This research focuses on the issue of parent involvement at selected secondary schools in the Zeerust District of the North West Province in order to gain an understanding of relevant participants’ views on the following aspects that relate to the management of parent involvement: the concept of parent involvement, ways in which parent involvement should be realised, its benefits and challenges, as well as strategies to improve the management of parent involvement in the education of learner children. The theoretical frameworks that informed this study were Epstein’s theories of overlapping spheres and her typology of parent involvement, as well as Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model. These frameworks provided a meaningful lens for interpreting data and making recommendations in the final chapter. The researcher undertook an extensive literature study and conducted interviews with principals, SGB chairpersons, as well as selected SGB parent members and other active and inactive parents from the selected schools in the Zeerust district. The research shows, inter alia, that parent involvement has various benefits and that it faces several challenges which affect the management thereof. Benefits concern improvement in terms of academic performance of learners, provision of teaching and learning resources, relationships between parents and the school, learner motivation and school attendance. Challenges to parent involvement that were identified were time constraints of parents, poor communication between home and school, parents’ lack of interest and commitment, principals’ limitations in terms of the management of parent involvement, parents’ limited education, negative parental attitudes and negative teacher attitudes. Key recommendations were made in terms of Bronfenbrenner’s micro, exo- and macrosystem for addressing the management of parent involvement in a synergetic manner. They concerned, inter alia, the national Department of Basic Education in the macrosystem, provincial Departments of Basic Education in the exosystem and schools and parents in the microsystem. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Afrikaans text / Die afname in dissipline en dissipline handhawing in skole is 'n omvangryke probleem. Die fokus van hierdie studie is om die aard en omvang van dissiplinêre probleme te ondersoek om sodoende riglyne daar te stel om konstruktiewe dissipline in klaskamers te vestig as 'n sleutel taak van die onderwyser. In hierdie studie maak die navorser gebruik van die gekombineerde benaderingsmetode, naamlik die kwalitatiewe-kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode. Vraelyste (kwantitatief) en onderhoude (kwalitatief) is as data insamelingstegnieke gebruik om vas te stel wat die aard, omvang en moontlike oplossings is, vir die navorsingsprobleem. Die navorsingstudie is gedoen deur 106 onderwysers in die intermediêre- en senior fase van ses laerskole van die Noordweste van Pretoria te betrek. Daar is ook onderhoude gevoer met ses senior onderwysers wat in beheer was van hul skole se dissiplinêre stelsels. Die navorsingstudie het bevind dat onderwysers, leerders en ouers bydraend is tot dissiplinêre probleme in klaskamers. Positiewe strategieë sluit in kommunikasie en toepassing van klasreëls. Uit die bevindinge van die navorsing is daar ongetwyfeld 'n sterk behoefte aan leiding vir onderwysers om dissiplinêre probleme aan te spreek. Onderwysers moet bemagtig word om konstruktiewe dissipline te ontwikkel, te bevorder en te handhaaf. / The decline in discipline and discipline enforcement in schools is a massive problem. The focus of this study is to examine the nature and extent of discipline problems in order to set guidelines to establish constructive discipline in the classroom as a key task of the teacher. In this study, the researcher makes use of the combined approach method, namely the qualitative - quantitative research methodology. Questionnaires (quantitative) and interviews (qualitative) were used as data collection techniques to determine the nature, extent and The research study was conducted by involving 106 teachers in the intermediate and senior phase of six primary schools of the North West of Pretoria. There were also interviews with six senior teachers who were in charge of their schools' disciplinary systems. The research study found that teachers, pupils and parents are contributing factors to discipline problems in classrooms. Positive strategies include communication and application of rules. From the findings of the research there is undoubtedly a strong need for guidance for teachers to address disciplinary problems. Teachers should be empowered to develop positive, promote, and maintain constructive discipline in the classroom. possible solutions of the research problem. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Afrikaans text, with English and Xhosa summaries / Baie leerders in voorheen benadeelde skole kom uit enkelouerhuise, waar ouers lang ure werk en dikwels ongeletterd is. Dit lei daartoe dat die oorgrote meerderheid leerders in 'n ongestruktureerde omgewing en in huise grootword sonder duidelike dissiplinêre grense. Dissiplinêre grense behels die daarstelling van duidelike perke wat aan kinders wys wat hulle mag doen en wat hulle nie mag doen nie. Alle kinders het grense nodig om optimaal te groei en te leer. As kinders weet wat die gevolge daarvan is om buite die grense te beweeg, sal hulle probeer voldoen aan verwagtinge. Aan die anderkant sal 'n gebrek aan grense baie dissiplinêre probleme veroorsaak, aangesien leerders nie tuis selfdissipline aanleer nie. Daarbenewens word hulle dikwels grootgemaak in omgewings waar hulle blootgestel word aan dwelms, geweld, misdaad en bendes. Hulle verwerf nie die kennis van watter soort gedrag tuis of in hul gemeenskappe moreel en sosiaal aanvaarbaar is nie. Die gebrek aan dissipline en selfdissipline tuis lei tot dissiplinêre probleme in die klaskamer, veral by leerders in voorheen benadeelde skole. Die onderrig van goeie dissipline, wat tot selfdissipline lei, berus op opvoeders se skouers in die skoolkonteks. Dus word die rol van skole en opvoeders uiters belangrik, hoewel dit na 'n onoorkomelike probleem klink. As alle belanghebbendes 'n rol kan speel om leerders te help om optimaal te ontwikkel, sal dit ook help met dissiplinêre probleme. / Many learners in previously disadvantaged schools come from single parent homes, where parents work long hours and often are illiterate. This leads to the fact that the vast majority of learners grow up in an unstructured environment and in homes without clear disciplinary boundaries. Disciplinary boundaries involve establishing clear limits that show children what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do. All children need boundaries to grow and learn optimally. When children know what the consequences are for stepping out of bounds, they will be more compliant. A lack of boundaries on the other hand causes many disciplinary problems, as learners do not learn self-discipline at home. In addition, they are often raised in environments where they are exposed to drugs, violence, crime and gangs. They do not acquire the knowledge of which types of behaviour are morally and socially acceptable at home or in their communities. The lack of discipline and self discipline at home leads to disciplinary problems in the classroom, especially with learners in previously disadvantaged schools. The teaching of good discipline, leading to self discipline rests on educators’ shoulders in the school context. Thus, the role of schools and educators become extremely important, although it sounds like an insurmountable problem. If all stakeholders could play a role to assist learners to develop optimally, it will also help with disciplinary problems. / Uninzi lwabafundi abaphuma kwizikolo ebezihlelelekile ngaphambili bavela kumakhaya anomzali omnye, apho abazali besebenza iiyure ezinde kwaye kunjalo bengafundanga. Ngoko uninzi lwabafundi lukhulela kwindawo engenasiseko someleleyo nakumakhaya angenamiqathanga icacileyo yokuziphatha. Imida yokoluleka kokuziphatha ibandakanya ukumiselwa kwemida ecacileyo ebonisa abantwana izinto abavunyelweyo ukuzenza nezinto abangavunyelwanga ukuba bazenze. Bonke abantwan bafuna ukubekelwa imiqathanga ukuze bakhule ngokugqibeleleyo. Xa abantwana bezazi iziphumo zokutyeshela imiqathanga ebekiweyo baya kuthobela nangakumbi. Ukongeza, basoloko bekhulela kwindawo apho bedibana neziyobisi, ubundlobongela, ulwaphulo-mthetho namamaqela emigulukudu. Ngoko ke, abalufumani ulwazi ngeentlobo zokuziphatha ezivumelekileyo ekhaya okanye ekuhlaleni. Ukungabikho kwenqeqesho nokuzihlonipha ekhaya kukhokelela kwiingxaki zokuziphatha egumbini lokufundela, ingakumbi abafundi abakwizikolo ebezihlelelekile. Ukufundisa indlela efanelekileyo yokuziphatha, ekhokelela ekuziphatheni kakuhle, ngumthwalo wootitshala esikolweni.Yiloo nto indima yezikolo nootitshala iba yeyona ibaluleke kakhulu, ngaphandle kwale ngxaki ikhangeleka ingenakuphela. Ukongeza, ukuba bonke ababandakanyekayo banokudlala indima ekuncedeni abafundi ukuba bakhule ngokugqibeleleyo, kunganceda ekusombululeni iingxaki zokuziphatha. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Opvoedkundige Sielkunde)

The escalating figures of unemployment and poverty in South Africa are posing a threat to the nuclear family. The deteriorating conditions in the home environment, particularly regarding material provision, has led to an increase in disadvantaged home environments. The investigation in this study focused mainly on the self-concepts of adolescents from disadvantaged home environments. The aim of the research was to see how the home environment influences the self-concept of an adolescent in disadvantaged areas. The literature study showed that factors such as unemployment, poverty, low socio-economic background, single parenthood, absent parents, parents' level of literacy and parenting styles were associated with disadvantaged home environments. With regard to the self-concept the researcher probed the physical, emotional, social, academic and general self-concepts. An empirical investigation was undertaken regarding grade 9 and 11 learners in Hebron in the North West Province. A structured questionnaire was developed focusing on home environment and self-concept. By using Pearson's correlation, ANOVA and Tukey's t-test, findings indicated that there is a significant relationship between home environment and the self-concept. The adolescent's emotional self-concept is affected by religion, supervision at home (parent or guardian) and the number of siblings in the family. Moreover, girls had a better social self-concept than boys. On the whole the physical, academic, social and general self-concepts were not affected by religion, number of siblings in the family and different kinds of supervision. With regard to the physical self-concept it was found that it differed with age. Therefore, the educators who facilitate Life Orientation in the General Education and Training (GET) band and Life Skills in the Further Education and Training (FET) band should assist children who come from disadvantaged home environments by applying intervention strategies suggested by the researcher in this study to foster positive self-concepts in adolescents. Positive self-concepts are key factors for successful learning, general behavioural patterns and high participation in school activities. Upgrading of educators is also recommended so that they are fully equipped to assist a learner who is from a deprived home environment. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Psychology of Education))

Text in Afrikaans / Pendelhuwelike is aan die toeneem en het verskeie invloede op die jong kind in die gesin. Die primêre doel van die studie was om emosionele en sosiale intelligensie as basis te gebruik om die invloed van ʼn pendelhuwelik op ʼn jong kind tussen 7 en 11 jaar te bepaal. ʼn Gemengde navorsingsontwerp is as empiriese ondersoek gedoen. Vyf deelnemers het deelgeneem in drie sessies elk. Die data-insamelingsinstrumente was: waarneming en veldnotas; projeksiemedia; ʼn vraelys, en ʼn semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud met elk van die betrokke moeders. Die meting van emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling met behulp van die vraelys toon dat, ongeag van die afwesigheid van die deelnemers se vaders, en die konflikte, vrese en behoeftes wat hulle ervaar volgens die projeksiemedia, die deelnemers se emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling oorwegend gemiddeld tot hoog is. Die uitkomste bied hopelik ʼn insiggewende bydrae hoe pendelhuwelike vyf jong kinders se emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling beïnvloed het. / Commuter marriages are increasing and have various influences on the young child in the family. The primary aim of this study was to determine the influences of a commuter marriage on a young child between 7 and 11 years, using emotional and social intelligence as a basis. A mixed method empirical research design was used. Three sessions were conducted with five participants individually to obtain data through: observations and field notes, projection media, a questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview with each mother. The measurement of emotional and social development through the use of the questionnaire shows that, despite the absence of the participants’ fathers, and the conflicts, fears and needs they experienced according to the projection media, the participants’ emotional and social development are predominantly average to high. The study hopefully provides a significant contribution to the understanding of how commuter marriages influenced five young children’s emotional and social development. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

Text in Afrikaans / Pendelhuwelike is aan die toeneem en het verskeie invloede op die jong kind in die gesin. Die primêre doel van die studie was om emosionele en sosiale intelligensie as basis te gebruik om die invloed van ʼn pendelhuwelik op ʼn jong kind tussen 7 en 11 jaar te bepaal. ʼn Gemengde navorsingsontwerp is as empiriese ondersoek gedoen. Vyf deelnemers het deelgeneem in drie sessies elk. Die data-insamelingsinstrumente was: waarneming en veldnotas; projeksiemedia; ʼn vraelys, en ʼn semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud met elk van die betrokke moeders. Die meting van emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling met behulp van die vraelys toon dat, ongeag van die afwesigheid van die deelnemers se vaders, en die konflikte, vrese en behoeftes wat hulle ervaar volgens die projeksiemedia, die deelnemers se emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling oorwegend gemiddeld tot hoog is. Die uitkomste bied hopelik ʼn insiggewende bydrae hoe pendelhuwelike vyf jong kinders se emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling beïnvloed het. / Commuter marriages are increasing and have various influences on the young child in the family. The primary aim of this study was to determine the influences of a commuter marriage on a young child between 7 and 11 years, using emotional and social intelligence as a basis. A mixed method empirical research design was used. Three sessions were conducted with five participants individually to obtain data through: observations and field notes, projection media, a questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview with each mother. The measurement of emotional and social development through the use of the questionnaire shows that, despite the absence of the participants’ fathers, and the conflicts, fears and needs they experienced according to the projection media, the participants’ emotional and social development are predominantly average to high. The study hopefully provides a significant contribution to the understanding of how commuter marriages influenced five young children’s emotional and social development. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

This study aims to investigate the challenges affecting reading in the foundation phase and to explore the different approaches that teachers use to address them. The research is qualitative in nature and used a case study approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analyses. Participants were teachers from two different schools in the rural areas of Bolobedu, Limpopo Province of South Africa. The data collected revealed the challenges encountered by teachers in teaching reading in the foundation phase of schooling. I also analysed documents that teachers used in teaching reading. The documents were used to triangulate the data obtained through observations and interviews. Content analysis was used to interpret and make meaning of the data. The findings revealed challenges of a socio-economic nature, parental involvement, family roles, poverty, teacher competency, availability of resources and language barriers leading to barriers to reading. In addressing these challenges, teachers rely on workshops, phase and grade meetings and their personal experiences. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The escalating figures of unemployment and poverty in South Africa are posing a threat to the nuclear family. The deteriorating conditions in the home environment, particularly regarding material provision, has led to an increase in disadvantaged home environments. The investigation in this study focused mainly on the self-concepts of adolescents from disadvantaged home environments. The aim of the research was to see how the home environment influences the self-concept of an adolescent in disadvantaged areas. The literature study showed that factors such as unemployment, poverty, low socio-economic background, single parenthood, absent parents, parents' level of literacy and parenting styles were associated with disadvantaged home environments. With regard to the self-concept the researcher probed the physical, emotional, social, academic and general self-concepts. An empirical investigation was undertaken regarding grade 9 and 11 learners in Hebron in the North West Province. A structured questionnaire was developed focusing on home environment and self-concept. By using Pearson's correlation, ANOVA and Tukey's t-test, findings indicated that there is a significant relationship between home environment and the self-concept. The adolescent's emotional self-concept is affected by religion, supervision at home (parent or guardian) and the number of siblings in the family. Moreover, girls had a better social self-concept than boys. On the whole the physical, academic, social and general self-concepts were not affected by religion, number of siblings in the family and different kinds of supervision. With regard to the physical self-concept it was found that it differed with age. Therefore, the educators who facilitate Life Orientation in the General Education and Training (GET) band and Life Skills in the Further Education and Training (FET) band should assist children who come from disadvantaged home environments by applying intervention strategies suggested by the researcher in this study to foster positive self-concepts in adolescents. Positive self-concepts are key factors for successful learning, general behavioural patterns and high participation in school activities. Upgrading of educators is also recommended so that they are fully equipped to assist a learner who is from a deprived home environment. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Psychology of Education))