Magister Educationis - MEd / Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of recognizing and crediting a person for his/her knowledge and experience however attained and promoting that person along a development pathway. In South Africa RPL has been promoted for social justice purposes related to access and redress. However these intentions have been lost within current educational discourses despite being rooted in several policies. Recently the role of vocational education has received increased prominence as a means to provide skills development. However there is often a disjuncture between policy formulation and implementation and this has given rise to this study of how RPL policy has been implemented within public Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. This paper investigates the RPL policies and practices in two public FET colleges and analyses how these employ social justice intentions of access and redress. The study reveals that there are similar conceptions of RPL amongst lecturers but varying RPL practices in these colleges. / South Africa

At the current level of society development, we can talk about the so-called knowledgebased society, which is the result of higher connectivity between people. The development of the knowledgebased society is conditional upon lifelong learning of its members. The master thesis deals with a retraining course as a possibility of further education. Its aim is to evaluate the form of management of the chosen accounting course and to assess the graduate´s chance to participate successfully in the labor market.

The research in this thesis focuses on issues surrounding modern language provision within Scottish further education during the period 2000-2002. The study analyses the arguments regarding the place of modern language study within Scottish further education (FE) as expressed in formal and informal discourses, and assesses the influence of socio-cultural and socio-historical assumptions on these discourses. To this end, a multi-strand and multi-level research model was adopted, examining official and other public documents, together with views expressed by stakeholders from five Scottish FE colleges and from industry. These were analysed both on their own terms and by taking into account changes in the external context. The initial focus of the study centred on the motivational characteristics of student participants. However, changes in the external context prompted the inclusion of further data into the research design and a shift of methodological emphasis, exploring the ways in which assumptions underlying data collection procedures related to labour market information and uptake of individual FE subjects may be contributing to a continuous re-affirmation that 'English is enough'. The validity of this assertion and the authority accorded to it are called into question. It is argued that the belief will increasingly limit Scottish FE students' potential to participate as self-confident and self-determining individuals in a global and multilingual economy for which their vocational education and training is ostensibly trying to prepare them. Some suggestions, arising from the research, for a more inclusive language education policy are considered.

The thesis deals with the further education of pedagogical employees at selected hight school. The work is divided into theoretical and empirical part. At the beginning of the first chapter are explained the basic terms. The next section is focused on legal framework that deal with further education. At the end of the theoretical part are presented some of the studies, which have already been conducted and which have investigated the opportunities of teacher´s further education and trends in that field in Czech republic and all over the world. The empirical part concentrates on the research and describes its implementation and the results and conclusions, which are derived from the research.

The Master's thesis deals with the issue of cooperation between a teacher and a teaching assistant. In the introduction to the theoretical part, the thesis deals with the concept of integration, inclusion and inclusive education. Furthermore, it also includes the current legislation establishing the function of a teaching assistant, qualification and personality requirements of the teaching assistant and the resulting risks of the teaching assistant's function at primary schools. All this information related to the topic of teaching assistants at lower primary schools is the basis for the research part of the paper, which is done through a qualitative research. The research is carried out at one selected primary school in Prague. The empirical part of the thesis maps examples of good practice, forms of co-operation between the teacher and the teaching assistant, a system of support at the selected school using materials provided by the school, and also focuses on mapping out the difficulties resulting from the co-operation of the teaching assistant and the teacher. The source materials for the research part were processed by means of questionnaires with open questions, a semi-structured interview with the headmaster and also by common observation and observation directly in the lessons of specific...

Insgesamt 50 Bibliothekare aus Sachsen, Sachsen- Anhalt, Thüringen und Hessen trafen sich am 1. und 2. April diesen Jahres, um ihre Gedanken und Erfahrungen zur Arbeit in Kinder- und Jugendbibliotheken auszutauschen. Diese regelmäßig stattfindende Fortbildung kann inzwischen auf eine vierzehnjährige gute Tradition zurückblicken. Veranstalter war in diesem Jahr die Sächsische Landesfachstelle für Bibliotheken in Kooperation mit der Stadtbibliothek Chemnitz. Der Tagungsort, das Kulturkaufhaus DAStietz mit Stadtbibliothek, Volkshochschule, Naturkundemuseum und Neuer Sächsischer Galerie bot dabei einen besonderen Anziehungspunkt für die Teilnehmer.

In this thesis, I explore 42 autistic individuals’ transitions into further and higher education (FHE) in England, drawing on personal experience as well as interview data. I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 1998 at the age of 13. At the age of 15, my mother introduced the topic to me, and autism soon became the foundation of my socio-political identity. The discussion is divided into three themes; stigma and perception management strategies, formal and informal support networks and the interplay of autism with institutional factors. I draw upon Tringo’s (1970) work on the hierarchy of impairment and Goffman’s (1963) work on stigma. Tringo’s (1970) hierarchy of impairment led me to my intra-communal hierarchy of impairment (perpetuated by autistic individuals against autistic individuals) and Goffman’s (1963) work on stigma led me to my four degrees of openness; autistic individuals can be indiscriminately open, or indiscriminately reticent, but openness if relevant, and openness if necessary, are more common strategies. UPIAS’ (1976) work on the social model of disability laid the foundation for my socio-political identity and this thesis. I argue autism has been largely absent from the political arena. I outline how there are four ideals; the ideals of self-regulation, normalcy, ability and independence. Eager to conform to these ideals, eager to self-present as ‘independent’, ‘self-regulating’, ‘normal’ or ‘capable’, some autistic students are reluctant to request support and accommodations, complicating the transition to FHE.

The present thesis focuses on further education of pedagogical personnel at high schools in Central Bohemia Region. The aim of this thesis is to explore, whether the teaching staff continue with their education. The thesis is divided into two parts - theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part is split into two chapters which offer definitions of key words and explain the basic terms closely related to further education of pedagogical personnel. The following chapter describes the implementation of further education of pedagogical personnel, educational methods and tools. The theoretical part also deals with gaining financial sources for further education. The practical part of the thesis is split into two chapters employing the method of questionnaire survey which was sent to the teaching staff in the Central Bohemia Region. This method was used to explore the motivation of pedagogical personnel to continue their education, and to monitor the conditions for their education. In the conclusion, the thesis adverts to several recommendations arising from the questionnaire survey.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African youth are confronted by a range of challenges on a daily basis which can potentially evolve into serious barriers to learning and development. Life Orientation is a critical subject offered by the Further Education and Training (FET) band as it aims to prevent the development of such problems. Furthermore, the role played by the teacher in successfully and meaningfully presenting Life Orientation is a pivotal one. This study therefore aimed at understanding the support needs of Life Orientation teachers in the FET band in order to gain insight into the challenges experienced and what recommendations can be made to improve support to teachers, and consequently, learners. The theoretical framework on which this study was based was positive psychology as its emphasis on the fostering of positive individual traits, emotions and institutions is an appropriate and constructive way of understanding teachers’ support needs within their school communities. This study’s research methodology can be described as basic qualitative research which is embedded within an interpretive paradigm. Purposive sampling was used to select three schools and their Life Orientation departments as research participants. Three methods of data collection were employed, namely written reflective notes and semistructured focus group- and individual interviews. Furthermore, qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. The research findings indicated that Life Orientation teachers in the FET band experience a range of support needs across the various levels within the school community. Teachers experience a tension between the expectations of the Department of Education, the needs of the learners, and their own expectations with regards to the facilitation of a community of care within the Life Orientation classroom. Support therefore needs to be aimed at increasing teachers’ competencies and providing opportunities to collaborate with other teachers to develop positive individual traits and foster positive emotions. Furthermore, school communities need to become aware of their attitudes and perceptions towards the subject so as to initiate processes which can lead to the promotion and development of positive, supportive institutions. A critical step in doing so is to consider policies regarding the appointment of Life Orientation teachers and ensure that qualified, specialist teachers who believe in the value of the subject are employed in these posts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse jeug word daagliks gekonfronteer met ‘n wye spektrum uitdagings wat potensiëel tot ernstige hindernisse vir leer en ontwikkeling kan ontwikkel. Lewensoriëntering is ’n noodsaaklike vak in die Verdere Onderwys en Opleidingsband (VOO) juis omdat dit poog om die ontwikkeling van hierdie hindernisse te verhoed. Die rol van die opvoeder in die suksesvolle en betekenisvolle aanbieding van Lewensoriëntering is deuslaggewend. Daarom poog hierdie studie om die ondersteuningsbehoeftes van Lewensoriënteringopvoeders te verstaan ten einde insig te verkry in die uitdagings wat hulle ondervind. Sodoende kan aanbevelings gemaak word vir die ondersteuning van opvoeders wat dan sal deurvloei na die leerders. Die teoretiese raamwerk van hierdie studie is positiewe sielkunde, aangesien dit die ontwikkeling van positiewe individuele kenmerke, emosies en organisasies beklemtoon. Dit is dus ’n toepaslike en konstruktiewe manier om die ondersteuningsbehoeftes van opvoeders binne hulle skoolgemeenskappe te verstaan. Die navorsingsmetodologie wat in hierdie studie gebruik is, kan beskryf word as basiese kwalitatiewe navorsing binne ’n interpretivistiese paradigma. ’n Doelgerigte steekproef is gebruik om drie skole en hul Lewensoriënteringdepartemente as deelnemers te identifiseer. Drie metodes van data-insameling is gebruik, naamlik geskrewe reflektiewe notas, semigestruktureerde fokusgroeponderhoude en individuele onderhoude. Verder is kwalitatiewe inhoudsanalise gebruik om die data te analiseer. Die navorsingsbevindinge het aangedui dat Lewensoriënteringopvoeders in die VOO band ’n wye verskeidenheid ondersteuningsbehoeftes binne die verskillende vlakke van die skoolgemeenskap ervaar. Opvoeders ervaar spanning tussen die verwagtinge van die Departement van Onderwys, die behoeftes van leerders en hul eie verwagtinge met betrekking tot die fassilitering van ’n omgeegemeenskap in die Lewensoriënteringklaskamer. Ondersteuning behoort dus te poog om die bevoegdhede van die opvoeder te verbeter en geleenthede daar te stel vir die ontwikkeling van positiewe individuele kenmerke en die vestiging van positiewe emosies. Verder behoort skoolgemeenskappe meer bewus te raak van hul persepsies en houdings teenoor die vak ten einde prosesse in plek te kan stel vir die bevordering en ontwikkeling van positiewe organisasies. ’n Kritiese stap in die bereiking hiervan, is die oorweging van beleide met betrekking tot die aanstelling van Lewensoriënteringopvoeders en die versekering dat gekwalifiseerde, gespesialiseerde opvoeders wat in die waarde van die vak glo, in hierdie poste aangestel word.

Value and character education possess the inherent building blocks for the preservation of a healthy society. It is the art of life that keeps the environment friendly, free and safe allowing earth's inhabitants to play, to live and to work in peace. Value and character education possess values that remove evil from society and institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, etc. One of the primary aims of value and character education is to allow learners to experience life at its' fullest. The main purpose of this study is the development of an effective character building program for a specific further education and training college. It is obvious from the available literature that society is experiencing a crisis regarding values, character and morality. The decline of human and societal values portrayed in the media has compelled the current government to initiate a value educational program in schools. The values of the government however, are focused on nation building, democracy and human rights with the purpose of overcoming the inequalities and injustices of the apartheid system. However, the inhabitants of South Africa seek more than aspects based on democracy, nation building and human rights. They seek values that promote moral behaviour, values of work ethics and values that are aimed at developing their full potential. Value and character education could probably ensure the provision of a successful life and future for today's youth. The researcher has therefore investigated and analysed the precise meanings of the following terms: values, norms, principles, standards, ethics, character education, values education. Various character educational programs that succeeded in oversees countries were also studied. Focus was also given to educational guidelines including principles, outcomes and promising practices that the lecturer could use in the classroom to stimulate the students and to promote character education. To determine what the present value orientation of the students are, a questionnaire was compiled for further education and training colleges in the North-West Province. To ascertain the opinions and contributions of values education and character education, semi-structured interviews were held with the student council, the head of the support services and an official of the student support services. The overall aim of the study is: To create a character-building program for further education and training colleges after establishing the value orientation of the students. This empirical research has pointed out specific problem areas and has shown that it is not only essential but also urgent to implement a value and character educational program for further education and training colleges. Guidelines for such a program have been set on the basis of this study. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.