In mathematics curricula teachers often find the more or less implicit request to link the taught subjects to the previous knowledge of the students, for example using word problems from everyday life. But in today’s multicultural and multisocial society teachers can no longer assume that the children they teach have a more or less equal background and thus everyday live can have a very different meaning for different children. Furthermore there is evidence that good previous knowledge in arithmetic can hinder the approach to other mathematical subjects, like algebra. In this paper I want to provide a brief overview on how previous knowledge in arithmetic can affect student\''s access to algebra and therefore present an early algebra teaching project which introduces elementary school children to algebraic notation by measurement in an action-oriented way. Thereby the chosen approach to algebra explicitly does not come back to the student\''s previous arithmetical knowledge but additionally may support non-proficient students in obtaining more insight in the structure of calculations and hence may help them to have more success in solving calculations and word problems.

The study investigated challenges in School Guidance and Counselling (SGC) services provisions for children with disabilities in Zimbabwean inclusive primary schools as a context for strategizing on overcoming them and proposing a model of School Guidance and Counselling services provisions for children with disabilities. The survey design, which was mainly quantitative in nature, was used. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Three hundred inclusive primary school administrators and three hundred school counsellors participated in the study. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 11.0 was used to analyze data. Frequency tables, ratios and Chi-square tests were computed. The study revealed that Zimbabwean inclusive primary school counsellors lacked training in School Guidance and Counselling and Special Needs Education. The school counsellors also lacked experience in teaching children with disabilities and the stakeholders had negative attitudes towards School Guidance and Counselling services provisions for children with disabilities. It was further revealed that inclusive primary schools lacked materials and supplies, time, finance, physical and curricular resources. The study revealed that there was no mandatory School Guidance and Counselling policy and legislation, clear mission statement, School Guidance and Counselling Framework, school counsellor certification requirements nor a School Guidance and Counselling national model. These facilities, together with Special Needs Education, experience in teaching children with disabilities and staff development, were found to positively impact on SGC services provisions for children with disabilities. School counsellors’ training in School Guidance and Counselling, advocacy on disabilities, stakeholders’ collaboration, passing mandatory School Guidance and Counselling policy and legislation, adequate budgetary and time allocation were seen as strategies to overcome challenges in SGC services provisions for children with disabilities in Zimbabwean inclusive primary schools. It was recommended that School Guidance and Counselling services provisions for children with disabilities in Zimbabwean inclusive primary schools would improve if there would be promulgation of mandatory School Guidance and Counselling policy and legislation, school counsellors’ training in School Guidance and Counselling, requisition of adequate resources and development of positive attitudes among stakeholders. Recommendations for further research were made. / Inclusive Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

No description available.

For several years specialists in reading have debated on how pupils should learn to read. The debate has focused on two methods of teaching reading, that is, the phonic method and the whole language method. Some researchers have identified five elements of reading instruction that are critical to achievement in reading, namely; that reading instruction should include phonics, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. These are the components that make up what is termed a balanced literacy approach. Although there is some debate on what constitutes the balanced literacy approach, this study adopted the understanding of the approach described above. The study investigated whether the use of the balanced literacy approach could improve standard four pupils’ achievement in reading and writing in English. The targeted population consisted of twelve schools located in Zomba rural district. Pupils were tested before and after the intervention. Teachers in the experimental group were trained twice on balanced literacy approaches, first before the intervention and midway of the intervention. Observational measures revealed that teachers generally implemented the treatment. The post intervention data indicated that pupils responded very well to the activities that were presented to them. The reading and writing achievement of pupils that were present for the post-test increased more than those of the control group. The results obtained suggest that the balanced literacy approach improved the reading and writing achievement of standard four pupils in the experimental group. / English Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (English)

Acknowledging the various benefits that can be reaped from good quality education in schools, the primary aim of this study was to explore and investigate the effect of the BETD Graduates on the quality of education in primary schools, in Kunene region. Seventeen primary school principals took part in the study. They completed a questionnaire and the data was analysed using a qualitative method. Four main categories were investigated: (i) socio-demographic information (ii) the implementation of the BETD skills (iii) job performance and (iv) organizational effectiveness. This study suggests that there is a strong relationship between the type and quality of teacher education and its effect on the achievement and performances of learners in particular and the school in general. Therefore the quality of education in schools can be determined by the quality of the teachers on the ground. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Text in German / In dieser Forschungsarbeit wird der Zusammenhang von christlicher Gesellschaftsverantwortung und Schulentwicklung in dem sozialen Brennpunkt Berlin- Moabit untersucht. Aufgrund des anhaltenden Wegzugs bildungsorientierter Eltern mit schulpflichtigen Kindern und damit einer zunehmenden Entmischung (Segregation) der Schülerpopulation und damit des Ortsteils Moabit, möchte die qualitative Studie einen Beitrag dazu leisten, Wege aus dieser schulischen Krise, die Auswirkungen auf die Kirchen Moabits und den Ortsteil insgesamt hat, zu finden. Als Lösungsansatz wird dabei das Bleiben von bildungsorientierten Familien in Moabit mit einer aktiven Kirchenzugehörigkeit aus folgenden Gründen verfolgt: Bleiben bildungsorientierte Familien wieder verstärkt in Moabit wohnen und gehen ihre Kinder auf die ihnen zugewiesenen Grundschulen, so werden durch eine Aufhebung der Segregation die Bildungschancen erhöht, da schulisches Lernen bedeutend auf dem Prinzip des Voneinander Lernens basiert, wie dies zahlreiche Studien belegen. Bleiben Familien mit aktiver Kirchenzugehörigkeit in dem sozialen Brennpunkt Berlin- Moabit wohnen, so können sie in gegenseitiger Unterstützung durch eine missionalinkarnatorische Art zu leben, d.h. durch ein am Vorbild Jesu orientiertes Wohnen und Leben unter den Menschen, Transformation in dem sozial benachteiligten Ortsteil Moabit bewirken. Somit werden Eltern befragt, deren Kinder sich im schulpflichtigen Alter befinden und die das Ziel verfolgen, langfristig in Moabit wohnen zu bleiben, die bereits Moabit aufgrund der Schulsituation verlassen haben oder die vor dieser Entscheidung stehen. Durch diese qualitative Studie, die sich im Kontext der Missionswissenschaften bewegt und der empirischen Theologie zuzuordnen ist, werden Lösungsmöglichkeiten für die Situation in dem Ortsteil Moabit erwartet. / The Thesis explores the connection between Christian social responsibility and public school development in the social hot spot of Berlin-Moabit. Due to the ongoing move away of education-oriented parents with their school-aged children, Moabit suffers from an increasing segregation in its student population and consequently also in its overall population. The present qualitative study seeks to suggest a solution to this schooling crisis that impacts both the churches in Moabit as well as the entire community. The approach to the segregation dilemma in Moabit that this study proposes is for educationoriented families who are also active church members to deliberately remain living in Moabit. This approach is based on two rationales: (1) If education-oriented families increasingly remain in Moabit and send their children to the respectively assigned public schools, segregation can be halted and the overall educational opportunities of all school children will be raised, since school learning strongly draws upon the principle of mutual learning, as many studies have documented. (2) If families who are active church members deliberately remain living in the social hot spot of Moabit, they can support each other to live their lives in a missional incarnation-oriented way, following the pattern of Christ. That way they can eventually initiate a process of transformation in the socially disadvantaged community of Moabit. In accordance with the outlined approach parents of school-aged children are interviewed, who either intend to stay in Moabit, or who have already moved away from Moabit because of the schooling situation, or who are currently confronted with the decision to stay or move. The present qualitative study, that is situated in the missiological field and can be ascribed to the range of empirical Theology, expects to find specific solutions for the above outlined problem in Moabit. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Text in Afrikaans / Te midde van ingrypende veranderinge in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysstelsel, word verwag dat opvoeders hul taak op 'n gemotiveerde wyse moet uitvoer om die jeug voor te berei vir die toekoms. Hierdie kwalitatiewe navorsing het ten doel die ondersoek na faktore waardeur opvoedermotivering beinvloed word en die rol van skoolbestuurders (skoolhoofde en hul bestuurspanne) in die motivering van opvoeders. Deur 'n omvattende hteratuurstudie is die begrip motivering duideliker belig en is die verskynsel van motivering ondersoek aan die hand van verskillende moti veringsteoriee. 'n Empiriese ondersoek, deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudvoering met opvoeders en skoolbestuurders in die Oos-Kaap, is uitgevoer om te bepaal watter faktore opvoederrnotivering beinvloed. Daar is bevind dat opvoedermotivering deur "n groot verskeidenheid faktore beinvloed word en dat skoolbestuurders 'n belangrike rol te speel bet in die motivering van opvoeders. Op grond van die bevindinge van die empiriese ondersoek is aanbevelings gemaak wat kan lei tot beter opvoedermotivering. / In the midst of drastic educational change in South Africa, it is expected that educators must fulfil their duties in a motivated manner and to thoroughly prepare our youth for the future. This qualitative research sought to explore the factors contributing to the motivation of educators and to determine what role school managers (principals and their management teams) play in the motivation of educators. By means of an extensive literature search, the term motivation was iluminated and the phenomenon of motivation was explored through different motivational theories.. An empirical inquiry through semi-structured interviews with educators and school managers were conducted in the Eastern Cape to determine the factors contributing to the motivation of educators.. The findings in this research showed that educators are motivated or demotivated by a variety of factors. It also showed that school managers have an important role to play in the motivation of educators. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Onderwysbestuur)

The management of school finances is one of the major responsibilities facing principals and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) since the implementation of the South African Schools Act (SASA) in 1996. Schools and their governing bodies have broad financial responsibilities, including managing funding from the respective provincial department, setting and managing school fees, preparing the school’s budget as well as raising additional funds to augment the school budget. As democratically elected structures, School Governing Bodies stand to account to various stakeholders for public funds they manage. The South African Schools Act of 1996 provides guidelines on how schools should manage their finances - roles and responsibilities of individuals entrusted with school funds are also outlined. This study was undertaken to determine the extent of accountability and transparency practised by some Johannesburg South primary schools in managing school finances. A comprehensive literature study was explored, encompassing different aspects or components of financial school management such as budgeting, financial organisation as well as financial control and reporting. This study employed a qualitative research methodological approach. In order to establish the issue of accountability and transparency in managing school finances, semi-structured interviews were conducted to principals, SGB members, finance officers and finance committee members of various selected schools. Data were qualitatively analysed and findings from the study objects revealed that some schools lack accountability and transparency in managing their finances - SGBs experience major challenges in executing their financial responsibilities. Results further delineated that insufficient training of SGB members, overlapping responsibilities and dysfunctionality of finance committees are some underlying factors that hinder schools from managing their finances efficiently, effectively and economically. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

This research explores the impact of curriculum changes on primary school teachers at Seshego Circuit, Limpopo Province. It focuses on issues that influence teachers implementing curriculum changes. Impact of curriculum changes was examined. Principals and teachers were the respondents. The study confirmed several consequences of curriculum change. In-service training is recommended to assist the necessary adjustments to curriculum changes. Sufficient time for training is required to avoid covering an excessive amount of work during too short a time. This results in confusion and discontent. Training enables teachers to feel confident and competent. Their task becomes rewarding for them. Curriculum changes are intended for the benefit of learners and teachers. Teachers should not be discouraged when they encounter some of the more challenging impacts of curriculum changes. Attitudes should also be motivated in subjects such as Mathematics. The Department of Education is exhorted to support and guide its teachers to become a force for the greater good of South Africa. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The goal of this research was to determine how to productively provide in the unique needs of academically gifted learners in the intermediate phase in the South African education system. The study comprised an empirical, qualitative investigation to this end. Individual interviews with primary school principals and focus groups with primary school teachers, academically gifted learners in the intermediate phase and parents served to determine what the educational needs of academically gifted children are. Secondly, a mini-education system for academically gifted learners was planned and a programme for academically gifted learners was developed within this mini-education system. The information for the development of the programme was gathered from the interviews and focus groups. The paradigm that forms the foundation of this research includes elements of a Christian world view and is complemented by elements of interpretivism, constructivism, pragmatism and post-modernism. The literature study on academically gifted learners revealed that these learners possess their own unique characteristics. Although academically gifted, these learners experience many cognitive, social and affective problems in the current education system. The structure of the education system, educational productivity and self-managed and interactive learning as teaching strategy were highlighted as internal determinants of an educative nature that influence academically gifted learners. The current condition of gifted education in South Africa and on an international level form the internal determinants of historical nature. If education to gifted learners, and specifically academically gifted learners, in South Africa is compared to other countries, it is clear that there are still many gaps in the education system. The main external determinants that influence educational provision to academically gifted learners include the demography of academically gifted learners, the economic environment of academically gifted learners, science and technology, the role of politics in the educational provision to academically gifted learners and the co-workers and competitors in the educational provision to academically gifted learners. The number of learners is increasing and that means that the need for educational provision to academically gifted learners is increasing. A distance-based programme is ideal, as academically gifted learners are scattered across our country. The main goal of this study was to plan a mini-education system that will provide in the unique needs of academically gifted learners in the intermediate phase in an educationally productive way in South Africa. The framework for the strategic planning of a mini-education system was used as research method. An achievable, sustainable and affordable distance-based educational programme for academically gifted learners was planned and a grade 4 pilot module developed within this mini-education system. The findings of this study suggest that the framework for the strategic planning of a mini-education system can be successfully used in planning a system that can effectively provide in the needs of academically gifted learners in the intermediate phase. From the interviews and focus group it was also clear that there is a need for educational programmes intended for academically gifted learners and that these programmes can be successfully implemented at schools. / MEd (Comparative Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014