Students are reaching middle school 2 or more years behind in reading ability. As a result, they are unable to meet state testing standards. In 2007, the READ 180 program was implemented at an urban middle school in Virginia to address the reading gaps of these middle school students. The purpose of this sequential mixed-method program evaluation was to analyze the reading success of 30 READ 180 students and the perceptions of 4 teachers who taught the READ 180 curriculum. The theoretical framework that served as a basis for this study was Vygotsky's zone of proximal development, which holds that independent thinking is facilitated by developmentally-appropriate instruction. Research questions examined the strengths and weaknesses of the program and its effectiveness on helping the students improve their reading ability. Student scores from the program assessments were examined using a paired samples t test and by comparing central tendencies. An analysis showed a 15% increase in students' SRI pre- and posttest scores, noting that 6.67% of students passed the reading SOL. Themes from the teacher interviews indicated that the teachers perceived the training to be sufficient and that the materials and technology were authentic; however, updated curricula materials were needed. The quantitative and qualitative research data were used to generate an evaluation report to share explicit research findings with the school division and parents about the programs' successes and needs for improvement. Social change was supported by evaluating a reading intervention program designed to increase middle school students' reading ability.

Middle-school students in Nova Scotia are perceived to have low self-efficacy for achieving learning outcomes. Strong self-efficacy beliefs developed through effective curricula have been linked to improved academic performance. However, there is a need for the formal evaluation of effective curricula that aim to improve self-efficacy. The purpose of this project study was to investigate a 10-week, after-school mentorship (ASM) curriculum that has never been evaluated. The outcomes of the curriculum design are to strengthen self-efficacy beliefs via relationship building exercises, public speaking training, and character education. Bandura's theory on self-efficacy, which states that treatment influences can alter the strength of self-efficacy, informed the conceptual framework. Evaluation questions explored apparent changes in the self-efficacy of the students from the perspective of 7 adult-caregivers and the program's instructor. Interview data were triangulated with quantitative descriptive statistics on the self-efficacy scores of 10 middle-grade students before and after program participation using the Children's Hope Scale. Comparison of the mean, median, and mode pre- and posttest scores did not show statistically significant differences in self-efficacy beliefs of the students. However, analysis of interview data revealed that children's self-efficacy beliefs grew, the largest increase being in those described as reserved at the beginning of the program. This study promotes positive social change through an increased understanding that can inform efforts to increase self-efficacy in middle-school students

Magister Legum - LLM / From failing to arrest and surrender Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir1 in accordance with its obligations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court2 (Rome Statute), to its President acting inconsistently with its Supreme law3, it is evident that the rule of law is under threat in South Africa. Furthermore, South Africa has witnessed the cultivation of a culture of impunity for corruption in high office. South Africa has also experienced an increase in heinous crimes committed against women and children. The South African Rand recently plummeted given that its Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan, recently faced charges of fraud4, as well as the ripple effect caused by the Fees Must Fall Movement.5 Against the backdrop of the above-mentioned issues that plague South Africa and hinder its development, the fight against money laundering hardly seems of pivotal importance in achieving the desired stability and development of the country. There is a public perception that money laundering is a crime of little consequence.8 This perception derives from the fact that money laundering does not have a direct impact on its victims and in some instances benefits the economy as it increases the profits for the financial sector and results in a greater availability of credit.9 Laundered money arguably is not harmful but rather beneficial to developing economies because money remains money, whether it is proceeds of crime or honestly earned.10 Although an increase in money is appealing to developing countries, the benefits that accompany laundered money are short-lived as the crime affects society adversely in the long run.11 However, where a country fails to prevent and prosecute money laundering offences, the prevalence of money laundering will impede the development of a state as it not only increases the profitability of crime and encourages the prevalence of corruption, but it also causes damage to critical financial sector institutions.12 Money laundering influences the commission of crimes that generate large amounts of profit, namely, organised crime, which is often described as the twin brother of money laundering.13 This is because criminals do not commit crimes to make money only but to enjoy this money as well.14 However, criminals need to launder their money in order to enjoy the proceeds of their criminal activities without drawing attention to these activities.15 Countries that combat money laundering effectively make it more difficult for criminals to launder the proceeds of their crimes. It becomes more risky for them to indulge in their ill-gotten gains, thus dissuading them from engaging in economic criminality.16 Money laundering is a process where the proceeds of crime are concealed and disguised in order to make them appear lawful.17 Criminals are thus able to enjoy the financial benefits of the crimes they commit.18 The pervasiveness of money laundering in a country does not only affect the confidence the public have in the country’s financial institutions but also undermines the confidence foreign investors and financial institutions have in a developing state’s financial institutions.19 A country can, therefore, run the risk of not benefitting from foreign direct investment.20 The financial institutions rely heavily on what the public think about their integrity.21

The final issue deals with the introduction of Quality Management Systems in Central Bohemian high schools. The theoretical part describes principles of the Quality Management and more closely presents ISO 9001 standard, EFQM Excellence Model, CAF Model and CQAF Model. The research part determines opinion of school headmasters in Decree No 15/2005 Coll., that specifies requirements for the obligatory self-evaluation of schools. In next chapters through a survey and an analysis of school web pages is examined practice of Quality Management Systems implementation in high schools in Central Bohemia -- current status, awareness of head masters, demand and expectations. The last chapter offers a definite experience with the introduction of Quality Management Systems through additional interviews with school headmasters.

This thesis discusses housing issues and its solutions in a village named Kobylí. The theoretical part focuses on introducing the issues by defining basic concepts related to housing, local real estate market and evaluating feasibility of projects. The thesis provides an overview of current as well as historic data and graphs related to housing. In the practical part, a feasibility study is presented and focuses on an economic evaluation of a construction of a new apartment building in Kobylí, followed by requirements assessment such as an effectiveness of critical variables and a crucial input value from the investor's point of view. Lastly, this thesis identifies and defines new tenants of the building which is offering appartemnts, and evaluates whether the tenants can afford housing in their new apartment.