A report released by the South African Council of Educators (SACE) (2011:12) reveals a grim picture on school safety and the shocking results showing that 1.8 million learners experienced violence at school. Eight years after the Human Rights Watch World Report (2008:164), sexual violence, corporal punishment; bullying, gang-related activities, and occasional murder continue to plague some South African schools. Violence against children and youth has reached endemic proportions in South Africa (Huisman, 2014:10). The goal of the study was to develop, implement and evaluate a school-based violence prevention programme with high school learners in Tshwane South District. The bio-ecological systems theory and a combination of practice approaches, namely: the developmental social work approach, the social and emotional learning (SEL) approach, character education (CE) and social cognitive and social competence perspective were utilised as theoretical frameworks for the study. The study was embedded within the pragmatic and critical research paradigms. The Intervention Research, Design and Development (D&D) model which is a sub-type of applied research, was utilised for the study. The exploratory convergent design was used, starting with the exploratory design and followed by the descriptive design (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2007:59). For the qualitative phase, the collective case study method was used to solicit in-depth views of learners on the school violence problem and interventions to address the problem (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2007:59). During the quantitative phase, the descriptive survey research design was employed to identify and describe the nature and aetiology of the phenomena of school violence (Onwuegbuzie & Leech, 2006:474) and to obtain quantitative data about the learners' opinions, attitudes, and experiences of school-based violence (Engel & Schutt, 2013:18). Concurrent multilevel sampling was employed (Sharp, Mobley, Hammond, Withington, Drew, Stringfield & Stipanovic, 2012:35), including both purposive and random sampling techniques (Teddlie & Yu, 2007:85). In developing the Triple T school-based violence prevention programme in collaboration with learners as service users, Lipsey's Theory-Based Programme Development and Evaluation Model was utilised (Lipsey, 1993:33). Mixed methods, namely a One-Group Pretest-Posttest design in combination with a focus group interview was used to evaluate the programme. The Triple T programme was effective in enhancing learners' knowledge of the nature, causes and impact of violence; their knowledge of moral values and ethical principles; their understanding that violence is a violation of human rights; the importance of caring, compassionate and supportive interpersonal relationships that are based on respect and UBUNTU principles; and increased their knowledge of conflict resolution and anger control strategies. Although some skills in problem-solving and decision-making were learnt, time constraints did not allow in-depth skills development. Furthermore, the use of ICT and role play was unproductive and there was a lack of preference for homework exercises. It cannot be confirmed that the programme has been effective in changing learners' attitudes and behaviours because change is a process and happens over time. Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that the programme be modified, improved, and then implemented and evaluated pertaining to the promotion of an anti-violence school culture and the prevention of violence. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / DPhil / Unrestricted

Die fokus van hierdie artikel is om hoërskoolleerders in koshuise te bemagtig om seksuele misbruik te kan aanmeld. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is gebruik om te bepaal oor watter kennis die leerders beskik rakende die aanmelding van seksuele misbruik. Op grond hiervan word aanbevelings gemaak om dit vir hoërskoolleerders in koshuise moontlik te maak om seksuele misbruik aan te meld. Verskeie vrae is in fokusgroepe bespreek. Die vrae het gehandel oor wat seksuele misbruik is en deur wie en by wie en waar dit aangemeld moet word. Die aanbevelings wat gemaak word, sal genoemde leerders help om seksuelemisbruik–gevalle meermale aan te meld, aangesien hulle volledig ingelig sal wees oor wat seksuele misbruik is en wat dit impliseer. Verder sal hulle ten slotte ook weet wie dit moet aanmeld en by wie en waar. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Die fokus van hierdie artikel is om hoërskoolleerders in koshuise te bemagtig om seksuele misbruik te kan aanmeld. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is gebruik om te bepaal oor watter kennis die leerders beskik rakende die aanmelding van seksuele misbruik. Op grond hiervan word aanbevelings gemaak om dit vir hoërskoolleerders in koshuise moontlik te maak om seksuele misbruik aan te meld. Verskeie vrae is in fokusgroepe bespreek. Die vrae het gehandel oor wat seksuele misbruik is en deur wie en by wie en waar dit aangemeld moet word. Die aanbevelings wat gemaak word, sal genoemde leerders help om seksuelemisbruik–gevalle meermale aan te meld, aangesien hulle volledig ingelig sal wees oor wat seksuele misbruik is en wat dit impliseer. Verder sal hulle ten slotte ook weet wie dit moet aanmeld en by wie en waar. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / In developing economies and specifically Sub-Saharan Africa physical inactivity has been identified as a risk factor along with tobacco use / South Africa

The study is a qualitative explanation of the manifestations of learning support in the lives of high school learners experiencing barriers to learning. The primary research question that guided this study was: How does learning support manifest itself in the lives of high school learners? Nine learners repeating grade nine were sampled to participate in the study. Co-participating were nine family members, seven educators and the principal. Interviews and observations were conducted to determine the nature of barriers to learning experienced by high school learners, and the ways in which learning support manifests in their lives. Theme analysis was then used to analyze the data collected. This process yielded two main themes, e.g. barriers to learning and manifestations of learning support . The two main themes were then further divided into eight sub-themes and fourteen categories. The findings of the study are articulated in terms of the ecosystemic perspective, which then indicated that barriers to learning issued from factors related to learners, educators, families, the education system and society. The sub-themes and categories that emerged on barriers to learning are discussed in detail in the thesis. The study further revealed that learning support manifests in diverse ways for the participants in this study, i) in terms of knowledge about and the availability of learning support, ii) in terms of guidance, advice, motivation, encouragement and one-on-one support, iii) in terms of extra classes, extra work and assistance with schoolwork and finally, iv) in terms of the mobilization of available resources. In conclusion, the study illustrates that there is low consistency in the ways in which learning support manifests in the lives of the learners in the study. It also shows a lack of formal avenues that can be accessed for learning support by the learners experiencing barriers to learning. / Thesis (PhD (Learning Support, Guidance and Counselling))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

This research was directed at determining the value of Gestalt play therapy for the high school learner with Spina Bifida. By undertaking a literature study regarding the child with Spina Bifida, as well as Gestalt play therapy, it was possible to determine what needs and difficulties these learners experience and how Gestalt play therapy can be implemented to address these needs and difficulties. The researcher concludes that any high school learner experiences a lot of developmental changes, but for the learner with Spina Bifida there are not only the social, personal, physical and emotional changes, but also the fact that because of the disability, more support and help structures are needed. It became evident that, for these learners, Gestalt play therapy is a very effective and useful intervention technique. Learners were guided towards awareness of themselves, as well as their inner strength to face the unfinished business in their lives. / Social work / M. Diac (Play Therapy)

This research was directed at determining the value of Gestalt play therapy for the high school learner with Spina Bifida. By undertaking a literature study regarding the child with Spina Bifida, as well as Gestalt play therapy, it was possible to determine what needs and difficulties these learners experience and how Gestalt play therapy can be implemented to address these needs and difficulties. The researcher concludes that any high school learner experiences a lot of developmental changes, but for the learner with Spina Bifida there are not only the social, personal, physical and emotional changes, but also the fact that because of the disability, more support and help structures are needed. It became evident that, for these learners, Gestalt play therapy is a very effective and useful intervention technique. Learners were guided towards awareness of themselves, as well as their inner strength to face the unfinished business in their lives. / Social work / M. Diac (Play Therapy)

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between High School learners‟ mathematics-related belief systems and their approaches to mathematics non-routine problem-solving. A mixed methods approach was employed in the study. Survey questionnaires, mathematics problem solving test and interview schedules were the basic instruments used for data collection. The data was presented in form of tables, diagrams, figures, direct and indirect quotes of participants‟ responses and descriptions of learners‟ mathematics related belief systems and their approaches to mathematics problem solving. The basic methods used to analyze the data were thematic analysis (coding, organizing data into descriptive themes, and noting relations between variables), cluster analysis, factor analysis, regression analysis and methodological triangulation. Learners‟ mathematics-related beliefs were grouped into three Learners‟ mathematics-related beliefs were grouped into three categories, according to Daskalogianni and Simpson (2001a)‟s macro-belief systems: utilitarian, systematic and exploratory. A number of learners‟ problem solving strategies were identified, that include unsystematic guess, check and revise; systematic guess, check and revise; trial-and-error; logical reasoning; non-logical reasoning; systematic listing; looking for a pattern; making a model; considering a simple case; using a formula; numeric approach; piece-wise and holistic approaches. A weak positive linear relationship between learners‟ mathematics-related belief systems and their approaches to non-routine problem solving was discovered. It was, also, discovered that learners‟ mathematics-related belief systems could explain their approach to non-routine mathematics problem solving (and vice versa). / Mathematics Education / D.Phil. (Mathematics Education)

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between High School learners‟ mathematics-related belief systems and their approaches to mathematics non-routine problem-solving. A mixed methods approach was employed in the study. Survey questionnaires, mathematics problem solving test and interview schedules were the basic instruments used for data collection. The data was presented in form of tables, diagrams, figures, direct and indirect quotes of participants‟ responses and descriptions of learners‟ mathematics related belief systems and their approaches to mathematics problem solving. The basic methods used to analyze the data were thematic analysis (coding, organizing data into descriptive themes, and noting relations between variables), cluster analysis, factor analysis, regression analysis and methodological triangulation. Learners‟ mathematics-related beliefs were grouped into three Learners‟ mathematics-related beliefs were grouped into three categories, according to Daskalogianni and Simpson (2001a)‟s macro-belief systems: utilitarian, systematic and exploratory. A number of learners‟ problem solving strategies were identified, that include unsystematic guess, check and revise; systematic guess, check and revise; trial-and-error; logical reasoning; non-logical reasoning; systematic listing; looking for a pattern; making a model; considering a simple case; using a formula; numeric approach; piece-wise and holistic approaches. A weak positive linear relationship between learners‟ mathematics-related belief systems and their approaches to non-routine problem solving was discovered. It was, also, discovered that learners‟ mathematics-related belief systems could explain their approach to non-routine mathematics problem solving (and vice versa). / Mathematics Education / D.Phil. (Mathematics Education)