Ongoing public concern has been expressed concerning the improvement of academic performance of learners in selected Bushbuckridge rural schools, South Africa. Statistics gathered since 2008 demonstrate that the overall performance of secondary schools in the Grade 12 examinations in this region has been consistently poor. This study focused on the stakeholder perceptions of effect of indiscipline on academic performance of learners in selected Bushbuckridge rural schools. Lack of learner discipline in this region prompted this investigation. The general aim of the study was to understand manifestations of indiscipline in relation to learner performance in selected Bushbuckridge rural schools. The study used qualitative research methods and the sample comprised four secondary schools selected by purposive sampling. Individual structured interviews and focus group interviews were used to gather data. In each school, one school management team (SMT) and three educators participated in individual interviews, while four learners participated in focus group interviews. The findings indicated that schools which yielded poor academic performance were faced with learners’ disciplinary problems, which manifested in poor class attendance, late coming, persistent class disruptions, learners’ retaliation when disciplined by educators, alcohol and drug abuse, mocking and ignoring educators and plagiarism. Educators in school C and D lacked a disciplinary mechanism to enforce discipline in their classes since corporal punishment was abolished, hence the poor academic performance of learners. The implementation of the Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS), a departmental strategy aimed at developing educators in order to equip them with all the necessary skills to ensure the success of their schools which is measured against the academic achievement of the learners, had predominantly failed in schools to reach its goal. Educators mainly relied on parental support to deal with serious learner offences but this strategy was largely inadequate. The conceptual framework, ‘putting a plan into practice’, was used to explain the importance of learner discipline for the betterment of academic performance by expounding the five pillars that can be used to attain quality schools. These pillars, if put into practice, create an organizational climate which provides both educators and learners with an opportunity to function as partners in defining and creating success in schools. / Educational Studies / D. Ed.

The study sought to investigate the role of Heads of Departments (HoDs) in the teaching of mathematics in primary schools of the Eastern Cape Province in the OR Tambo Inland District using a qualitative approach and a case study design in particular. Data was collected using both semi-structured and focus group interviews with eight purposively selected heads of departments in the district in six schools. Data was analysed using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis from which three themes emerged. The first one was that the current performance management system interfered with the roles and responsibilities of the HoDs in schools in their daily activities and in the organisation of their work. Second, the barriers in achieving learners’ good performance in mathematics interfered with the HoDs’ responsibilities to achieve good learner performance in the subject. Third, a weak support system and inadequate resources interfered with the learners’ performance in the subject. The results here indicate that HoDs for mathematics experience various obstacles, which affect subject teachers’ implementation to yield positive results, ultimately leading to poor teaching and learning of the subject. These include the admission of learners without the necessary foundations in mathematics which was viewed as an obstacle to learner performance. The study further suggested that the HoDs of mathematics should be capacitated on use of teaching aids, management and administration to improve learner performance in the subject. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Sesotho / This work explores the continuous professional teacher development point system policy and the implications it has on the professional development of teachers. A qualitative study was undertaken in two secondary schools on the West Rand in Gauteng. Data was collected through document analysis, observations and semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that there is a mismatch between what is outlined in the policy and what the teachers are practising. It became evident that the majority of teachers in this study had limited knowledge of the policy although implementation of the policy began in 2014. It was concluded that the point system policy is not contributing effectively to the professional development of teachers in Gauteng. / Hierdie werk ondersoek die deurlopende professionele onderwyser-ontwikkelingspuntstelselbeleid en die implikasies daarvan op die professionele ontwikkeling van onderwysers. 'n Kwalitatiewe studie is onderneem in twee sekondêre skole aan die Wes-Rand in Gauteng. Data is ingesamel deur middel van dokument analise, waarnemings en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. Resultate het aangedui dat daar 'n wanverhouding bestaan tussen wat in die beleid uiteengesit word en wat die onderwysers praktiseer. Dit het duidelik geword dat die meerderheid onderwysers in hierdie studie beperkte kennis van die beleid gehad het, hoewel die implementering van die beleid in 2014 begin het. Daar is bevind dat die puntestelselbeleid nie effektief bydra tot die professionele ontwikkeling van onderwysers in Gauteng nie. / Mosebetsi ona o hlahloba ts'ebetso ea litsebi tsa ntswetsopele ea litsebi le liphehello tsa eona ho ntlafatso ea litsebi tsa matichere. Thuto e ntle e ile ea etsoa likolong tse peli tsa sekondari ho West Rand Gauteng. Lintlha li ile tsa bokelloa ka ho hlahloba litokomane, litlhaloso le lipuisano tse sa tšoaneng. Lipatlisiso li bontšitse hore ho na le phapang pakeng tsa se boletsoeng polelong le seo matichere a se etsang. Ho ile ha totobala hore matichere a mangata thutong ena a na le tsebo e fokolang ea leano le hoja ts'ebetsong ea pholisi e qalile ka 2014. Ho ile ha fihleloa qeto ea hore leano la tsamaiso ea motheo ha le tlatse ka katleho ho ntlafatso ea litsebi tsa matichere Gauteng. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management)

Formal state-controlled education has been a central element for social development in South Africa since the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. The establishment and promotion of a culture of learning and teaching is regarded as a pre-condition for high educational standards. This thesis is a study of the role of the state in the establishment of a culture of learning and teaching in South Africa from 1910 to 2004. To understand the role that the state played in promoting, or inhibiting, a culture of learning and teaching, a historical review was taken of the state's role in formal schooling in the period of the Union (1910-1947), the era of apartheid (1948-1989), the transitional period (1990-1994) and in the era of the democratic South Africa. As an ideal, the state has a responsibility to ensure the establishment of a culture of learning and teaching. The historical review revealed, however, that the state used its policies to promote political rather than educational ideologies - and in the process, there was a complete breakdown in a culture of learning and teaching. The establishment and promotion of a culture of learning and teaching towards the maintenance of high academic standards in South African state schools was the motivating force behind this study. Therefore, this study concludes with guidelines and recommendations grounded in the historical review that will hopefully promote a culture of learning and teaching in South African schools in future. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (History of Education)

Formal state-controlled education has been a central element for social development in South Africa since the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. The establishment and promotion of a culture of learning and teaching is regarded as a pre-condition for high educational standards. This thesis is a study of the role of the state in the establishment of a culture of learning and teaching in South Africa from 1910 to 2004. To understand the role that the state played in promoting, or inhibiting, a culture of learning and teaching, a historical review was taken of the state's role in formal schooling in the period of the Union (1910-1947), the era of apartheid (1948-1989), the transitional period (1990-1994) and in the era of the democratic South Africa. As an ideal, the state has a responsibility to ensure the establishment of a culture of learning and teaching. The historical review revealed, however, that the state used its policies to promote political rather than educational ideologies - and in the process, there was a complete breakdown in a culture of learning and teaching. The establishment and promotion of a culture of learning and teaching towards the maintenance of high academic standards in South African state schools was the motivating force behind this study. Therefore, this study concludes with guidelines and recommendations grounded in the historical review that will hopefully promote a culture of learning and teaching in South African schools in future. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (History of Education)