In South Africa, the expansion of early childhood development was projected in White Paper 5 and Grade R was determined as the reception year. One condition for the achievement of objectives in Grade R is quality education, in which the teacher plays an irreplaceable role. How effective the Grade R teacher is in the performance of her work, however, depends amongst others on how she experiences her work-life and the extent of her security as a professional in the workplace. The paucity in research on the labour law position of the Grade R educator is due to the relative low status of employees in the early childhood development sector. Professional security was approached from a labour law perspective to start filling the knowledge gap in Education Law on the labour law position of the Grade R teacher with this modest contribution. The execution of policy forms an integral part of the Grade R teacher's employment conditions and determines to a great extent her daily task. This research answers the central research question: which roles do law and policy play regarding the professional security of the grade R educator? The research approach was qualitative-interpretivistic in nature and included observation of Grade R teachers' workplaces, as well as semi-structured interviews. A group of Grade R educators in the Matlosana and Tlokwe areas in the North West Province as well as principals and heads of department in the Foundation Phase were also interviewed. Other stakeholders such as parents as members of school governing bodies, members of teachers' unions and university lecturers were also participants in the research. Data generation on a smaller scale took place in Ontario, Canada, where the respective roles of law and policy regarding the Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten programmes in professional security was investigated. All the data was used to understand and describe professional security of Grade R educators better, and generalisation was not the goal. The conclusion was reached that the theoretical underpinnings of the five legal disciplines that were used in creating a legal framework for professional security, were particularly relevant for the work-life of the Grade R participants in the study. Two psychologically oriented theories have also contributed to a deeper understanding of professional security. Although legislation, in principle, supports professional security, the extent to which participants had knowledge of relevant legislation or could apply legal principles to the workplace affected their professional security. Ignorance amongst policy-makers and employers about the nature and purpose of Grade R education leads to the underestimation of the Grade R domain, which negatively affects appointments, remuneration, conditions of service and policy implementation. Ignorance of the law also led to educator misconduct, and issues related to delictual liability emerged. Moreover, participants, due to ignorance, took the law into their own hands to create their own security in the workplace. Professional security emerged as a key issue in both ECD policy implementation and quality teaching. Finally a number of propositions were derived from the conclusions. / PhD (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study was designed to explore the literature on competitive food policy implementation (CFPI); examines demographic and school factors associated with CFPI; and explores the experiences of school leaders and staff in CFPI using a proposed theoretical framework to guide the research. Competitive foods are those sold in vending machines, a la carte settings, fundraisers, class parties and other venues which compete with foods offered through the national school lunch and breakfast programs. Competitive foods have traditionally been of low nutritional value and high energy density. CFPI may be effective in reducing student calorie intake and BMI. However, evaluation of competitive food policy effectiveness is difficult due to variability in policy implementation. A theoretical framework is needed to guide research on CFPI. This research was a mixed methods study including a review of the literature, quantitative secondary analysis, and a qualitative content analysis of transcripts from semi-structured interviews with school personnel to understand their experience with CFPI. First, a systematic review of the research literature on CFPI was conducted. Demographic and school factors, policy features, and school and parent/community-level factors that impact CFPI were identified. Second, the association of multiple demographic and school factors with CFPI scores was examined. CFPI scale (overall) and sub-scales (“inside” and “outside” school) were developed and validated to evaluate CFPI effectiveness in Kentucky middle and high schools (N=640, grades 5-12). The scales were based on responses to 8 questions on competitive food practices from a 2011 School Tobacco and Wellness Policy biannual survey conducted by the University Of Kentucky College Of Nursing Tobacco Policy Research Program. Student BMI tracking and presence of a written wellness policy predicted higher scores on the overall CFPI scale (BMI OR=2.06, p=0.001; Wellness OR=1.74, p=0.02), inside subscale scores (BMI OR=2.46, p<0.0001; Wellness OR=1.58, p=0.05), and outside subscale scores (BMI OR=2.27, p=0.03; Wellness OR=1.54, p=0.0005). Greater county-level adult obesity rates predicted lower overall CFPI scores (OR=0.93, p=0.02). Private school status predicted lower scores on inside CFPI subscale scores (OR=0.47, p=0.004). Third, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 school personnel to explore CFPI. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and content analysis was conducted. Kentucky schools were stratified into four groups based on school level (middle or high) and CFPI scores (high or low). Sixteen schools were randomly selected for each of the four groups. A total of eight schools, two from each group, agreed to participate. The interview guide was based on a proposed CFPI framework based on implementation science, educational and organizational theory research. Six key themes emerged: internal/external forces enabling CFPI; internal and external obstacles to CFPI; key organizational values; organization value of CFPI; methods that organizations use to communicate organizational values; and CFPI policies and procedures. Findings were discussed in the context of the proposed theoretical framework. Implications for policy, practice and future research are presented.

In response to the passage of the Personal Responsibility Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) and its lead cash assistance program Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), states have taken unique and divergent approaches to welfare policy implementation. One popular approach to workfare delivery, known as privatization, involves contracting with non-profit and for-profit entities operating within the private sector. The General Accounting Office reports that nearly every state is privatizing TANF services to some degree through third-party contracts, but very little is understood about why variation in contracting exists and the ramifications for the program outcomes of welfare recipients. This dissertation initially explores the possible factors that influence welfare privatization decisions. Ordinary least squares regression estimations suggest that contracting patterns are significantly associated with levels of fiscal capacity, urbanization, African American caseloads, and non-profit presence. Secondly, this dissertation examines the potential ramifications of privatization on the TANF program outputs and outcomes of individual welfare clients. After exploring state-level patterns in privatization and performance, I estimate multilevel models that simultaneously incorporate both individual-level and contextual-level variables providing the discipline with the clearest picture of how welfare clients are fairing under various administrative environments. The results of the multi-level analysis favor the null hypothesis as the majority of privatization coefficients are statistically insignificant, indicating minimal direct ownership effects on the quality of TANF outcomes. That being said, there is inconsistent yet persistent evidence emerging from both the state-level and multi-level analyses suggesting that non-profit welfare delivery induces superior TANF work participation rates and employment outcomes. Privatizing welfare provision is not a panacea in that TANF outcomes are seldom improved under profit-seeking or non-profit arrangements, but an unwavering commitment to social missions and assisting the poor could put non-profits in a relatively superior position to transform welfare recipients into self-sufficient, fully employed members of society.

本研究之研究目的在探討九年一貫課程實施後，地方政府在此一政策執行過程中的角色與功能，主要包括：1.探討地方政府執行九年一貫課程政策之執行條件；2.分析九年一貫課程政策執行組織(地方教育主管機關)之執行情形；3.瞭解九年一貫課程政策標的團體(國民中小學)之執行情形；4.探析九年一貫課程政策執行之成效與影響因素。 本研究採取問卷調查與深度訪談法。問卷調查對象為地方政府參與九年一貫課程政策執行工作之相關人員，有效樣本為417人，研究工具為自編之「地方政府執行九年一貫課程政策調查問卷」，使用之統計方法包括皮爾森積差相關、單因子變異數分析、t考驗及多元逐步回歸分析。訪談對象則立意選取教育部行政人員、地方政府教育局人員、國民中小學校長共6人。 本研究的主要結果如下： 一、九年一貫課程政策執行條件之分析：1.政策的推動時程規劃不夠充裕，2.課程內涵結構意見分歧，3.增加學校彈性自主空間受肯定，4.政策推動人力資源不足，5.教育部經費資源投入有待提升，6.行政配套措施有待改善。 二、執行組織執行情形之分析：1.地方政府執行人力及經費不足影響推動成效，2.地方政府課程政策執行組織具有代表性，3.地方政府課程政策規畫良好，4.地方政府執行課程政策配套措施有待繼續努力，5.地方政府辦理之教師研習具有成效，6.地方政府執行人員瞭解課程內涵及相關法令規章，7.地方政府執行組織主管瞭解九年一貫課程政策，8.地方政府課程推動組織能促進課程政策的落實，9.地方政府課程輔導團能夠協助教師成長。 三、標的團體執行情形之分析：1.學校執行課程政策之人力及經費不充裕，2.社區資源投入不充足，3.學校執行課程政策之組織具有代表性，4.學校課程發展委員會運作正常但實質功能不大，5.學習領域小組運作良好，6.學校辦理之研習能協助教師專業成長，7.校長尚能發揮課程領導，協助課程政策執行，8.學校人員皆相當瞭解九年一貫課程內涵與法令規章。 四、政策執行成效之分析：1.教師具備良好的選擇教材能力，2.教師教材編輯能力尚稱良好，3.教師課程統整能力尚稱良好，4.教師具備多元評量的能力，5.教師多具協同教學能力但未廣泛運用，6.教師行動研究能力尚待提升。 五、標的團體執行情形是影響九年一貫課程政策執行成效之主要因素。 依據上述研究結果，提出對中央主管教育行政機關、地方政府、國民中小學及未來研究之建議。 / This study attempts to investigate the role and function our local government play during and after the Nine-year Integrated Curriculum policy. The study means to discuss several key concepts including implemental conditions and status quo of the local government and related organizations such as the local educational authorities, the junior high and elementary schools. The concrete effects and main influential factors are explored as well. Questionnaire survey and interview are adopted in this research. A total of 417 samples were adopted. Pearson product-moment correlation, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multivariate regression were used to analyze the data from the questionnaires. Besides, 6 determined interviewees including Ministry of Education officials, administrators in the local educational authorities, present of school. The significant results and findings are listed as follows: 1. Implemental conditions and status quo of the Nine-year Integrated Curriculum policy: (1) The implemental timing of the curriculum policy was not planned well. (2) The content structure of the curriculum was divided and incomplete. (3) The idea to increase school’s flexibility and autonomy is approved. (4) Source and efforts involved are not sufficiently enough. (5) Governmental annual budgets should be reorganized and audited. (6) Related policy and measures should be reconsidered. 2. Implemental efforts and effects of local government: (1) The effects are reduced because of the insufficient on manpower and budget. (2) The chosen local implemental organizations are representable. (3) The curriculum planning is fine. (4) More related measures should be added to make the curriculum policy complete. (5) The effect of teachers’ retraining program is efficient. (6) The individual personnel on local government understand policy content and laws well. (7) The every authority on local government realizes Nine-year Integrated Curriculum policy well. (8) A powerful organization can push and enforce the accomplishment on curriculum policy. (9) Local curriculum group will guide and provide assistance to teachers, which will be helpful to teacher growth. 3. Implemental conditions of the junior high and elementary schools: (1) The involved manpower and budget are insufficient. (2) The community resources are not completely involved. (3) The organizations chosen to implement the curriculum policy at every school are representable. (4) The Committee of School Curriculum Development is workable but not functional essentially (5) The operation of Learning Areas Team works out. (6) The training programs every school launch will provide aid to teachers and so as to a better teacher growth. (7) Principal plays a leading role to smooth the curriculum policy implementation. (8) The individual personnel at school understand every policy content and laws well. 4. Effects on Policy: (1) Teachers mostly own the ability to make professional decisions on materials. (2) Teachers own enough ability to edit and organize materials. (3) Teachers own the ability to make curriculum integrated. (4) Teachers own the ability to do multi-evaluation. (5) Teachers mostly own ability to do co-teaching, but such method is not adopted broadly. (6) Teacher’s ability to participate action research should be trained and promoted. 5. The fundamental factor to influence the effect and success of the Nine-year Curriculum Policy is the indeed implementation of the every targeted school. Base upon the results mentioned above, several suggestions are made to the authority concerned, local government, and schools at every level. Several research directions are recommends and proposed.

本研究為了解教育政策之執行力此一主題，選取一所國民中學為研究場地，透過訪談了解研究對象在學校本位課程發展中的表現，輔以文件、網頁訊息等資料，一方面企圖觀察其學校本位課程發展是否已經啟動，以描繪出個案學校的課程發展輪廓：另一方面則在分析影響學校本位課程發展成效之原因，目的在於為教育政策執行成效提供理論上的解釋。 經由分析訪談資料並驗證研究架構之後，本研究發現個案學校的學校本位課程發展，表現在由上而下的行政規劃上，但尚缺乏由下而上的集思廣益機制，以致於個案學校之學校本位課程發展成效不彰。最後並對個案學校與後續研究提出若干建議。 / In order to understand the "policy implementation ability of educational policy", the researcher chose a junior high school as the studying case. On one hand, the researcher interviewed with several teachers active in the school-based curriculum development("SBCD"), telling how it worked; on the other hand, the researcher tried to analyze the causes of the performance of SBCD of the school, aiming at a theoretical explanation of the "policy implementation ability of educational policy" . Having followed the research procedure, this article concluded that the performance of SBCD of the school was far from satisfying, because of the lack of a "bottom-up group-think mechanism". Finally, this artical ended with some suggestions concerning with the studying-case school and the follow-up resarch.

<p style="text-align: justify / " class="Default">In developing economies and specifically Sub-Saharan Africa physical inactivity has been identified as a risk factor along with tobacco use, poor nutrition and poor diet as this has increasingly formed part of today&rsquo / s lifestyle. Physical activity declines with age this decline is more marked during the adolescent period. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity and factors associated with it among adolescents in <st1:place><st1:city>Nairobi</st1:city>, <st1:country-region>Kenya</st1:country-region></st1:place>. The overall aim of the study is to determine the factors influencing their levels of physical activity in relation to their socio-economic characteristics. <o:p></o:p></p>

Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT) is a community-based mental health treatment program regulated and funded by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This case study sought to understand how DMAS regulatory changes impacted the implementation of the TDT program in the Commonwealth between fiscal years 2004 and 2011. In an effort to respond to this question, sources of qualitative and quantitative data were collected including: TDT fee-for-service data, regulations in the Community Mental Health and Rehabilitative Services manual guiding the implementation of the TDT program, and structured interviews with eight key stakeholders who interface with the TDT program. The fee-for-services analysis found that there was a 269% increase in fee-for-service expenditures between fiscal years 2007 and 2011. The analysis of the regulations found DMAS added language to provide greater clarity to the existing regulators. Some of these changes include the implementation of the PA process with KePRO as well as the VICAP process. Additionally, staff requirements changed and paraprofessionals were no longer able to provide TDT programming. Caseload limits were also set for TDT programming. Four themes emerged through the analysis of the structured interviews. These themes include: 1) fraudulent practices and misuse of TDT services, 2) regulatory oversight, 3) cost containment, and 4) evaluation. Implications focused on the areas of policy, practice, and research by suggesting further research studies focusing on TDT and policy, offering the foundation of a more comprehensive theory focusing on policy implementation, and lastly the researcher provided a logic model for the TDT program in an effort to propel evaluation research forward.

A presente dissertação objetiva verificar a possibilidade de utilização dos cartéis de exportação tendo em vista o ordenamento jurídico brasileiro. Para tanto, um importante corte metodológico foi realizado: somente questões relativas ao direito constitucional e ao direito concorrencial foram analisadas, deixando-se de lado aquelas que nos são trazidas pelo direito internacional e pela ciência econômica. O trabalho pode ser dividido em três grandes partes. A primeira cuida de justificar a escolha do tema cartéis de exportação. Para tanto, nos valemos da idéia de que as exportações são importante instrumento do qual se valem os Estados para equilibrar a sua atividade econômica e fomentar/financiar o seu desenvolvimento. A segunda parte cuida dos acordos entre concorrentes. Nesse passo, realizamos um pequeno estudo sobre as principais Escolas ideológicas que pretendem interpretar o direito antitruste e apontar a forma correta para a sua aplicação. Em seguida, cuidamos dos cartéis clássicos (os hard core cartels) e tratamos de diferenciá-los dos demais acordos entre concorrentes. É hora então de cuidarmos especificamente dos cartéis de exportação. Traremos as suas principais características, classificações e os benefícios e malefícios que são apontados pela doutrina. Bem definidos esses instrumentos, adentramos em um terreno bastante inóspito, que é o da forma pela qual os cartéis de exportação são encarados pelos Estados e pelas associações internacionais. Observaremos que, a despeito de serem utilizados por países como os Estados Unidos, existe uma tendência de que sejam tratados como condutas anticompetitivas, a semelhança dos cartéis clássicos. Uma das possíveis justificativas para isso seria a adoção generalizada dos conceitos da Escola de Chicago e das teorias econômicas neoclássicas. A principal crítica realizada por esses doutrinadores é a de que os cartéis de exportação são formas indevidas de atuação do Estado na economia que alteram as condições naturais de concorrência no mercado internacional. A última parte dessa dissertação está voltada para a inserção de toda a discussão promovida na moldura que nos é trazida pela Constituição Federal de 1988 e pela lei Antitruste brasileira (Lei 8884/1994). Para o texto constitucional, nosso enfoque será principalmente o dos artigos 3° (objetivos fundamentais da República Federativa do Brasil) e 170 (princípios gerais da atividade econômica). Com relação à lei antitruste, a discussão será voltada para a forma pela qual os cartéis de exportação são disciplinados por nossa lei. / The present essay aims to verify the possibility of using export cartels, considering the Brazilian Law system. For that, an important methodological cut has been done: only matters regarding constitutional law and anti-trust law have been analyzed, leaving apart those matters that are brought to us by the international law and economical science. It can be divided in three big parts. The first one handles the justification for the choice of the subject export cartels. For that, we make use of the idea that the exportations are an important instrument for the Countries to balance their economical activity and stimulate/finance their development. The second part deals with the agreements between competitors. At this pace, we made a small study about the main ideological stream, that intend to understand the antitrust law and identify the correct form for its application. Following that, we mention the classical cartels (the hard core cartels) and differentiate them from the other agreements between competitors. It is time then to handle the export cartels. We mention their main traits, classification, benefits and losses that are pointed by the doctrine. Being those instruments well defined, we enter and uninviting terrain, that is the way that the countries and International Associations face the export cartels. We observe that, despite being used by countries like United States, there is a tendency to treat it like uncompetitive behavior, resembling the classical cartels. One of the possible explanations for that would be the general adoption of the concepts brought by the Chicago stream and the neoclassical economical theories. The authors main critic is that the export cartels are inappropriate methods of Government intervention in the Economy that alters the natural conditions of the competition in the international market. The last part of such essay is dedicated to the insertion of all the discussion promoted in the patters that are brought to us by the Federal Constitution of 1988 and the Anti-trust Brazilian Law (Law 8884/1994). Regarding the constitutional text, our focus in mainly on the 3rd article (fundamental goals of the Brazilian Federal Republic), and the article 170 (general principles of the economical activity). Regarding the Anti-trust law, the discussion is facing the way that the export cartels are ruled by such area of our legal system.

[pt] Durante as últimas duas décadas, as economias do mundo têm sido caracterizadas por maior estabilidade na inflação e no produto. No entanto, aumentos na instabilidade financeira vêm preocupando os bancos centrais. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar empiricamente possíveis relações entre a política monetária brasileira e variações em preços de ativos, mais especificamente taxa de câmbio nominal e índice Bovespa. Os resultados encontrados para o período amostral de janeiro/2000 a janeiro/2006 sugerem que o modelo não-linear (TAR - threshold autoregressive) ajustase melhor aos dados brasileiros em comparação com o modelo linear e trazem indícios de que variações na taxa de câmbio nominal estão associadas a movimentos na taxa Selic em períodos mais conturbados da economia brasileira, os quais geram maior volatilidade no mercado financeiro. / [en] During the past two decades, world's economies have been characterized by stability on inflation and product levels. However, increases in financial instability are becoming a reason for concern to central banks. In this sense, the aim of this study is to analyze empirically possible relations between the Brazilian monetary policy and changes on asset prices, specifically the nominal exchange rate and the Bovespa index. The results for the sample between January, 2000 and January, 2006 suggest that the non-linear model, based on a Threshold Autoregressive model, fits better into Brazilian data than the linear model and find evidence that changes on nominal exchange rates and movements on Selic rate are associated during difficult times of the Brazilian economy, which are related to higher financial volatility.

O objetivo geral da presente tese é entender os desafios para a institucionalização da participação social no processo de implementação de uma política pública. Para se fazer esse estudo, acompanhou-se a implementação da participação social no Programa Córrego Limpo da Sabesp, de 2009 a 2015. Nesse período, a Sabesp estabeleceu parcerias com a Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo e Organizações Não Governamentais para a implementação do seu programa, bem como o desenvolvimento de estratégias de envolvimento da população, definidas como Governança Colaborativa. No estudo da implementação da Governança Colaborativa pela Sabesp levaram-se em consideração dois pressupostos: que a implementação é uma fase de redefinição da política pública e que é um processo de interação entre os diversos atores envolvidos nela. A incorporação desses pressupostos da análise de políticas públicas como argumentos para o estudo de experiências participativas traz ganhos analíticos para compreender as características que impactam o exercício da participação social para além da avaliação dos resultados considerando apenas o desenho da política. Como metodologia, acompanhou-se as várias formas de implementação em diferentes áreas de córregos na cidade de São Paulo, correspondentes às cinco Unidades de Negócios da Sabesp. As interações estabelecidas pelos atores sociais e estatais conformam referências pessoais, relacionais e institucionais com as quais eles vão exercer suas atividades: seja na formulação e tomada de decisões, seja na implementação cotidiana da política. Esta tese apresenta três principais contribuições. A verificação de que a criação de uma instituição participativa por si só não garante a participação e que os formatos da participação podem variar ao longo do processo de implementação da política. Relacionada a esses dois pontos, também se formula que a participação social sem institucionalidade própria não deixa de ser uma participação social institucionalizada, uma vez que seja incorporada como parte da política pública. / The main objective of this thesis is to understand the challenges for the institutionalization of social participation in the implementation of a public policy process. To do this study, we followed up the implementation of social participation in the Clean Stream Program of Sabesp, 2009-2015. In that period, Sabesp has established partnerships with the Municipality of São Paulo and NGOs for the implementation of its program, and the development of population engagement strategies, defined as Collaborative Governance. The study of the implementation of the Collaborative Governance Sabesp considered two assumptions: that the implementation is a redefinition phase of public policy and that is a process of interaction between the various stakeholders involved in it. The incorporation of this analytical approach to public policy as arguments for the study of participatory experiences provides analytical gains to understand the characteristics that affect the exercise of social participation beyond the evaluation of the results considering only the design of the policy. As methodology, various forms of implementation were followed in different areas of the city of São Paulo, related to five Business Units of Sabesp. The interactions that these actors establish constitute personal, relational and institutional references with which they will perform their activities: is the formulation and decision-making, whether in the daily implementation of the policy. This thesis presents three main contributions. This thesis presents three main contributions. The finding that the creation of a participatory institution per se does not guarantee participation and the participation formats could vary over the policy implementation process. Related to these two points, also it is formulates that social participation without proper institutionality remains an institutionalized social participation, once it has been incorporated as part of participatory public policy.