M.Ed. / Since the first democratic election in South Africa in 1994, there has been significant change and development in all spheres of our lives. Democracy and the implementation of a new Constitution have brought about changes, even in the education system. The democratic system of education is characterised by the new Act that is, the South African Schools Act (SASA) No. 84 of 1996 (RSA, 1996b). This Act acknowledges the importance of parents as stakeholders in the school governing bodies (SGBs). It also outlines the other important responsibilities of school governing bodies such as taking the responsibility of managing school funds. Section 36 of the South African Schools Act (RSA,1996b) states that “… a governing body of a public school must take all reasonable measures within its means to supplement the resources supplied by the state in order to improve the quality of education provided by the school to all learners at the school.” It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that schools are fully resourced, be it financial, human or physical resources. There is a perception amongst educators and other stakeholders such as parents that resources allocated by the state are inadequate. If the state funds schools fully, more children will receive quality education as the new funding method or formula is applied. Fundraising is necessary to supplement the resources allocated by the state. The lack of funds in disadvantaged communities is the cause of schools being ineffective institutions of teaching and learning. The aim of this research study was to explore the role of the SGB in managing fundraising for public primary schools in disadvantaged communities. This was undertaken in order to formulate guidelines for SGBs to effectively manage fundraising. A qualitative research design that was explorative, descriptive and contextual was employed. The researcher conducted focus group interviews in order to collect data. The data collected was analysed and interpreted and various themes and categories were identified. Quotations from the prescribed interviews were given to substantiate the themes and categories identified through data analysis. According to the literature review and responses from focus group interviews, it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that schools are fully resourced. However, this is not possible and it is for this reason that school governing bodies must supplement funds through fundraising. Since this research study was limited to Tembisa West in Ekurhuleni District (D6) one of the recommendations made by the researcher is that further research should be undertaken on managing fundraising in all Gauteng Province public primary schools. Future research studies on this phenomenon must be broader with special emphasis on the experiences and perceptions of SGBs in disadvantaged communities in the Gauteng Province. / Prof. R. Mestry

D.Comm. / In Chapter 1 events relating to government motor transport in South Africa were discussed. It became clear that there was uncertainty regarding the best way forward for government motor transport. Conflicting information as to which was the best model emanated from institutions outside Gauteng: some institutions were outsourcing their fleets, whilst others were decentralising their fleets to user departments. In some cases there was a movement from a decentralised to a centralised system. All the above led to the question whether there was a better way of managing government motor transport and of making strategic decisions such as outsourcing or decentralising the fleet. It was stated in Chapter 1 that the approach to fleet management in Gauteng was not an all-encompassing process, thus giving rise to suboptimal decisions. In particular, problems had to be solved without the all-inclusive and focused management information that is needed to make informed decisions. Contradicting signals from institutions that operate government-owned fleets throughout South Africa further complicated the situation. This was causing further uncertainty as to the way forward. There was a need for a decision-making process and tool that takes into account the broader picture, including the interest of all important stakeholders. The chapter then highlighted the need to provide an overall strategic framework within which more informed decisions could be made. This would reduce uncertainty and provide a solid base from where government motor transport could be managed and developed. / Prof. G.C. Walters

M.Ed. / Educators face the pressure of accountability from parents, employers, the state and the society. The success of teaching and learning at schools depends on the educator’s commitment and capabilities. The central question was : How can we describe the effectiveness of the developmental appraisal system at Thokoza primary schools and what are the reasons for a lack of commitment, capabilities and performance in the teaching staff? The focus of the study was a package of factors including the network of relationships in which educators are involved, which may be addressed to revitalize educators’ performances. The study was geographically confined to Thokoza Primary Schools in the East Rand. A convenient sample was chosen. Tools used were, questionnaires and interviews among educators and principals, and a critical review of the related literature. The project did not aim at generalization of the results but a sample, in depth understanding of the education situation concerning the developmental appraisal system at Thokoza Primary Schools.

M.Ed. / After conducting a workshop for class assistants at my school for learners with intellectual impairments, I identified that class assistants need to develop such life skills as self-awareness, communication and problem-solving. Life skills enable one to translate knowledge, attitudes and values into action as actual abilities, but life skills are not in themselves forms of behaviour, they are abilities to behave in certain ways, given the motivation and the scope to do so within the prevailing social and cultural constraints (Van der Merwe, 1996). Currently, no program exists within the Gauteng Education system for life skills training of Class Assistants. I argue that life skills enable one to translate knowledge, attitudes and values into action as actual abilities. “However, life skills are not in themselves forms of behaviour rather they are abilities to behave in certain ways, given the motivation and the scope to do so within the prevailing social and cultural constraints” (Van der Merwe, 1996:289). During life skills training, the facilitator is able to gain a sense of self-worth by evaluating the strengths, skills and capabilities of the individual participants. Through this experience, class assistants will be able to accept and appreciate that they are individuals with different strengths and weaknesses, and that they have something to offer. As part of human resource development, education support personnel and class assistants should be provided with the appropriate training and support to participate fully in the school system (Department of Education, 1997:130). The development of people is essential to health promotion and whole-school development (Donald et al, 2002). / Mrs. H. Krige

‘n Algemene inleiding en motivering vir die studie, asook die faktore wat onder¬wysermoraal belemmer word in Hoofstuk Een aangestip. ‘n Algemene agtergrond tot onderwysermoraal word gegee. ‘n Verslag oor die transformasie van die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysstelsel en die afname in onderwysermoraal in Suid-Afrika en oorsee word in hierdie hoofstuk gereflekteer. Die navorsingspro¬bleem en doel¬stellings word geformuleer en die navorsingsmetodologie bespreek. Die fokus van die navorsing is duidelik afgebaken. Hierdie hoofstuk word afgesluit deur konsep¬te wat met die navorsingsonderwerp verband hou, te verhelder en die hoofstuk indeling te bespreek. Hoofstuk Twee is ‘n literatuuroorsig waarin gepoog word om die essensie van onderwysermoraal vas te stel. Faktore wat ‘n bydrae tot onderwysermoraal maak, naamlik die samelewing, politiek, media en onderwysveranderings, en die rol wat deur onderwysbestuurders gespeel word in die aanspreek van onderwysermoraal word bespreek, asook die implikasie hiervan vir die praktyk. Hoofstuk Drie gee ‘n oorsig oor die navorsingsmetodologie waardeur data inge¬samel is. Daar is ‘n beskrywing van die aard en doel van kwantitatiewe navorsing, gevolg deur ‘n bespreking van die verhouding tussen die navorser en die onderwerp. Die gestruktureerde vraelys wat gebruik is om data in te samel, word bespreek. Die data is onderwerp aan die Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin-meting om te bepaal of die steekproef voldoende was. Verder is 37 items deur middel van twee opeen¬volgende faktor-analitiese prosedures gereduseer tot twee faktore. Hierdie twee fakatore is genoem “sosio-politieke aspekte wat onderwysermoraal belem¬mer” en “skoolgebaseerde aspekte wat onderwysermoraal belemmer”. Items wat met elkeen van die faktore verband hou, word getabelleer, in rangorde gerangskik en bespreek. Die empiriese ondersoek word ook bespreek. Dit sluit ‘n bespreking van die steekproef, biografiese besonderhede en die terugstuur van die vraelys in. Hoofstuk Vier voorsien ‘n ontleding en interpretasie van die empiriese data. Die geldigheid en betroubaarheid van die gestruktureerde vraelys as navorsings¬instrument word kortliks bespreek. Hipoteses word geformuleer. ‘n Vergelyking van twee onafhanklike groepe en drie of meer onafhanklike groepe word gedoen. Die statistiese beduidenheid van verskille tussen alle onafhanklike groepe word in tabelvorm weergegee en daarna bespreek ten opsigte van die twee faktore by onderwysermoraal betrokke. Levene se toets vir die gelykheid van afwykings word gebruik om die gemiddelde tellings van die twee faktore ten opsigte van onderwysermoraal te vergelyk. Die faktor-gemiddelde tellings van die verskeie onaf¬hanklike groepe word in tabelle gegee en die ANOVA vir die ontleding van afwykings bereken en kortliks bespreek. Hoofstuk Vyf gee ‘n oorsig oor die navorsing. Belangrike bevindings uit die literatuuroorsig en die empiriese navorsing word bespreek. Aanbevelings word op grond van die literatuur- en empiriese bevindings gemaak vir die verbetering van onderwysermoraal. / Prof. B.R. Grobler

The subject of the investigation is the impact of management of curriculum delivery as an aspect of learner performance in Grade 12. The investigation is limited to public secondary and combined schools in District Six (D-6) of the Gauteng province. Over the years, and even now, the Department of Education in D-6 is busy trying to find better methods of managing and empowering educators with the sole aim of improving the performance of learners in their Senior Certificate (Grade 12) Examinations. Some of the attempts by the Gauteng Department of Education in D-6 are indicated by the implementation of various intervention programmes and strategies in the public secondary and combined schools. The developmental workshops are continuously organized in order to improve the performance of learners in public schools. The literature indicated that educators are not yet sufficiently empowered to manage curriculum delivery in the public secondary and combined schools. The research project used a structured questionnaire to collect data on the opinions of the respondents in the 19 sample schools of D-6 in the Gauteng province. The questionnaire contained 60 items. The structured questionnaires were distributed to a convenient stratified sample of educators in all the 19 secondary and combined schools. Based on the information from the questionnaire, each item relevant to this particular research was analysed and discussed. After the factor analysis, the significance of the difference between factors mean scores of various groups, for each of the factors that make up the extent of effective management strategies on the enhancement of curriculum delivery, and the extent of effective assessment strategies on the enhancement of curriculum delivery, were analysed and explained. The data obtained indicates that the manner in which curriculum delivery is managed in schools has an impact on the learners’ performance in their Senior Certificate (Grade 12) Examinations. For that reason, the performance of learners in secondary and combined schools can only be improved by implementing effective management strategies and effective assessment strategies that could enhance curriculum delivery in secondary and combined schools. In order to achieve the desired outcome, all the stakeholders, especially the Department of Education, the parents of learners and educators should be committed in improving the management of curriculum delivery in secondary (iv) schools. Managers in their schools should ensure that the management of curriculum delivery is not overlooked and improperly managed. The Department of Education should at all times empower educators in order to avoid continuous decline in learners` performance, including in the schools where intervention programmes and strategies are being implemented. The intervention programmes and strategies could be a success, provided they are coupled with proper management strategies for effective curriculum delivery. / Prof. B.R. Grobler

I am an English Second Language (L2) lecturer teaching English Second Language students. Most of my colleagues are L2 lecturers teaching L2 students. My reading and study into the subject has revealed, that there are more L2 teachers and lecturers who teach L2 students in South Africa, and indeed in the world than there are native speakers of English. These considerations have prompted me to investigate English Second Language lecturers’ mediation of learning. My study describes the methodological and pedagogical experiences of L2 lecturers mediating learning to L2 students and the effect of the combined cultural and language differences between the L2 lecturers and students on the mediation of learning. The literature reviewed, related to research carried out in the United States of America, Hungary, Canada, India, Japan, Turkey, Hong Kong, Holland and Russia among others . The research design was an interpretive descriptive design which used a qualitative approach for data collection. Through observations and in depth interviews, I gleaned data about how the participants, seven English Second Language lecturers, have mediated learning to their English Second Language learners, in the Department of the University where I work. The most notable findings of the research was that in mediating learning to L2 learners, the participants in the study (L2 lecturers) were to a large extent, linguistically competent, aware of the communicative and informative aspects of pragmatics and able to negotiate meaning with their learners at an appropriate level. They were also empathetic and culturally aware. I conclude, by making recommendations, to improve the mediation of learning by English Second Language Lecturers to English Second Language learners. / Dr. E.U. Pather

Prof. Johan du Plessis

M.Ed. / New vistas for research among educationists are being introduced through the implementation of the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS), the second phase of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) in South Africa that will be put into practice for the Foundation Phase from 2004. This essay seeks to engage at grassroots level with the people who are experiencing the new dispensation in the teaching of Literacy in the Foundation Phase: the educators, the learners and their parents and the district officials. It is a vital part of the change process, and the sustaining of the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS), that the present reforms are encouraged at all centres of learning: to this end educators are being trained during their holidays. The revised curriculum aims are empowering both learners and educators, with a particular emphasis on offering learners the necessary opportunity to equip themselves for life in society once they have finished school. The setting of the study is a school in Gauteng, 90% of whose learners are from the informal settlement of Bekkersdal with its highly congested homes. The overcrowding in the shacks contributes to the difficulty of the learners in the area to master their work, and it is left to educators in the area to bear full responsibility for the education of the learners, for parents in the area are unable to be involved in the process for most of them are illiterate. Individual educators in the school, aware of the sociological factors that impact in a negative manner on the schooling in the area, are expected to “go an extra mile” to empower learners so that they, becoming literate, have the opportunity to construct knowledge by means of knowledge sharing, exploration, asking questions and active participation in the classroom. / Dr. M.C. van Loggerenberg

M.Ed. / The need for co-operative governance in schools is reflected in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and also in the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996. Although the need for co-operative governance is highlighted in the legislation, it does not mean it is taking place in our schools as advocated. This research provides an analysis and critique of the roles of the stakeholders represented in the SGB in co-operative school governance as elucidated in the literature and also advocated by the legislation. The aim of this research is to probe the perceptions of various members of the SGB’s regarding co-operative school governance as mandated by the legislation, that is the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996. This research starts with the introduction and contextualisation of the problem. The literature study undertaken in chapter two revealed the importance of working together. It was discovered that co-operative governance is important to establish and maintain partnerships and teamwork between the school governors and other stakeholders. Subsequent to the literature review was the method and design of the study. These were undertaken using the qualitative research through the focus group interviews. The study drew responses from respondents who were organised according to categories of parents, principals, educators, learners and non-educator staff members. The interviews were tape-recorded. Transcriptions of tape-recorded interviews are included in this research as appendices. The qualitative data was analysed. The results of the data obtained clearly reflect that there are still many problems that need to be addressed. The important findings were discussed at length and thereafter conclusions and recommendations were made based on the findings. Recommendations and topics of further research were finally given. / Prof. T.C. Bischoff