Password protected which will not allow abstract to be copied. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

This study investigates the work that is currently being done to promote contact between home and school at a residential school situated in a rural area of KwaZulu- Natal. The school serves primary school children with physical disabilities between the ages of five and seventeen years. The subjects in this study were twenty five parents, teachers, learners, and support staff. The research methodology was in the form of a qualitative case study. Individual interviews, focus group interviews, observation as well as document analysis were used to investigate the nature and extent of parental involvement, the areas in which parents participated, and how the school supported parents and the learners. The results revealed that the school acknowledges the value of parents a partners, and has initiated a parent involvement programme. Parents are involved in structures created by the school, namely, a parent teacher association, parent groups in the communities, learner adoption scheme. However, findings revealed that in a number of important areas parents are not equal partners. These are school governance, curriculum decisions regarding their children, choice of school placement, and admission and discharge of their children. An important finding was that in residential schools, because parents are not part of the immediate school community the concept of "parents as partners" is difficult to achieve. Most rural parents live great distances away from the school. Time, distance, work commitments, family commitments, and financial constraints make participation almost impossible. An implication of this study is that if residential schools continue to exist there is a need for the school to take cognisance of the various contextual factors that influence parental involvement in such a setting. Schools should find creative ways to overcome barriers that may exist. Schools need to be aware of recent policy developments regarding the rights of parents, for example, the South African Schools Act. Issues such as parent participation in school governance, their right to choice, and their rights regarding educational decisions on their children, enshrined in policy documents need to be, addressed collaboratively with parents. Another important implication is that policy makers need to review the role of large residential schools in meeting the educational needs of children with disabilities, in particular the long term goal of children gaining full citizenship in their communities. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, 1996.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, 1960.

This research project attempted to investigate the Management of the School-Parent Relationships in a Primary School. The aims of this study were to determine to what extent parents participate in school activities and whether parental participation in school activities is being optimised. An important pre- condition in developing a positive relationship between schools and parents is the need to persuade school-based personnel that their professionalism includes recognising the integral role of parents in the educational enterprise. The key focus of this study was to determine the perceptions of school based personnel and parents of the learners of the school regarding the current state of the relationship between the school and the parents. The subjects of this study were the principal, two heads of department, the school-clerk, thirteen level one educators and a sample of eighty parents of the learners of the school. The study was conducted at a Primary School in the Chatsworth District. The overall aim was enhance the relationship between the school and the parents at the researched site. This study employed the quantitative approach in its methodology. Data were gathered from interviews and questionnaires The results of the study have revealed that there is potential to enhance the relationships with parents at the school. Efforts to improve the relationship includes, encouraging parents to identify with the aims of the school, providing some form of education, training and guidance for parents who do not fully understand their role in education, adopting a participative and consultative style management when interacting with the parents, identifying skills and competencies of parents, encouraging effective two-way communication with parents, accommodating parents with busy work schedules and acknowledging parents for their assistance. This research project has also proposed possible recommendations to assist the school based personnel and the School Governing Body to develop and sustain stronger and positive relationships with the parents. The study concludes with recommendations for further research. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Language and literacy are of central importance to communication for most people in the world today. This case study investigates the language and literacy practices amongst African immigrant families in Pietermaritzburg. There are many immigrant families from different countries with different home languages and different backgrounds. This study examines the languages used in these different immigrant homes, and what factors lead to the choice of the languages. It investigates what literacy practices these families are engaged in. The study further examines the effects that the choice of languages used in these homes and the literacy practices engaged in have on the education of both the parents and their children. The literature reviewed for this study focused on six major themes on literacy, namely; (i) literacy as social practice, (ii) literacy networks, (iii) literacy domains, (iv) literacy events, (v) language, literacy acquisition and social identity and (vi) second language socialization. To collect the data necessary to for the study, three methods were used: group interviews, home observation and participant observation. Data was examined using Street’s ideological model of new literacy studies as theoretical framework. The findings for this study show that there are different languages used in each home but that the use of English is common in all the homes. The findings show that the literacy practices that these families are engaged in are similar despite coming from different countries. The study found that texts using cell phones play a major role during communication. This shows that electronic technology plays a vital role in both the children’s and adults’ language and literacy development. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.