MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of of Governance and Policy Studies

Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of ill-discipline on the performance of Grade nine learners at Nghonyama High School. The acts of indiscipline among students, especially at the secondary level of education are universal challenge thatmany schools face all over the world. A quantitative descriptive research wasconducted to determine if there was a relationship between conduct and performance of such learners. Data collection was done through completion of questionnaires. Two groups participated in the study: the first group consisted of fifty Grade nine learners and the second group was composed of ten educators - four members of the School Management Team and six teachers. The study revealed that learners misbehave at school due to variety of reasons such as, peer pressure, overcrowding, lack of parental support, inability to do the work, poverty, lack of motivation to succeed, disrespect, moral decay, not being engaged in the formulation of rules, rules being not enforced, lack of parental care, unmonitored TV viewing, child-headed families, lack of effective disciplinary measures, poor perception of the aims and principles of schooling and poor home upbringing. The study further revealed that the most common types of illdiscipline in the area of study were vandalism, fighting, absenteeism, indecent dressing, substance abuse, bullying, stealing, smoking, and drinking alcohol. With ill-discipline academic performance is affected.The study equally revealed that the Department of Education is not doing enough to address the issue of infrastructure. For example, overcrowding is still a challenge. In other words, the school environment plays a role in promoting ill-discipline; if classes are overcrowded learners are forced to misbehave. The study recommends that teachers should be encouraged to refer cases of indiscipline to the School Management Team. Principals should also be encouraged to involve all stakeholders in the formulation of school rules. Parents must make sure thatschool rules are adhered to by all the learners, no matter whose child breaks the rule,and most importantly learners should be encouraged to cooperate well with their educators.

PhD (African Studies) / Department of African Studies / Literature and media reports constantly show increased incidences of ill-discipline and lawlessness amongst the youth. These misdemeanours adversely affect communities and the behaviour of the youth as active, responsible and proactive members of the society and community members. Unfortunately, there are insufficient conversations about morality across social strata. The elders often seem disenfranchised by the popularity of the rights-based approach and modernity. In addition, communities are not proactive in coming up with initiatives that encourage on-going nyambedzano between the elders and the youth on issues around morals and discipline. Nyambedzano is a Venda concept that does not seem to have the exact English translation, so in this study I will use the concepts communication, conversation and dialogue interchangeably. Furthermore, there is a continuous blame game in the community about who should lead effective conversations that should buttress the development of responsible youth citizens. The purpose of this study was to explore the relevance of nyambedzano between the youth and elders about African morality among the youth. The study also aimed to investigate factors that were hindering nyambedzano to take place. I conducted qualitative appreciative focus group discussions with the elders and youth (who were in and out of school) that were purposively selected. Data was analysed thematically in relation to the stages of an Appreciative Inquiry approach. Findings revealed that nyambedzano between the elders and the youth about youth morality is relevant; however, its application is complicated by several factors which include the changing family structure, the changing parenting age, media and technology influences, a rightsbased approach to child rearing, and the denigration of cultural values at home, school and in the community. These findings were synthesised to develop a facilitative nyambedzano programme. Contrary to Vhavenda cultural practices, nyambedzano would have to be a two-way communication process between the elders and the youth. It would take place at different contexts, the home being the starting point. There would have to be some compromise between the rights- based contemporary approaches and traditional cultural ways of dealing with morality. This study makes methodological, empirical and theoretical contributions. An Appreciative Inquiry approach was applied to the Vhavenda ethnic group to explore the possibility of Nyambedzano between the youth and elders. The empirical contribution is that this study is the first to address nyambedzano as a process for promoting morality among the youth, within the context of the Tshivenda culture. The theoretical contribution of this study lies in the development of the facilitative nyambedzano programme that describes how nyambedzano between the elders and the youth should take place, taking into consideration the cultural values of the Vhavenda people. The recommendations are based on the creation of supportive parents, families, teachers, schools, churches, community members and policy makers. / NRF

Ill-discipline behaviour has become a canker that threatens the moral fibre of institutions. The purpose of this study was to explore how discipline measures and practices were viewed by teacher trainees and college managers alike. Furthermore, to determine what comprehensive counselling approaches were in place to manage ill-discipline behaviour acts in colleges of education in Ghana. A qualitative discourse analysis study design was employed in the study. In all, 25 participants were purposively selected from five colleges of education for the study using a semi-structured interview guide. Data collected was transcribed, coded, categorized and qualitatively analysed under themes that emerged from the analysis using the thematic approach. The study revealed that several illdiscipline behaviour acts exist in colleges of education, with perversion being the most prevailing ill-discipline behaviour act. The study also revealed that tertiarization of colleges is the major cause of ill-discipline behaviour among students in the colleges of education and poor academic performance being the major negative effect of ill-discipline behaviour in the colleges of education. The study recommended that the college council and management should put adequate measures in place to strengthen Guidance and Counselling units in the colleges of education. The study also recommended that college counsellors should be equipped to use appropriate counselling approaches and techniques to counsel students to desist from indulging in ill-discipline behaviour acts. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Phil. (Education Management)