South Africa has gone through many recent changes and the impact of these changes was, especially, experienced in the development of the South African Education system. Social Sciences is one of the subjects that was introduced in the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) for Grades R-9 (Department of Education, 2002). Before the National Curriculum Statement, History and Geography were taught as separate subjects under Social Studies but later combined into one subject, Social Sciences. Teachers in some South African schools are specialist in one of the two disciplines, either History or Geography. The intention of this study was derived from many of the researcher?s personal observations, experiences and challenges in the discipline, Social Sciences. This study identified the challenges experienced by heads of department (HoDs) of Social Sciences and the strategies they use to address the identified challenges. The research approach was qualitative and a case study research design was used. The research participants were identified, using a purposeful sampling strategy. Participants were selected from four schools, two from Quintile 1 (no fee-paying) schools and two from Quintile 5 (fee-paying) schools; each school had an enrolment of more than 350 learners. The participants were HoDs responsible for Social Sciences and teachers who were teaching the subject. Furthermore, HoDs who were selected had had experience of managing Social Science teachers for a period of not less than three years. The teachers also had more than three years? experience of teaching Social Sciences. The findings of this study revealed that the responsibilities of HoDs for Social Sciences seem to focus more on monitoring the work of teachers than developing their effectiveness in teaching the subject. Some of the HoD appointed in the Social Sciences Department did not have the background knowledge and skills related to the subject which limited their ability to guide, advise and develop their teachers in the subject. It was found that HoDs and teachers expect subject specialists and curriculum advisors to be more involved in developing teachers? competency in teaching the subject. It seems that there is a desire for a formal policy for the professional development of teachers of Social Sciences. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / Unrestricted

This study aimed to investigate and describe the School Management Team (SMT) members' understanding of their duties as stipulated in the Personnel Administration Measures (PAM, 1998). A qualitative research approach was used to investigate SMT members' understanding of their duties within school management teams. Principals of three purposively selected Secondary Schools, in the Sepitsi circuit of the Lebowakgomo District of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, acted as participants for this study, together with two purposively selected members of their school's SMT. Each participant was interviewed, using a semi-structured interview. The study was framed by a conceptual framework made up of concepts gleaned from distributed leadership theory, together with the core duties of SMT members as stipulated in the PAM (1998). The main findings of this study are that most principals still have a problem regarding the concept of working as a team and that although participants have access to the PAM document, many have not read it and therefore do not know what their roles on the SMT require. This causes conflict and disunity among SMT members, with a negative impact on leadership and management effectiveness. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / Unrestricted