A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Art in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree, Doctor of Philosophy in Community Psychology in the Department of Psychology University of Zululand, 2017. / This research was envisioned to understand the evaluation of the Life Orientation (LO) Programme in Eastern Cape schools. The main motivation for the study was to evaluate the Life Orientation Programme in Eastern Cape schools through an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) into the experiences and perceptions of learners, educators, and departmental officials regarding the effectiveness of the LO Programme. This was because subject advisors are responsible for giving the required support and as well evaluate the subject teachers in schools. According to Sanders and Sullins (2006); Visser (2007) and Serrat (2008), school programmes have to undergo a review from time to time to ensure that they are still relevant, justifying the evaluation of this study. The reader is informed that, Life Orientation, was introduced as a compulsory subject offered to all learners from grade R to grade 12 and as an inter-disciplinary subject that draws on and integrates knowledge, values, skills, and processes embedded in various disciplines such as sociology, psychology, political science, human movement science, with the objective of making informed decisions and choices (Department of Education, 2003). Thus, Life Orientation Programme was to provide the necessary guidance for skills development, (Department of Education, 2005) This research observed the understanding that LO Programme has a focus on social development, health promotion, personal development, orientation to the world of work and the general physical advancement. Embedded in this study, was the need to understand whether personal biological inputs either individually or collectively, had any influence on the perception of learners, teachers and subject advisors towards the Life Orientation Programme or not. Thus, this study contributed towards moderating and remoulding the perception of learners towards LO Programmes by providing a clear understanding of the concepts of Life Orientation content, role of educators and the skills offered. The Literature review considered the following areas; Health Promotion, Social Development and Personal Development, Physical Development and Movement, Orientation to the world of work, showing to educators the existing differences of the educational needs and expectations of different learners (Engelbrecht & Green, 2009). These expectations may not be met if teachers pay too much attention to their own lives and values (Beyers & Hay, 2011). Some teachers experience a large measure of ambiguity regarding HIV/AIDS, they realize cognitively that they must support and nurture the HIV positive learner, but emotionally they remain cold (Bhana, Morrell, Epstein & Moletsane, 2006; Wood & Webb, 2008). iii This research has endeavoured to discuss in detail the issue of HIV, and the status disclosure of participants. One issue of necessity is the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, the use of the subject of the HIV/AIDS epidemic to professionally create some relevant awareness within the communities. The data used for evaluation of the research objectives were obtained from randomly selected participants by use of a closed-ended questionnaire instrument. The collected data were captured and analyzed by use of SPSS (Statistical Package for Service Solutions, Version 20). Among variables included were; the participant’s gender, age, educational category, residence and years of formal education and research questions. The analysis comprised of tables and charts whose parameters of analysis were percentages and frequencies. The interpretation for both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed in line with the research objectives. The analysis produced outputs in the form of tables and charts, which comprised of frequencies, percentages, cumulative frequencies and cumulative percentages for descriptive analysis, whereas, test-statistics and p-values were used for significance level analysis for inferential scrutiny for existence of any association for selected pairs of variables while charts for association consisted of percentages and the variables under assessment. The analysis, for instance, found that more females (62.20%) participated in this study than did their male counterparts. Some of the reasons advanced were trifold; One, that the general population in the target areas constituted more women than men, and two, that men participation, were prone to unnecessary time-consuming arguments leading to a meagre male-participation. The researcher, an education professional, who deals with the learning curriculum on daily basis, and a practical university student counsellor knows that Physical Education is a compulsory component of the LO Curriculum. Each term, a learner has to complete physical activity assessments that count towards their overall LO mark. Though no record shows currently that grades eight and nine do not have formal physical education lessons, it was an exercise to be implemented in 2014. The results, however, were in line with Ombaba et al. (2014), who found that support from teachers in schools on the career guidance programme needed enhancement in order to make sure that the guidance services rendered are practical to students. The importance of Life Orientation Programme has been underscored, which requires the following recommendations for a sustainable improvement; adding to the course content, teachers to avoid name-calling in class, accommodation of everyone in career exhibitions without discrimination, improvement on presentation tasks, and others not stated here. iv It has come to be revealed, through this research, that the South African public educational system does not have adequate provision for vocational guidance or assessment of individual learners. This weakness results in high unnecessary costs for the country, the South African Businesses as well as social discontent and hardship. On the other hand, statement 4.3.1.16 showed that the average majority (51.8%) of the respondents claimed that Life Orientation motivates and guides them about basic life styles and careers. The researcher lauded this as a welcome discovery. According to the analysis of the data on statement 4.3.1.6, the majority of the respondents (65.3%) strongly agreed with the statement. This indicated that Life Orientation promotes healthy behaviour as expressed by the majority of the respondents. On the inferential analysis base, the researcher determined the existence of any relationship between independent variables and research statements in the questionnaire. As to whether Life Orientation promotes healthy behaviour based on one’s gender, this research revealed that the two variables were quite independent based on the obtained p-value of 0.765 as compared to any level of significance chosen from (0.05, 0.025, or 0.010). The null hypothesis could not be rejected. The conclusion was that gender had no influence on the promotion of healthy behaviour and so, practising healthy behaviour does not depend on gender but rather is an individual decision. Complementarily, results of another similar assessment between gender of respondent and respect for human rights as a prerequisite for moral development in a society indicated that there was no significant association between gender and the given dependent statement. This research further showed that age group of respondent and respecting human rights being a prerequisite for moral development in society were not significantly associated, since the observed p-value was greater than the level of significance. The researcher did not have sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis under this setup. On the other side of the analysis, age group of respondent and drugs giving one a true sense of security revealed a different observation. The observed p-value of 0.001 was far smaller than any selected level of significance. This resulted in a highly significant association demonstrating the fact that age group promoted the belief that drugs could give one a true sense of security. v A similar result showing a p-value of 0.022 for testing the association between educational category and Life Orientation promoting healthy behavior was highly significant. Key words: Apartheid government era, formative subjects, Life Orientation, Life Orientation Programme, level of significance, degree of association, general education and training (GET) band, further education and training (FET) band.

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Education (Psychology Department) at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2011. / This study aims to investigate the attitude of High School learners towards Life Orientation. Life Orientation is a new learning area that is being introduced into South African schools as part of curriculum transformation in our democracy. It is intended to equip learners with the skills to live meaningful lives in a society that requires rapid transformation. Our country has seen many changes lately within the context of the advancement of democracy and education is not exempt from these changes. Parker (1998) argued that people who will survive in society are people who have the ability to receive and process information quickly. More than a decade later his comment still rings true. This study of attitudes towards Life Orientation attempts to find out if knowledge that learners receive in Life Orientation is relevant enough to make learners live meaningful lives in a society that is so rapidly transforming. The research was conducted in twelve high schools which were randomly selected in and around the Pietermaritzburg and Durban Areas. Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data was used. Questionnaires were administered to high school learners and key questions which inform outcomes and the content that is covered in Life Orientation were used to:  determine learners’ attitudes towards Life Orientation through the use of questionnaires;  establish the relationship (if any) between the nature of attitudes and respondents’ response variables such as age, gender and learner performance; and  determine the extent to which learners feel empowered by Life Orientation. The status and practice of Life Orientation reveal that learners have a positive attitude towards Life Orientation but they appear to attach more emphasis and display more attitudinal reaction to such issues as HIV/AIDS, personal development as well as the career aspects of Life Orientation. Furthermore, the study revealed that aspects of life orientation that are peripheral to individuals such as the qualities of Ubuntu (communality) and tolerance were considered important only later in the life of learners. The attitude of learners is influenced by the context they find themselves in. Educators were found to have contributed to the attitudes of their learners as interpreters of the curriculum. Lastly, findings also revealed qualitative development of wisdom in learners as they progress through their grades in their high school years. The findings of the research require attention by the Education Department to deal with educators, so that they can impact learners’ attitudes positively towards a desired outcome because they determine what is regarded as valuable knowledge. The need to place equal value on other aspects of Life Orientation requires strengthening in order to produce learners who will live meaningful lives in a society that requires rapid transformation.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Counseling Psychology) in the Department of Psychology University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The overall aim of this study was to enquire the effectiveness of the Life Orientation program offered in high schools; i.e. its benefits to its participants. The benefits could be students being able to understand, and accept themselves as unique and worthwhile beings, using skills learnt from the program and display attitudes and values that improve relationships in the family, group, and community. The research question of the study was how effective is the Life Orientation program offered in high schools, i.e. in terms of learner’s ability to meet the curriculum’s critical development outcomes after completion of the program? Life Orientation is the subject that was implemented as part of the Outcomes Based Education. It is an inter-disciplinary subject that is embedded in disciplines of Social Science, Arts, and the Humanities. The intention behind the program is promotion of the holistic development of, e.g. interpersonal skills, values, health, environment and religious education. The research was conducted at the University of Zululand in the Northern KwaZulu Natal province. The research design was qualitative in nature, and appreciative inquiry was used as an investigative tool. The study was conducted with the group of first year students that were registered for the academic year of 2009. Sampling was purposeful as the researcher’s specific criterion for participants were students who have attended the Life Orientation program in high school.

MEDCS / Department of Curriculum Studies and Education Management

D.Phil. / Since the inception of democracy in 1994 the country’s educational system has radically changed as one reform rapidly succeeded another. The changing curriculum meant an end to the sole emphasis on academic achievement. Instead, the introduction of Life Orientation (LO) meant that schools had to be concerned with the development of the whole person, placing personal and individual needs in a social context to encourage acceptance of diversity and promote the quality of life for all. Whilst the transformation and curriculum changes have brought about a breakthrough in the education system, LO teachers in the Gauteng Province were presented with new challenges as they found themselves faced with multiple moral and emotional problems that learners brought to school and yet they were not professionally prepared for nor were they trained to deal with. Such problems brought about ambiguity and created confusion in their roles, raising personal and professional dilemmas such as their limited knowledge of the curriculum and specific tools and practice skills needed to teach Life Orientation meaningfully. It is in context of the above that I decided to conduct a study focusing on what should be entailed in the personal and professional development (PPD) of LO teachers in the Gauteng province. I also considered how their personal and professional experiences contributed to the meaningful teaching of LO. Furthermore, these experiences would be used to develop an Educational-Psychological Practice Framework for the PPD of LO teachers in the Gauteng Province. LO teachers and provincial coordinators in Gauteng were identified as study participants. A three-phased sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used in this study. Phase one of the study was quantitative in nature and data was collected using a questionnaire distributed to 154 LO teachers in the province. The main aim of this phase was to obtain descriptive data that would be used to enhance the qualitative data in phase two of the study. Of the total distribution, 130 questionnaires were returned and analysed using the SPSS software package. Synopsis vi In phase two of the study a qualitative approach was used with the aim of obtaining LO teachers’ experiences of their personal and professional development. Individual and focus group interviews were held with a total of 18 participants. In addition, two participants took part through creating collages. The study yielded eight themes namely: 1) LO teachers’ life experiences; 2) Attitudes towards LO; 3) LO curriculum delivery; 4) complex roles of LO teachers; 5) essential characteristics of LO teachers; 6) LO teachers’ needs; 7) dealing with challenging social issues; and finally, 8) support circle for LO teachers. In the third phase of the study an educational-psychological practice framework for the personal and professional development of LO teachers in the Gauteng Province was described. Empowerment and support were identified as key aspects of that should be used in the development of LO teachers in the Gauteng province. As such, the Life (L) Orientation (O) Teacher (T) Empowerment (E) and Support (S) practice framework was designed. Subsequently the framework was called the LOTES Practice Framework. The framework comprised of four interrelated systemic levels which relate to specific forms of empowerment and support for LO teachers at each level. Finally, to ensure successful implementation of this practice framework, key role-players for each level were identified and recommendations for the implementation were set out.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Adolescence can be described as a period of heightened vulnerability. The transition between childhood and adulthood encompasses challenges associated with the changes experienced in the various domains of development. Risk and opportunity are associated with adolescence and education with regard to dealing with these aspects of adolescent developmental change is critical. Life Skills Education promotes the acquisition of appropriate non-academic skills and behaviour that will empower the adolescent to lead a meaningful life. Life Orientation is South Africa's interpretation of Life Skills Education. This learning area is one of eight within the structure of Curriculum 2005. This study focuses on this specific learning area. The aim of this study was to determine the specific Life Orientation needs of Grade 9 learners and to assess whether the current Life Orientation curriculum meets these needs. The study also set out to establish whether the Life Orientation needs differed according to race and gender. The research consists of a literature and an empirical study. Primary and secondary literature resources, as well as, the Internet, were studied in order to achieve the aims of the study. Information studied was used to design a measuring instrument in the form of a survey. This measuring instrument is statistically valid and reliable. The empirical study was primarily descriptive and quantitative. The sample population comprised of Grade 9 learners from two mainstream English-medium schools in the Vaal Triangle. The findings of this study show that the Life Orientation needs of Grade 9 learners in this sample are largely met by the current curriculum, although a number of deficiencies do exist and recommendations with regard to the relevance of the curriculum have been made. No significant differences between gender and racial groups were found. Furthermore, the Life Orientation needs are practical and future-orientated. These needs reflect the skills required to cope with the socio-economic reality of modern day life in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Adolescence can be described as a period of heightened vulnerability. The transition between childhood and adulthood encompasses challenges associated with the changes experienced in the various domains of development. Risk and opportunity are associated with adolescence and education with regard to dealing with these aspects of adolescent developmental change is critical. Life Skills Education promotes the acquisition of appropriate non-academic skills and behaviour that will empower the adolescent to lead a meaningful life. Life Orientation is South Africa's interpretation of Life Skills Education. This learning area is one of eight within the structure of Curriculum 2005. This study focuses on this specific learning area. The aim of this study was to determine the specific Life Orientation needs of Grade 9 learners and to assess whether the current Life Orientation curriculum meets these needs. The study also set out to establish whether the Life Orientation needs differed according to race and gender. The research consists of a literature and an empirical study. Primary and secondary literature resources, as well as, the Internet, were studied in order to achieve the aims of the study. Information studied was used to design a measuring instrument in the form of a survey. This measuring instrument is statistically valid and reliable. The empirical study was primarily descriptive and quantitative. The sample population comprised of Grade 9 learners from two mainstream English-medium schools in the Vaal Triangle. The findings of this study show that the Life Orientation needs of Grade 9 learners in this sample are largely met by the current curriculum, although a number of deficiencies do exist and recommendations with regard to the relevance of the curriculum have been made. No significant differences between gender and racial groups were found. Furthermore, the Life Orientation needs are practical and future-orientated. These needs reflect the skills required to cope with the socio-economic reality of modern day life in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

In South Africa, there are various stakeholders involved in career guidance services (Stead & Watson, 2006, P.160). The teaching of career guidance within the context of Life Orientation (LO) at schools is the responsibility of Life Orientation teachers. This study explores the experiences of Life Orientation teachers in teaching career guidance in rural high schools at Lephalale Municipality. The study used qualitative approach to obtain rich information about the experiences of Life Orientation teachers in teaching career guidance at rural high schools. The study was conducted in two rural high schools in the Palala North Circuit of Lephalale Municipality. The sample comprised of two Further Education and Training (FET) Phase Life Orientation teachers from two rural high schools (one from each school). The participants were purposefully and conveniently selected. The data was collected by means of the semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed using the inductive thematic data analysis where themes, subthemes and categories emerged. The findings of the study reflected both the negative and positive experiences of Life Orientation teachers in respect of their teaching of careers and career choices, training and support needs, and the career- related activities such as career exhibitions in which both the learners and LO teachers participate. The results of the study will be shared with the two schools in the Palala North Circuit and the Department of Education, Waterberg District in the Limpopo province. It is hoped that the results generated by the study might assist the training personnel or facilitators (education or subject specialists) to know the type of training and support that LO teachers require and to also inform policy makers to develop a model of teaching career guidance at rural high schools. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

Teachers are often in contact with children whose family members are affected or infected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic, or children themselves who are affected or infected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Often, it is teachers themselves who are suffering due to the HIV and AIDS pandemic. School training and tertiary training are one of the most important components, which need a lot of attention in a developing country. Teachers play a very important role in developing the youth’s thoughts. School training is often negatively impacted due to absenteeism of teachers, negative attitudes of teachers and the time wasted to replace teachers who are negatively impacted by the HIV and AIDS pandemic or who take medical discharge. Teachers often don’t know how to handle the impact of the HIV and AIDS pandemic and they are also unaware of resources available in this regard. The REds-programme is a support programme designed for teachers who are affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The aim of the REds-programme is to provide teachers with support so that they will be able to handle the impact of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The focus is specifically on teachers, as they don’t live or work in isolation. Teachers form part of communities and school units whom are directly impacted by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The REds-programme was vi implemented in 2004. This programme is thus running, tested and still in the process of testing, for the past six years. Article 1 consists of the following: The nature and content of the REds-programme. The group work process, as well as a discussion of each group work session. Article 2 consists of the following: An evaluation of the REds-programme by means of the qualitative and quantitative results obtained. From the results, it is clear that the REds-programme is a very effective programme from which life orientation teachers can benefit. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012