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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
121

Development and application of a multi-criteria decision-support framework for planning rural energy supply interventions in low-income households in South Africa

Dzenga, Bruce 25 August 2022 (has links) (PDF)
Problems in the public policy decision-making environments are typically complex and continuously evolve. In a resource-constrained environment, several alternatives, criteria, and conflicting objectives must be considered. As a result, solutions to these types of problems cannot be modelled solely using single-criteria techniques. It has been observed that most techniques used to shape energy policy and planning either produce sub-optimal solutions or use strong assumptions about the preferences of decision-maker(s). This difficulty creates a compelling need to develop novel techniques that can handle several alternatives, multiple criteria and conflicting objectives to support public sector decision-making processes. First, the study presents a novel scenario-based multi-objective optimisation framework based on the augmented Chebychev goal programming (GP) technique linked to a value function for analysing a decision environment underlying energy choice among low-income households in isolated rural areas and informal urban settlements in South Africa. The framework developed includes a multi-objective optimisation technique that produced an approximation of a Pareto front linked to an a priori aggregation function and a value function to select the best alternatives. Second, the study used this model to demonstrate the benefits of applying the framework to a previously unknown subject in public policy: a dynamic multi-technology decision problem under uncertainty involving multiple stakeholders and conflicting objectives. The results obtained suggest that while it is cost-optimal to pursue electrification in conjunction with other short-term augmentation solutions to meet South Africa's universal electrification target, sustainable energy access rates among low-income households can be achieved by increasing the share of clean energy generation technologies in the energy mix. This study, therefore, challenges the South African government's position on pro-poor energy policies and an emphasis on grid-based electrification to increase energy access. Instead, the study calls for a portfolio-based intervention. The study advances interventions based on micro-grid electrification made up of solar photovoltaics (PV), solar with storage, combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) and wind technologies combined with either bioethanol fuel or liquid petroleum gas (LPG). The study has demonstrated that the framework developed can benefit public sector decision-makers in providing a balanced regime of technical, financial, social, environmental, public health, political and economic aspects in the decision-making process for planning energy supply interventions for low-income households. The framework can be adapted to a wide range of energy access combinatorial problems and in countries grappling with similar energy access challenges.
122

Compete Globally, Lose Locally? : The effects of Rio de Janeiro ́s hostesship of FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games on residents in informal settlements - A case study of ’favela’ Santa Marta

Olsson, Hanna, Klarberg, Renée January 2014 (has links)
The aim of this master thesis project is to investigate how cities strive to be globally competitive affect local residents in informal settlements, generically called slum dwellers. This question is approached trough a case study of one of Rio de Janeiro’s informal settlements ‘favela’ Santa Marta. The favela’s public spaces have been studied in order to reveal how Rio’s search for increased global status has affected the management of the spaces and consequently the favela dwellers. Rio de Janeiro is using a well-acknowledged strategy towards global competitiveness, the hosting of international mega-events. Within the near future the city is presenting two of the world’s most well-known events: the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. The games are being used as a tool to attract tourists and foreign investments, which are expected to help the city to Compete Globally. However, our findings show that this is happening at the expense of the city’s vulnerable slum dwellers and that Rio to some extent is Losing Locally. For example, slum areas that can contribute to presenting Rio as an attractive city, or have an unexploited economic potential, are increasingly integrated to the formal city. The residents of these areas are affected in several ways, for example through being evicted on behalf of more economically beneficial establishments. Remote slums with no interest for investments are however still separated from the formal city and left without support for its residents. Trough our research we have found that when a city set out to be globally competitive, it uses neoliberal market strategies, like hosting mega-events, since that is apprehended as the only trajectory towards development. Although, we suggest that the known strategy for development should be revised in order to not violate human rights. / Målet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka hur städers strävan efter global konkurrenskraft påverkar de lokala invånarna som bor i informella bostadsområden, så kallade sluminvånare. För att besvara frågeställningen har vi utfört en fallstudie av det informella bostadsområdet ‘favela’ Santa Marta i Rio de Janeiro. Santa Martas allmänna platser har studerats för att få en förståelse för hur Rios strävan efter global status har påverkat hanteringen av favelans allmänna platser och följaktligen dess sluminvånare. Rio de Janeiro använder sig av en internationellt erkänd strategi för att bli globalt konkurrenskraftig, nämligen att anordna internationella mega-event. Inom en snar framtid kommer Rio vara en av värdstäderna för fotbolls VM, och två år senare ska staden vara värd för de Olympiska sommarspelen. Sportevenemangen används som ett politiskt verktyg för att attrahera turister och internationella investeringar som ett steg mot ökad global konkurrenskraft. Resultatet av vår studie visar dock att detta sker på bekostnad av stadens utsatta sluminvånare och att strävan efter global uppmärksamhet kan ha negativ inverkan på lokal nivå. De slumområden i Rio som kan tänkas bidra till en attraktiv bild av staden, alternativt innehar outnyttjad ekonomisk potential, blir integrerade i den formella staden. Invånarna i dessa områden blir negativt drabbade på en rad olika sätt. Exempelvis har ett flertal människor blivit vräkta då området de bor på kan användas till mer ekonomiskt lönsamma ändamål. Avlägsna slumområden utan ekonomiskt intresse blir dock ignorerade. Resultat från vår studie visar att när städer planerar för en ökad global konkurrenskraft använder de sig av neoliberala marknadsstrategier, som mega-event, eftersom detta anses vara det enda tillvägagångssättet för ekonomisk utveckling. Vi föreslår dock att denna rådande strategi behöver utvecklas, uppdateras och få sällskap av alternativa vägar mot utveckling då den i dagsläget leder till att mänskliga rättigheter bryts.
123

Housing Finance Models for Households within Kenya’s Urban Informal Settlements : A case study of Kibera in Nairobi / Bostadsfinansieringsmodeller för hushåll inom Kenyas urbana informella bostadsområden : En fallstudie av Kibera i Nairobi

Wide, Christoffer January 2024 (has links)
The demographic trend of Sub-Saharan African shows rapid population growth, which is expected to stay. Parallel to that, urbanization has been accelerating in the region. This has increased the prevalence of informal settlements, which are seen as problematic and unsustainable as they often provide lower quality of life. The households in informal settlements often lack accessibility to housing finance, which lower their economic opportunities. One of the largest informal settlements in Africa is Kibera, located in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. This paper aims to examine what housing finance models that are accessible for the residents in Kibera, as well as to investigate what can be done to increase accessibility and affordability to housing finance.  The methods included usage of the insights from the literature review, analysis of publicly available information and semi-structured interviews. The results showed that informal housing finance sources still dominate the capital supply in Kibera, including self-finance, family and friends, remittances and chamas (local savings and credit groups). However, there are formal alternatives such as SACCOs, microfinance banks, government initiatives and mobile lending. Besides those, some data indicated that banks have become more flexible and accessible, starting from low levels. Conclusions were made on potential measures taken to increase accessibility and affordability. These include increasing the quantity of subsidized community-based schemes and formalization projects, fostering flexibility in the formal banking system, promoting community-led initiatives, lowering interest rates through enhanced public management, streamlining the legal property system, reducing bureaucratic hurdles in housing transactions, lowering heavy taxes and fees in construction, and combating corruption. / Den demografiska trenden i Subsahariska Afrika visar på en snabb befolkningstillväxt som förväntas bestå. Parallellt med detta har urbaniseringen accelererat i regionen. Detta har ökat förekomsten av informella bostadsområden, vilka ses som problematiska och ohållbara eftersom de ofta innebär lägre livskvalitet. Hushållen i informella bostadsområden saknar ofta tillgång till bostadsfinansiering, vilket minskar deras ekonomiska möjligheter. Ett av de största informella bostadsområdena i Afrika är Kibera, beläget i den Kenyanska huvudstaden Nairobi. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka vilka bostadsfinansieringsmodeller som är tillgängliga för invånarna i Kibera, samt att undersöka vad som kan göras för att öka tillgängligheten och den ekonomiska överkomligheten till bostadsfinansiering.  Metoderna inkluderade användning av insikter från litteraturöversikten, analys av offentligt tillgänglig information och semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultaten visade att informella källor för bostadsfinansiering fortfarande dominerar kapitalförsörjningen i Kibera, inklusive självfinansiering, familj och vänner, remitteringar och chamas (lokala spar- och kreditgrupper). Det finns dock formella alternativ såsom SACCOs, mikrokreditbanker, statliga initiativ och mobil utlåning. Förutom dessa indikerade vissa data att banker har blivit mer flexibla och tillgängliga, med start från låga nivåer. Slutsatser drogs om potentiella åtgärder för att öka tillgängligheten och den ekonomiska överkomligheten. Dessa inkluderar att öka subventionerade samhällsbaserade program och formaliseringsprojekt, främja flexibilitet i det formella banksystemet, uppmuntra lokalt ledda initiativ, sänka räntorna genom förbättrad offentlig förvaltning, effektivisera det juridiska fastighetssystemet, minska byråkratiska hinder vid bostadstransaktioner, sänka höga skatter och avgifter vid nybyggnation samt bekämpa korruption.
124

Involving informally housed communities in shaping local government policies aimed at poverty alleviation: a South African perspective

Cortemiglia, Andrea 31 August 2006 (has links)
This thesis discusses the involvement of informally housed communities in shaping local government policies aimed at poverty alleviation. Involving the poor in the design of anti-poverty policies at local level is regarded as an invaluable opportunity that should be used by municipal governments to make poverty alleviation efforts more demand-driven and therefore more relevant to the people they are meant to benefit. The argument is that because the poor know about poverty first-hand, they would be in a position to revive local government's capacity to respond effectively to their needs. But this does not come without a price. Because of the complexity of public management, participative democracy is liable to slow down the process of governance. It may also become advantageous to the interests of some people or groups of people at the expense of others if attention is not paid to the representation and consideration of all the voices in the community–to name two drawbacks. For this reason, it is essential to the realization of an effective bottom-up approach to anti-poverty policy-making that certain conditions are in existence and practical issues of involvement are worked through. Accordingly, it is the intention of this study to focus on two particular areas (conditions and practical issues that would facilitate the process of involving informally housed communities in the design of local government policies that affect their lives), which are investigated with particular reference to the South African context. Drawing upon a series of field surveys and a broad selection of relevant works of scholars from both the international and local scene, the picture that emerges is that there needs to be a proper level of government's commitment, capacity and legally binding responsibility coupled with a healthy degree of community's motivation, ability and organizational capacity in order to involve the poor in local governance efficiently. The study has also found that there needs to be proper forms of involvement (the most relevant of which are identified as an ombudsman, public meetings and residents' committees) that are to be employed with attention to such issues as stakeholders to be engaged, degree of participation, timing of involvement and topics for which public debate may be sought. / Development Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)
125

Towards promoting food security amongst poor urban households : the case of Phomolong in Mamelodi

Alusala, Loice Nandako 06 1900 (has links)
Promoting household food security for many poor people globally and more so in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be a challenge today. Ever rising poverty levels, an influx in the prevalence of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic, reduced rainfall accompanied by changing climatic patterns, environmental bankruptcy, the complexities associated with urbanization, globalisation as well as technology shift in the agricultural sector and capitalistic market economies all play a role in the food security debate. This research has highlighted some of the factors that influence the food economy and related these to the household food security of poor informal settlement dwellers. Achieving household food security for poor urban households requires an integrated approach in terms of poverty eradication as well as deliberate efforts with regards to food production and distribution within a framework of ecological integrity, with an aim of empowering the poor and ensuring that their household food security is guaranteed. / Development Studies / Thesis (M.A. (Development Studies))
126

The balanced scorecard as a performance measurement tool for the South Africa government's upgrading of informal settlements programme

Julyan, Leoni 06 1900 (has links)
The perceived lack of progress by the Department of Human Settlements (“Department”) in meeting the increased demand for subsidised housing post-1994 is a ticking time bomb, given the repeated promises without any prospect of meeting the commitment to eradicate or upgrade all informal settlements by 2014. Despite ongoing delivery of subsidised housing, the backlog remained at 2,4 million households from 2005 to 2009, the indicator being the number of informal settlement households. The “Department” has acknowledged the existence of bureaucratic blockages throughout the housing delivery chain. Despite the urgency of the situation, there appears to be no research on the departmental factors hampering delivery under the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (“programme”) and finding a solution that would maximise delivery within budgetary constraints. This research assesses the suitability of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), a Strategic Management Accounting performance measurement and management tool, for addressing the departmental factors hampering delivery (“factors”) under the “programme” and develops a conceptual framework to guide any future application of the BSC to the “programme”.The complexity of housing delivery and the proposed integration of the BSC call for a detailed literature study of the post-1994 national housing and “programme” documentation and that of the public sector BSC. The theoretical study will establish how and by whom housing delivery should be done, the “factors” and the BSC framework and translation process. This will serve as the basis for the assessment of the suitability of the BSC for addressing the “factors” and the development of the conceptual framework.This study revealed that the BSC is suitable for addressing seven of the eight departmental factors hampering delivery under the “programme” and partially suitable for addressing the remaining factor. The recommendation is that the BSC be applied to the “programme” according to the conceptual framework provided. This study has contributed to knowledge by: producing an overall picture of the national framework for the delivery of subsidised housing, presenting the BSC as a suitable performance measurement tool for addressing the departmental factors hampering delivery under the “programme”, and developing a conceptual framework for any future BSC application to the “programme”. / Accounting Sciences / D. Com. (Accounting)
127

An evaluation of school readiness in an informal settlement

Naidoo, Balendran 06 1900 (has links)
School readiness is a stage in a child's development when he learns easily and effectively. A child who is not yet ready for school on school entry is already at a disadvantage in the formal learning situation. This in itself can affect his school performance in the later years. The researcher, being a primary school teacher noticed that the children from the informal settlements that had no pre-school intervention arrived at school unready to learn. This investigation set out to evaluate the school readiness of children from an informal settlement without a pre-school programme. The school readiness of these children were compared against children from an informal settlement with a pre-school programme. Test and questionnaires were used to determine the five year olds' school readiness. The researcher used the idiographic method of research. The findings of the research were based on the interpretations of the tests and questionnaires. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)
128

Riglyne vir 'n perseptueel-motoriese intervensieprogram om die leergereedheid van Graad-R-leerders te verhoog / Myrtle Erasmus

Erasmus, Myrtle January 2012 (has links)
The challenges of backlogs experienced amongst Grade R-learners, results in learners not being school and learning ready when entering Grade 1. Obstacles for example are insufficient stimulation, under developed perception, and poor gross and fine motor skills, require early intervention and ought to receive attention in Grade R. From the socialecological perspective and taking into consideration the great amount of learners in South Africa originating from deprived environments, the study is focused in the domain of the Social Deprivation Theory. The bio-ecological context within which learners find themselves, influence the cognitive and perceptual development of every learner. Epistemologically the study focuses on the similarity between Critical Theory and Interpretivism. Critical Theory highlights the meaning of experience as manifested in relation to social circumstances and developmental background. Interpretivism in this study focuses on the meaning which individuals attach to their experiences in the spotlight and results in greater understanding and insight of the researched phenomenon. Circumstances of deprivation occur worldwide, even in developed countries like United States of America (USA) and England. Already for decades in USA young children gain in their development through intervention in early childhood (Ludwig & Phillips, 2007). Duncan and Brooks-Gunn (2000) identified a relation between child poverty/deprivation and poor school performance in the USA. Research in England (Thompson, 2000) shows that the impact of social neglect of children have serious consequences. The National Education Policy Act (Pandor, 2008; SA DvO, 1997:2) uses Early Childhood Development (ECD) as an umbrella term which refers to the development processes whereby children physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, morally and socially grow and develop from birth to the age of nine years (SA, DoE, 1995, White paper 5,). The kind of education learners receive in Grade R is crucial to their further development in the education system (Van Zyl, Le Roux & Janse van Rensburg 2011, DvO, 1997:2). Learners lacking an adequate foundation may experience difficulties throughout their school career. In South Africa there is concern as to the standard of education and training, manifesting in a low pass rate on Grade 12-level. This study is undertaken to determine the current shortages in the South African educational system which may hinder the learning potential of Grade R-learners. An attempt is made to determine which handicaps/backlogs Grade R-learners experience, which fits the framework of the deprivation theory, which can undermine learner readiness. This study determine whether intervention by means of a perceptual-motor skills programme can enhance the school readiness of pre-school learners. Finally to determine which shortages/ backlogs exists in the perceptual-motor skills of Grade R nlearners from deprived backgrounds in South Africa. Guidelines for a perceptual-motor intervention program was developed through this study. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data-analysis is used in this study (Onwuegbuzie, Johnson en Collins, 2009). The dissertation is compiled in article format. In the first article of the study, the issues of teacher development and support mechanisms and equipment at primary schools and kindergartens are explored. Qualitative and phenomenological research was undertaken and information was gathered by means of questionnaires directed at teachers. In the following article the school readiness of 48 Grade R-learners from deprived backgrounds were tested. The research participants came from similar sosio-economic background, from quintile one and two schools. Seeing that those were the only primary schools with Grade R classes in that area, they were identified on behalf of their availability. In this study the data was analysed and descriptive statistics (means, averages, standard deviations, minimum and maximum values, percentages) and t-tests were used to determine variations in terms of perceptual motor skill development and learning readiness. An experimental group of 21 Grade R learners followed a 10 week long perceptual-motor skills intervention programme. In the follow-up school readiness test (article 3), results indicated that the intervention showed a positive response with regards to the school readiness of the Grade R learners. Drawing to a conclusion (article 4), the intervention programme is critically discussed and recommendations were made to all those concerned with Grade R teaching (teachers, principals, Departments of Education). The conclusion according to the results of the research shows that the intervention had a positive effect on the school and learning readiness of this group of Grade R learners. / Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Development Innovation and Evaluation))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012
129

Einflussfaktoren auf Wachstum und Morphologie informeller Siedlungen / Factors influencing growth and morphology of informal settlements

Ilberg, Antje 22 September 2010 (has links) (PDF)
Die vorliegende Arbeit prüft unterschiedliche Einflussfaktoren und deren Auswirkung auf die Merkmale informeller Siedlungen. Hypothese ist, dass die Morphologie und weitere physischen Merkmale informeller Siedlungen trotz der Wirksamkeit lokaler und kulturspezifischer Rahmenbedingungen auf die Wirkung bestimmbarer Einflussfaktoren zurückgeführt werden können, die entsprechend erkennbarer und prognostizierbarer Gesetzmäßigkeiten wirken. Es werden die Gesetzmäßigkeiten geprüft, die mit informeller Stadtbildung in Verbindung stehen und sich in Morphologie und weiteren physischen Merkmalen von informellen Siedlungen äußern. Dabei werden konstante und variable Faktoren unterschieden, die bei der Ausbildung informeller Stadtstrukturen wirken. Die meisten Faktoren stellen sich als variabel heraus. Mit dem Verständnis über deren Bedeutung und Zusammenhänge kann daher die informelle Siedlungsbildung beeinflusst werden und Planungsempfehlungen können für schnell und informell wachsende Städte formuliert werden. Die Morphologie und bautypischen Merkmale informeller Siedlungen sind prognostizierbar und die Folgen bestimmter Entscheidungen einschätzbar. Die Beeinflussung der Einflussfaktoren ist insbesondere auf der Ebene von Politik und Gesetzgebung möglich. Fast alle Handlungs- und Planungsentscheidungen müssen das Bodenrechtssystem und die vorliegenden Verhältnisse des Bodeneigentums beachten. Als Fallstudien dienen fünf Städte in Afrika, die von einer Bandbreite an Rahmenbedingungen beeinflusst werden und die aktuell einem besonders rasanten, doch jungen Verstädterungsprozess ausgesetzt sind. In Afrika finden sich unterscheidbare Rechtssysteme, die zum Teil aus der Kolonialgeschichte hervorgehen. Die Wahl der Beispiele wurde während der Bearbeitung und Vertiefung des Themas getroffen. Vor allem fußt die Analyse auf Originalmaterial, das die Autorin durch eigene Aufenthalte zusammengetragen und erhoben hat. Spezielle Planunterlagen, Planungs- und Gesetzesinformationen waren im Allgemeinen nicht anders aufzufinden. Es gibt auch nur wenige vorangegangene, einzelne Analysen informeller Siedlungen aus architektonischer oder planerischer Sicht. Wie keine der wenigen vorhandenen Analysen beansprucht diese Arbeit nun das Erarbeiten der Zusammenhänge von Rahmenbedingungen und Siedlungscharakteristik unter Beleuchtung der Bandbreite informeller Siedlungsformen. Von Bedeutung ist daher die intensive Arbeit mit dem Kartenmaterial auf Siedlungs- und Bebauungsebene, dessen Betrachtung vor dem Hintergrund landesspezifischer Informationen und die Erkenntnisgewinnung aus dem Vergleich der ausgewählten Beispiele stattfinden. / This work examines the factors influencing the characteristics of informal settlements. Hypothetically, the morphology and other physical characteristics of informal settlements can be attributed to the effect determinable factors, which function with predictable regularities, despite a locally and culturally specific framework. Examined are those regularities, which are related to the formation of informal urban growth, and which are expressed in the morphology and further physical characteristics of informal settlements. Constant and variable factors are differentiated when examining their influence on informal urban morphologies. It is discovered that most factors can be influenced on the level of politics and legislation and therefore, the formation and the physical characteristics of informal settlements can be steered. Planning recommendations for fast, informally growing cities can be formulated and the consequences of planning and policy decisions can be predicted equally. Nearly all action and planning decisions must consider the local juridical system and specific conditions of land ownership. The research clearly shows that the physical form of informal urban development, i.e. morphology and townscape, is directly connected to the given land ownership system in a country in general, and to the land rights specifically for settled land. In other words, current as well as former land ownership conditions in a country influence the physical characteristics of the informal settlements. In principle, the land law determines type, extent and functioning of plot allocation and transfer processes; and indirectly, the type and degree of nonconformity to this legal defines the type, extent and functioning of the informal land market. The research is based on case studies in five African cities with varying legal, administrative, historic and cultural frameworks, and which are currently exposed to a rapid process of urbanization, which has started only recently. In Africa, there are distinguishable juridical systems, which partially result from colonial history. Above all, the analysis is based on original material, which was gathered by the author during field research. There are only few analyses of informal settlements, which take an architectural or planning perspective, and those are limited to individual settlements. This work now stresses the interrelation of different aspects in the framework with physical settlement characteristics, while analyzing the respective range of informal settlement forms for each case example.
130

Riglyne vir 'n perseptueel-motoriese intervensieprogram om die leergereedheid van Graad-R-leerders te verhoog / Myrtle Erasmus

Erasmus, Myrtle January 2012 (has links)
The challenges of backlogs experienced amongst Grade R-learners, results in learners not being school and learning ready when entering Grade 1. Obstacles for example are insufficient stimulation, under developed perception, and poor gross and fine motor skills, require early intervention and ought to receive attention in Grade R. From the socialecological perspective and taking into consideration the great amount of learners in South Africa originating from deprived environments, the study is focused in the domain of the Social Deprivation Theory. The bio-ecological context within which learners find themselves, influence the cognitive and perceptual development of every learner. Epistemologically the study focuses on the similarity between Critical Theory and Interpretivism. Critical Theory highlights the meaning of experience as manifested in relation to social circumstances and developmental background. Interpretivism in this study focuses on the meaning which individuals attach to their experiences in the spotlight and results in greater understanding and insight of the researched phenomenon. Circumstances of deprivation occur worldwide, even in developed countries like United States of America (USA) and England. Already for decades in USA young children gain in their development through intervention in early childhood (Ludwig & Phillips, 2007). Duncan and Brooks-Gunn (2000) identified a relation between child poverty/deprivation and poor school performance in the USA. Research in England (Thompson, 2000) shows that the impact of social neglect of children have serious consequences. The National Education Policy Act (Pandor, 2008; SA DvO, 1997:2) uses Early Childhood Development (ECD) as an umbrella term which refers to the development processes whereby children physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, morally and socially grow and develop from birth to the age of nine years (SA, DoE, 1995, White paper 5,). The kind of education learners receive in Grade R is crucial to their further development in the education system (Van Zyl, Le Roux & Janse van Rensburg 2011, DvO, 1997:2). Learners lacking an adequate foundation may experience difficulties throughout their school career. In South Africa there is concern as to the standard of education and training, manifesting in a low pass rate on Grade 12-level. This study is undertaken to determine the current shortages in the South African educational system which may hinder the learning potential of Grade R-learners. An attempt is made to determine which handicaps/backlogs Grade R-learners experience, which fits the framework of the deprivation theory, which can undermine learner readiness. This study determine whether intervention by means of a perceptual-motor skills programme can enhance the school readiness of pre-school learners. Finally to determine which shortages/ backlogs exists in the perceptual-motor skills of Grade R nlearners from deprived backgrounds in South Africa. Guidelines for a perceptual-motor intervention program was developed through this study. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data-analysis is used in this study (Onwuegbuzie, Johnson en Collins, 2009). The dissertation is compiled in article format. In the first article of the study, the issues of teacher development and support mechanisms and equipment at primary schools and kindergartens are explored. Qualitative and phenomenological research was undertaken and information was gathered by means of questionnaires directed at teachers. In the following article the school readiness of 48 Grade R-learners from deprived backgrounds were tested. The research participants came from similar sosio-economic background, from quintile one and two schools. Seeing that those were the only primary schools with Grade R classes in that area, they were identified on behalf of their availability. In this study the data was analysed and descriptive statistics (means, averages, standard deviations, minimum and maximum values, percentages) and t-tests were used to determine variations in terms of perceptual motor skill development and learning readiness. An experimental group of 21 Grade R learners followed a 10 week long perceptual-motor skills intervention programme. In the follow-up school readiness test (article 3), results indicated that the intervention showed a positive response with regards to the school readiness of the Grade R learners. Drawing to a conclusion (article 4), the intervention programme is critically discussed and recommendations were made to all those concerned with Grade R teaching (teachers, principals, Departments of Education). The conclusion according to the results of the research shows that the intervention had a positive effect on the school and learning readiness of this group of Grade R learners. / Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Development Innovation and Evaluation))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

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