Economics, authentic learning can be achieved via a progressive teaching design. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

This research builds on and contributes to work in Natural Science teacher education and practice. The study places particular attention on the teacher’s role in the science classroom through gaining more understanding on their classroom practices. A qualitative approach was employed. Data was collected from three grade 7 Natural Science teachers using observation and interview schedules. Analysis of the data then followed using the Classroom Practice Diagnostic Framework. The findings thereafter included inadequate teachers’ teacher knowledge. The teachers’ instructional strategies where not varied enough and centred on teacher lecture and the demonstration method. Finally, authoritative discourse was very prominent as well as system accountability. Recommendations were then given ranging from use of teaching methods that encourage an active and critical approach to learning, to improving classroom discourse by avoiding authoritative discourse. The implications of the research include better understanding of how teachers link their science knowledge to how they teach it, and better science application by the teachers and learners in South Africa. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (With specialisation in Natural Science Education)

This research investigated the instructional leadership roles of selected township principals. Its main focus was therefore to explore and understand the roles and practices engaged in by township principals in order to influence effective teaching and learning in their schools. A qualitative research method was used to conduct a case study with two schools. A total of six participants were purposefully sampled: two principals and four teachers. The data was collected using individual interviews, document analysis and observations. From the data, five themes emerged in this study. Although the findings revealed that there are some principals with a weak and partial understanding of what instructional leadership entails, these principals do put a remarkable effort into executing their instructional roles. Instructional leadership development programmes are necessary for all School Management Team (SMT) members. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Instructional leadership (IL) is a powerful tool that is used by principals to manage schools. There is a need for principals to fully embrace this concept of leadership and understand how educators respond to their IL. This study investigated the response of educators to principals’ IL. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six teachers at a selected high school. The results found that teachers were comparatively impressed by the principal’s IL. The principal showed partial involvement in managing an instructional programme and promotion of a culture of teaching and learning. The results will enable principals to understand the reaction of teachers to their IL, thereby empowering them to be better instructional leaders. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Educational Management and Leadership)

After the dispensation of the White Paper 6 in schools, there were no detailed guidelines to accommodate the learners with invisible impairments like absence epilepsy, especially those who live in underprivileged communities. Affected learners are still struggling and not receiving proper instruction in ordinary schools because of the nature of absence epilepsy. It seems like it is unknown that they are suffering, because the symptoms are absent. These learners are performing poorly; they are having learning and behavioural problems. At home parents are ignorant of their plight, teachers are oblivious of their problems and at schools they are being discriminated against by other children. As a result, they repeat grades and some end up leaving school to join the unemployed. They have a low self-esteem and remain unsociable. This is because they suffer from absence epilepsy which is a medical problem. Absence epilepsy is unknown to both parents and teachers in these communities. Cultural beliefs and ignorance prevent parents from taking these children to clinics for identification, which results in them not being supported in schools. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Abstracts in English, Sesotho and Xhosa / Through learner progression in South African primary and lower secondary public schools, many learners proceed to the Further Education and Training (FET) Phase without proficiency in English First Additional Language (EFAL), the language of learning and teaching (LoLT). Compelled by this challenge, this multiple-case study aimed to explore the lived experiences of grades 10 and 11 teachers in teaching progressed learners to enhance communication proficiency in EFAL. The study was informed by a qualitative research approach, embedded in a constructivist paradigm, guided by Vygotsky (1978) social development theory. Observations and one-on-one, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from a sample frame of five grades 10 and 11 EFAL teachers in selected rural secondary schools and thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Findings revealed that in this era where learner diversity requires differentiated teaching that appeals to the needs of diverse learners, teachers hold on to the past training one-size-fits-all teaching methods. Consequently, teachers experience challenges related to lack of exposure to teach complex grades of able and progressed learners together. Among others, recommendations are made to policy makers that the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) for EFAL be aligned with the needs of diverse learners. The EFAL teachers should also engage in a culture of reading and lifelong learning to empower themselves professionally in order to overcome challenges in the inclusive teaching of able and progressed learners who have barriers to learning the language. / Ka leano la ho fetisa baithuti leha ba sa atleha likolong tsa mathomo, le tse mahareng Africa Boroa, baithuti ba bangata ba fetela mokhahlelong oa thuto e phahameng ntle le bokhoni ba puo ea mantlha ea Senyesemane, puo ea ho ithuta le ho ruta. Ka ho susumetsoa ke qholotso ena, lipatlisiso tsena li entsoe ho hlahloba boiphihlelo ba mesuoe ea sehlopha sa leshome le leshome le motso o mong, ho ntlafatsa tsebo ea ho ruta ka Senyesemane. Boithuto bona bo ile ba etsoa ka lipatlisiso tsa boleng tse kenelletsang tataiso le khopolo ea ntšetso-pele ea sechaba ea Vygotsky (1978). Litebello le puisano tse hlophisitsoeng le mosuoe kapa mosuoetsana ka mong, li sebelisitsoe ho bokella lintlha ka ho qotsa le ho batlisisa ho mesuoe e mehlano ea puo ea mantlha likolong eleng Senyesemane. Ho khethiloe lihlopha tse bohareng le hlahlobo ea mantlha e sebelisitsoe ho shebisisa liphuputso. Se senotsoeng ke liphuputso tsena ke hore nakong eona ena eo barutoana ba hlokang thuto e ikhethang, e ipapisitseng le litlhoko tsa boiphihlelo ba bona, mesuoe e bonahala e tsitlalletse mokhoeng oa khale oa ho ruta, o nkang joalokaha eka barutuoa bohle bana le boinahano le boiphihlelo bo tšoanang. Ka lebaka leo, mesuoe e tobana le bothata ba ho ruta ka boiphihlelo baithuti ba atlehileng le ba fetisitsoeng ha ba kopa-kopane ka litsebo tse arohaneng. Mehato e nkiloeng ka boithuto bona e kenyeletsa ho eletsa baetsi ba manene-thuto hore Tokomane ea Leano la Lenane-thuto ea puo ea Senyesemane ea pele e lokele ho arabela litlhoko tsa baithuti ka bokhoni ba bona bo fapaneng, ‘me mesuoe e lokela ho ikoetlisa ho-ea-ho-ile e le ho ichorisa le ho itlhahlella thutong ea senyesemane e kenyelelitseng baithuti bohle le ba fetisitsoeng ba e-na le bothata ba puo ena. / Ngokuqhubela phambili kwabafundi kwzikolo zikarhulumente eziziiprayimari nezizezantsi ezikarhurumente, abafundi abaninzi baya kwinqanaba leMfundo ePhakamileyo noQeqesho ngaphandle kobuchule besiNgesi uLwimi lokuQala oLongezelelweyo, ulwimi lokufunda nokufundisa. Benyanzelwe ngulo mngeni, esi sifundo sinamacala amaninzi sijilise ekuhloleni amava aphilayo ootitshala beBanga le-10 nele-11 ekufundiseni abaqhubela phambili abafundi ukomeleza ubuchule bonxibelelwano kulwimi olongezelelweyo lesiNgesi. Olu phononongo lwalwaziswe ngendlela yophando olusemgangathweni, olungeniswe kwiparadise yabafundi, ekhokelwa yithiyori yophuhliso lwentlalo yaseVygotsky. Ukuqwalaselwa, udliwanondlebe olwenziwe ngamnye ngamnye eyakhelweyo, nohlalutyo lwamaxwebhu kwasetyenziswa ukuqokelela idatha kwisakhelo sesampula yootitshala abaLwimi abahlanu abakwiBanga leShumi elinanye ku-11 kwizikolo eziziisekondari ezikhethiweyo, kwaye nohlalutyo lobugcisa lwalusetyenziselwa ukuhlalutya idatha. Iziphumo zophando zibonisa ukuba ngeli xesha apho ukwahluka kwabafundi kufuna ukufundiswa okwahlukileyo okubonakalisa iimfuno zabafundi abahlukeneyo, ootitshala babambelela kuqeqesho lwangaphambili ngokweendlela zokufundiisa. Ngenxa yoko, ootitshala bafumana imiceli mingeni enxulumene nokungafikeli ekufundiseni amabanga anobunzima abafundi abakwaziyo nokuqhubela phambili kunye. Phakathi kokunye, izindululo zenziwa kubaqulunqi bomgaqo-nkqubo zokuba iNkcazo yoMgago-nkqubo woVavanyo lweKharityhulamu yolwimi lwesiNgesi oLongezelelweyo mayihambelane neemfuno zabafundi abahlukeneyo, kwaye ootitshala kufuneka bazixhobise kangangoko ukufunda ukuze bazixhobisele ukukwazi ukufundisa abantwana ngokwale mfundo iqukayo. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The study sought to investigate the role of Heads of Departments (HoDs) in the teaching of mathematics in primary schools of the Eastern Cape Province in the OR Tambo Inland District using a qualitative approach and a case study design in particular. Data was collected using both semi-structured and focus group interviews with eight purposively selected heads of departments in the district in six schools. Data was analysed using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis from which three themes emerged. The first one was that the current performance management system interfered with the roles and responsibilities of the HoDs in schools in their daily activities and in the organisation of their work. Second, the barriers in achieving learners’ good performance in mathematics interfered with the HoDs’ responsibilities to achieve good learner performance in the subject. Third, a weak support system and inadequate resources interfered with the learners’ performance in the subject. The results here indicate that HoDs for mathematics experience various obstacles, which affect subject teachers’ implementation to yield positive results, ultimately leading to poor teaching and learning of the subject. These include the admission of learners without the necessary foundations in mathematics which was viewed as an obstacle to learner performance. The study further suggested that the HoDs of mathematics should be capacitated on use of teaching aids, management and administration to improve learner performance in the subject. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Parental involvement plays a very important role in the development of a child’s formal education. This study explored various management strategies that might serve as guidelines to improve parental involvement in primary schools. The conceptual framework that informed this study was factors that determine school effectiveness as well as Epstein’s theory of overlapping spheres and her typology on parental involvement that served as the theoretical framework. A qualitative research approach was used for this study, as it allowed the researcher to conduct in-depth interviews with six principals in Southern Tshwane primary schools and examined relevant documents to collect data. The research indicates that most schools comprehend the importance of parental involvement, yet lack structured implementation frameworks for parental involvement. The study recommends that schools need to plan, manage and implement a parental involvement programme according to the unique circumstances of the school. / Ukubandakanyeka kwabazali kudlala indima ebalulekile kakhulu ekuthuthukiseni imfundo esemthethweni yengane. Lolucwaningo luhlola amasu ahlukahlukene okuphatha angase asebenze njengemihlahlandlela yokuthuthukisa ukubandakanyeka kwabazali ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi ase Ningizimu neTshwane. Umhlahlandlela womqondo owazisa lolucwaningo yizici ezenza ukusebenza kahle ezikoleni kanye nenkolelo ka-Epstein yezinhlaka eziqhamukayo ekubandakanyeni kwabazali okwakungumhlahlandlela wemfundo. Indlela yokucwaninga eyasetshenziswa kulolucwaningo yenza ukuthi umcwaningi aqhube izingxoxo ezijulile nothishanhloko abayisithupha bezikole zamabanga aphansi ase Ningizimu neTshwane, futhi wahlola nemibhalo efanele ukuqoqa imininingwane. Ucwaningo lubonisa ukuthi izikole eziningi zinalo ulwazi lokubaluleka kokubandakanya abazali kodwa azinazo izinhlaka ezihlelekile zokwenza ukuthi abazali babandakanyeke. Ucwaningo lukhuthaza ukuthi izikole zidinga ukuhlela, ukuphatha nokusebenzisa uhlelo lokubandakanya abazali ngokuvumelana nezimo ezihlukile zesikole. / U dzhenelela ha vhabebi ndi tshipida tsha ndeme tsha u aluwa ha pfunzo ya vhana. Tsedzuluso ino yo sedzulusa ndila dzo fhambanaho dza u langula dzine dza shumisiwa sa nyeletshedzo dza u khwinisa u dzhenelela ha vhabebi kha zwikolo zwa fhundzo dza fhasi Tshitirikini tsha Tshipembe ha Tshwane. Tsedzuluso ino yo di sendeka nga zwithu zwine zwa bveledza tshumelo ya maimo a ntha a zwikolo na pfunzo khulwane ya Epstein ya masia a no shumisana kha u dzhenelela ha vhabebi zwine zwa shumisiwa sa maga a kuhumbulele. Tsedzuluso ino yo shumisa maitele a u sedzulusa a qualitative, ngauri a tendela musedzulusi u vhudzisa mbudziso dzo dzudzanywaho na thoho dza tshikolo dza rathi dza zwikolo zwa fhasi Tshitirikini tsha Tshipembe ha Tshwane, na u sedzulusa manwalo o no yelana na tsedzuluso ino kuvhanganya ndivho. Tsedzuluso i sumbedza uri vhunzhi ha zwikolo zwi dzhiela nzhele u dzhenelela ha vhabebi, fhedzi a zwina maitele o dzudzanywaho a u eletshedza u dzhenelela avhabebi. Tsedzuluso ino i themendela uri zwikolo zwi tea u dzudzanya, u langula na u shumisa maitele o themendelwaho a u katela u dzhenelela ha vhabebi uya nga u fhambana-fhambana ha nyimele dza zwikolo. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematics Education)

Abstract in English, Tswana and Northern Sotho / The study aimed to explore teachers’ mathematical knowledge in respect of teaching the concept of fractions to Grade 6 learners. To that end a qualitative study was done, using a case study design. Data were collected through the observation of, and interviews with, three teachers at three schools in the Capricorn South district. Rooted in the theory of constructivism, the study was supplemented by the conceptual framework of mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) (Ball et al., 2008) and Shulman’s (1986) notion of pedagogical knowledge for teaching (PCK). The key finding of this investigation revealed that, of the three teachers, two did not develop the concept of fractions for their learners, but merely followed the traditional method of teaching the concept by encouraging their learners to memorise rules without understanding. Only one teacher emphasised an understanding of mathematical concepts. The main observation which the researcher made, was that teachers require a great deal of knowledge and expertise, in carrying out the work of teaching subject matter related to fractions. / Maikaelelo a thutopatlisiso e ne e le go tlhotlhomisa kitso ya dipalo ya barutabana malebana le go ruta barutwana ba Mophato wa 6 mogopolo wa dikarolwana. Go fitlhelela seo, go dirilwe thutopatlisiso e e lebelelang mabaka, go dirisiwa thadiso ya thutopatlisiso ya dikgetsi. Go kokoantswe data ka go ela tlhoko le go nna le dipotsolotso le barutabana ba le bararo kwa dikolong tsa kgaolo ya Capricorn Borwa. Thutopatlisiso eno e e theilweng mo tioring ya kago ya kitso e ne e tshegeditswe ke letlhomeso la sediriswa sa tokololo sa kitso ya dipalo ya go ruta (MKT) (Ball et al. 2008) le mogopolo wa ga Shulman (1986) wa kitso e e kgethegileng ya go ruta (PCK). Phitlhelelo ya botlhokwa ya patlisiso eno e senotse gore mo barutabaneng ba le bararo, ba le babedi ga ba a tlhamela barutwana ba bona mogopolo wa dikarolwana, mme ba latetse fela mokgwa wa tlwaelo wa go ruta mogopolo ka go rotloetsa barutwana go tshwarelela melawana kwa ntle ga go tlhaloganya. Ke morutabana a le mongwe fela yo o gateletseng go tlhaloganngwa ga megopolo ya dipalo. Temogo e kgolo e e dirilweng ke mmatlisisi ke gore barutabana ba tlhoka kitso le boitseanape jo bogolo go tsweletsa tiro ya go ruta dithuto tse di amanang le dikarolwana. / Dinyakišišo di ikemišeditše go utolla tsebo ya dipalo ya baithuti mabapi le go ruta kgopolo ya dipalophatlo go baithuti ba Kreiti ya 6. Ka lebaka la se go dirilwe dinyakišišo tša boleng, go šomišwa tlhamo ya dinyakišišo tša seemo. Tshedimošo e kgobokeditšwe ka go lekodišiša, le go dira dipoledišano le, barutiši ba bararo ka dikolong tše tharo ka seleteng sa Borwa bja Capricorn. Ka ge di theilwe go teori ya gore baithuti ba itlhamela tsebo, dinyakišišo di tlaleleditšwe ke tlhako ya boikgopolelo ya tsebo ya dipalo go ruteng (MKT) (Ball le ba bangwe, 2008) le kgopolo ya Shulman (1986) ya tsebo ya diteng tša thuto (PCK). Kutollo ye bohlokwa ya dinyakišišo tše e utollotše gore, go barutiši ba bararo, ba babedi ga se ba ba le kgopolo ya dipalophatlo go baithuti ba bona, eupša fela ba no latela mokgwa wa setlwaedi wa go ruta kgopolo ye ya dipalophatlo ka go hlohleletša baithuti ba bona go tsenya melawana ye ka hlogong ka ntle le go e kwešiša. Ke fela morutiši o tee yo a gateletšego gore go swanetše go ba le kwešišo ya dikgopolo tša dipalo. Temogo e tee yeo monyakišiši a bilego le yona, ebile gore barutiši ba hloka tsebo ye kgolo le botsebi, go phethagatša mošomo wa go ruta diteng tša thuto tšeo di amanago le dipalophatlo. / Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematics Education)