The introduction of the National Policy on Religion and Education (NPRE) in 2003 signalled the intention by government to provide a framework within which educational institutions have to deal with religion issues. The policy was introduced “in recognition that there have been instances in which public education institutions have discriminated on the grounds of religious belief” (NPRE, 2003: 3). Therefore, the policy gives full expression to the invocation of religion in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the principles governing religious freedom. It further prescribes, in Sections 58 to 65 (NPRE, DoE, 2003), how school governing bodies (SGBs) should conduct religious observances. The study pursued the answer to the question: “Is the implementation of the policy on religion and education in schools advancing the school community’s right to freedom of religion, belief and opinion as anticipated by the NPRE?” The study examined how SGBS in two rural high schools of the North West Province engaged in the development and implementation of the policy on religion. The research used extensive interviews, questionnaires, document analysis and observations to elicit SGBs’ understanding, views and experiences of the issues of religious values and diversity through the implementation of the policy on religion and education in their schools. This interpretive case study traced the ability of the policy to enhance the school community’s right to freedom for religious belief and expression and freedom from religious coercion and discrimination. The findings of the study reveal a gloomy picture about the extent to which the policy on religion in schools is able to achieve the goals and objectives as intended by the NPRE. Two major challenges emerged; one is the lack of knowledge on the part of parents and learners serving in the SGBs to understand and interpret policy. The second is the minimal involvement of stakeholders in decision-making processes on matters that affect their lives, such as religion. This situation ultimately allows educators and principals to manipulate the environment of policy development and implementation. The result thereof includes the situation where one religion is being given priority over others, adoption of a particular religious character because other stakeholders do not have the knowledge about their religious rights, and the direct and indirect coercion of learners and educators to attend an assembly turned into a mono-religious observance. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) has been receiving significant attention, highlighting an increased risk of infectious transmission associated with athletic participation. As MRSA infections are becoming increasing virulent, athletic trainers are presented with immediate prevention challenges. While recommendations have been offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlining basic prevention procedures, adherence to proposed guidelines and actual perception of the threat still pose the greatest hurdles to eradication of MRSA. Success in control and prevention of transmission of MRSA in athletic environments can be furthered by first investigating the perceptions of the problem in one of the first line of defense for athletes—their athletic trainers. Of particular importance are the perceptions of trainers' adherence to guidelines, perceptions of protocol standards, and relative threat of MRSA in the athletic environment. This study attempts to determine these perceptions and predict how athletic trainers will receive and adhere to standardized guidelines through written policy for MRSA prevention. Results reflect an increase in the awareness of MRSA as a threat to athletics since 2004. Overall positive perception of the development of guidelines and protocols specifically targeted to prevention of MRSA transmission in the athletic environment were also defined through this study. Athletic trainers surveyed expressed strong desire for additional training in procedures specific to reducing transmission of MRSA to prevent outbreaks. / Ph. D.

The current research investigates pricing practices and consumer behavior in long-distance running events. Two studies address (1) current practices in pricing and registration policies for long-distance running events, and (2) factors that influence the decision-making process by which event organizers develop, adopt, and implement particular pricing policies. Study One involves a descriptive census of policies currently in use for a comprehensive list of running events in the United States that include races at the full or half marathon distance. Study Two adopts a multi-case study approach based on semi-structured interviews of running event organizers, supplemented by additional organizational documents, to investigate the pricing and registration policy development process. Collectively, these two studies examine the what, the why, and the how of pricing policy development in long-distance running events. Based on study findings, a conceptual model was developed incorporating major sources of influence (organizational, consumer, environmental, and event) on the pricing policy development process. This research contributes to sport management by providing deeper understanding of how participant sport, specifically long-distance running events, is priced and how pricing decisions influence consumer behaviors. Results additionally provide practical insight for running event organizers seeking to improve or enhance pricing policies and revenue management by understanding both common and atypical practices in use throughout the running event industry. Finally the current research lays a foundation for a stream of future research building on findings from two studies and data generated in the process of addressing the overarching research questions. / Tourism and Sport

This work proposes a new theory of authoritarian regimes: responsive authoritarianism. Most existing theories of autocracies take as their point of departure elite politics or the state’s repressive apparatus to explain the rise and fall of regimes. I argue that, for many states, regimes also have to consider the consent of the governed when designing policies. Specifically, when regime legitimacy is low but the central leadership maintains a long time horizon, autocratic regimes are predicted to become more responsive to the needs of citizens. This theory is tested against a number of aspects of the Chinese fiscal system dealing with public goods provision during the period of 2002-2011 and generally finds in favor of the theory. Chapter 4 tests the fiscal transfer system, Chapter 5 tests the fiscal expenditure data, and Chapter 6 tests data on the results of the transfer and expenditure data: actual public goods provision. This theory has a number of implications that suggest that scholars begin to rethink how they conceptualize power dynamics within an authoritarian regime, in particular paying closer attention to the relationship between the ruler(s) and the ruled. It suggests that, at least in the political science literature, power be returned to the people.

There is limited research on the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, known as the 9/11 GI Bill, which provides educational benefits to veterans who have served in the United States military on active duty for 90 days. While outcomes for public and nonprofit universities are well known, less is known about whether proprietary universities are successful in recruitment and enrollment of veterans under the 9/11 GI Bill. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences that veterans who were Post 9/11 Bill beneficiaries had with recruitment strategies and institutional public policy practices from for-profit institutions. Ten veterans who participated in this study received Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits and enrolled in a for-profit institution based in Florida. Data was collected using the transcripts of the responses from the face-to-face interviews. These data were inductively coded and analyzed using a modified Van Kaam analysis procedure. The findings indicated that for-profit institutions used excessive recruitment strategies and aggressive targeting to attract veterans who received Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits. The findings also suggested that for-profit universities appear to need institutional policy changes and programs to assist veterans in transitioning from academic to civilian life. Recommendations to Veterans' Affairs Offices, legislators, and leaders of proprietary institutions that support positive social change include mandatory reporting of federal funds, development of civilian transition programs, and adopting of key collaborations within departments. These recommendations may promote successful educational outcomes and sustainable employment for veterans.

This thesis analyses the development of urban water supply and sanitation services in Ghana from 1909 to 2005.  Special focus is put on institutional arrangements with regard to networked, large scale and centrally managed water and sewerage services. The national and international historical context is highlighted as a way to understand policy redirections in the sector. Further on, the concept of frames is used as an analytical tool in order to put light on the assumptions, arguments and reasons behind institutional reforms. The thesis finds that it was not until the water and sanitation challenge was framed from a productivity perspective, as opposed to a pure humanitarian “health frame”, that funds were released for investments in WSS infrastructure. To begin with, development strategies were largely focussed on “filling the gaps” in terms of manpower, technical and financial resources. As the water challenge was increasingly framed as a matter of managing scarcity, a new thinking gradually emerged which emphasized entrepreneurship, business mindedness and management skills as a way to achieve more efficiency within the sector. This development was also paralleled by a shift in the favoured organisational structure from an extremely centralised state utility model to a gradual focus on decentralisation and unbundling of the sector. Here a strong focus was put on private sector participation in urban water supply whereas the non-commercially viable task of sewerage development was decentralised to local authorities. The study finds that formal institutional change in the sector has been largely donor driven. However, the privatisation element of the recent urban water sector reform did not go unquestioned and a strong opposition movement concerned with the possible negative effects of privatisation was formed. Eventually the initial lease arrangement was transformed into a management contract where its signing was brought to closure in 2005. Besides changing frames strong elements of continuity in the urban water supply and sanitation sector development in Ghana are identified. Historical evidence demonstrate that urban water delivery was a highly political issue in Ghana already during colonial times which, just as today, was closely connected to the framing of water as independence and national integrity. The issue of finance and pricing has remained a constant concern and so the debate cannot be categorized as a novel issue that solely emanates from neo-liberal political trends during the 1980’s and 1990’s. The thesis argues that a legacy of a colonial frame tends to continue normalising inequalities in access and consumption.  Continuity can also be found in a neglect of the issue of sanitation which persistently lags behind the development of water distribution. The dissertation concludes that the perceived space for policy alternatives in Ghanaian WSS sector development has been largely constrained by the historical context and contemporary development theories. Therefore, to constantly strive towards a frame reflective policy dialogue is strongly encouraged as a way for policy planners and decision makers to make well informed decisions for the future.

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Best Practices: Does it mean the same thing in the Aboriginal community as it does in the Health Authorities when it comes to diabetes care? / Population Health

From among all the presented financial tools the one which meets best the project requirements is the measure Rural development program {--} axis III. 1.3. Promotion of tourism, which implements the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. As indicated by the title, the fund supports projects that may improve the quality of tourism in rural areas. The golf course is exactly the project that fits this category.

Sachsen steht im Vergleich der Bundesländer wirtschaftlich und kulturell gut da. Die Pro-Kopf-Verschuldung ist vergleichsweise gering, die Investitionsquote hoch, die Förderung der kulturellen Infrastruktur ist vorbildlich. Dennoch drückt der Schuh: die Einwohnerzahl im Lande nimmt von 4,8 Mio. im Jahr 1990 auf ca. 3,9 Mio. im Jahr 2020 ab, das Durchschnittsalter steigt im gleichen Zeitraum auf 48,8 Jahre. Die Einnahmen liegen – bei doppelt so hoher Arbeitslosenzahl – noch deutlich hinter denen der westlichen Bundesländer zurück, der finanzielle Solidar-Transfer seit der Wiedervereinigung wird 2019 eingestellt und Jahr für Jahr um 200 Mio. EUR verringert, die EU-Förderung könnte 2013 wegbrechen. Vor diesem Hintergrund hat die Sächsische Staatskanzlei am 29. April 2009 ein strategisches Grundsatzpapier (Sachsen 2020. Wegweiser für unseren Freistaat) vorgestellt. Darin werden strategische Handlungsfelder, Ziele und Maßnahmen für Wirtschaft und Beschäftigung, Bildung und Lernen, Leben und Umwelt, Gesellschaft und Kultur sowie Staat und Verwaltung zur Diskussion gestellt.