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)

Learners in Lesotho Primary Schools struggle to communicate in English as a second language. The effect of this problem is observed in schools, national tests and examinations. This study focused on determining reasons for learners’ failure to communicate through English in Lesotho Primary Schools. The study was conducted in three Primary Schools in Berea District. Grade six learners and grade six educators were purposively selected as an appropriate sample as they are the senior grades who have experience in primary level. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed in this research. The purpose of using these two methods was to allow the responses from quantitative research to be illuminated by the qualitative research. The data was gathered by a questionnaire for learners and interviews for educators. The study showed that some of the factors that contribute to learners’ failure to communicate in English are: non-implementation of English as a medium of instruction; failure to use variety of materials and methods; insufficient time to practice English components as educators teach less than six periods per week while they are expected to teach six periods per week; insufficient skills and techniques used to motivate learners to learn English as a second language; and inadequate interaction between the school and parents. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

This study focuses on the teaching of Indigenous African Music (IAM) in Zimbabwean primary schools, and proposes a new Experiential Open Class Pedagogy relevant to its multicultural contexts. A postcolonial theoretical paradigm informs the discussion of secondary literature, and the analysis of empirical data obtained through the following methods: interviews, lesson observations, focus group discussions, and the analysis of teaching documents. Case studies were conducted at ten schools in the Gweru district of Zimbabwe. These schools were chosen from a mix of urban, peri-urban, and rural communities. The findings show the continued effects of colonialism on IAM teaching practices and pedagogy. The effects of globalization and the high levels of migrancy in and out of Zimbabwe are discussed as factors shaping the teaching of IAM. Formal models of learning have undermined the status of IAM in favour of Western classical music. Recognizing this bias, but also the fact that culture is dynamic, this study strikes a balance by proposing a new pedagogy that integrates Western and African approaches to music education. The study findings feed into the development of a new hybridised model called the Experiential Open Class Pedagogy (EOCP), which is suitable for multicultural contexts. This pedagogy encourages learners to use their personal experience of IAM practices in the home, and to draw on expertise from their local communities. The participation of children and their elders in the community contributes to the openness of the learning process. A combination of learning at home, in communities, and in classrooms is vital in utilising all the critical avenues to acquiring knowledge and experience of IAM. Recommendations on policy and practice in Zimbabwean primary school education offer solutions to the present challenges. It is important for teachers to be active stakeholders in documenting the very IAM practices they teach by carrying out research, and through continuous improvement initiatives in multicultural contexts. / Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / D. Phil. (Music)

A quantitative, descriptive method was used in this study. A purposeful sample of 239 (N=239) participants was chosen. At a theoretical level, the study provided insight into the causes of stress among educators, the impact of stress on them and the influence of school management teams to support educators in the management of their stress. The literature review confirmed that stress of educators is caused by internal and external factors. It also confirmed that stress may lead to physical and mental illnesses and may influence the emotional state of an educator. The literature confirmed that where school management teams support educators, it reduces the stress levels of the educators. From an empirical perspective, the study confirmed that external factors such as long working hours and workload do have an impact on the educator’s stress levels. This then leads to educators feeling irritated, exhausted and burned out. On the role of school management teams supporting educators to manage the stress levels, the empirical outcome was neutral. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Educational Management)

MEd (Educational Management) / Department of Educational Mamagement / See the attached abstract below

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 study focuses on the contribution of induction programmes to the teaching potential of beginner teachers at primary schools in the Ilembe District. Based on convenience in terms of accessibility and purposeful sampling, four primary schools were selected with eight novice teachers (two from each selected school) and four members of the school management team (one from each selected school) acting as participants. Using individual interviewing, beginner teachers and members of school management teams narrated their perceptions on the value of induction programmes for beginner teachers in order to improve beginner teachers’ teaching competency. Findings revealed that none of the sampled schools had a formalised induction programme offered to beginner teachers. Beginner teachers felt overwhelmed and challenged with real classroom situations whereas members of the school management teams acknowledged the need for beginner teachers to be capacitated with hands-on knowledge and skills to teach effectively within the specific classroom context. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Educational management and Leadership)

According to the National Policy for Assessment Grade R-12, South African learners are either promoted or progressed to the next grade. This study focused on teachers’ views on teaching progressed learners in primary schools in the Lichtenburg District. According to the National Policy Pertaining to the Programme and Progression Requirements, the term ‘progressed’ means the movement of a learner from one grade to the next grade excluding grade R, in spite of the learner’s non-compliance with all the promotion requirements. The theoretical framework was provided by the behaviourist, social constructivist, and interactive learning theories. A literature study investigated the accommodation of progressed learners in Zimbabwe and the United States, albeit the use of different terminology to identify the learners, and reasons for the increase in progressed learners in South African schools since the inception of the new curriculum policy and the progression policies. Against this background, a qualitative study was conducted and a purposeful sample of six primary school teachers teaching English First Additional Language to grade six progressed learners at two selected primary schools in the Lichtenburg district was selected. Data were gathered by interviews, observation and document analysis. Findings indicated that teachers were constrained by overcrowded classrooms, lack of teaching resources and school infrastructure, poor learner behaviour, poor attendance of remediation sessions and lack of parent involvement. Teachers were not trained to teach progressed learners and tended towards teacher-centered approaches. Based on the literature and the findings of the qualitative inquiry recommendations for improved practice were made. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)

Spatial, temporal and population dynamics have influenced learner enrolments in Vhembe District primary schools in Limpopo, South Africa. Vhembe District primary schools have in recent years experienced closure of some of its primary schools due to declining learner enrolments. The dynamics of demographic factors such as migration, fertility and mortality cause fluctuations in the school-age population over time and across space. Poor economic development, the location of the district and the spatial distribution of primary schools make the situation in this rural-based district even more complex. The communities of Vhembe District are discontent about the state of affairs in the area regarding the provision of education and the closure of schools. The closure of schools destabilises the social cohesion amongst members of the community and disempowers them, while inadequate provision of primary school education makes them feel neglected and robbed of their constitutional right. This study investigated the causes of declining learner enrolment and the effect of the closure of schools on the communities. To achieve the objectives data came from questionnaires at household level and from interviews conducted with educators, circuit managers, officials in the Limpopo Education Department and traditional leaders. The study found that declining fertility and out-migration from the area are responsible for a declining school-age population. This is the reality and the communities of Vhembe District will have to live with it because overall learner enrolments continue to decline. Lack of a planning model in the former Venda territory led to an over-supply of primary schools thus schools in close proximity had to compete for learners. Poorly equipped schools and general development of the area exacerbate the problem and some members of the community perceive education in this district to be inferior. Younger economically active people are increasingly moving to places with better opportunities. This study offers some recommendations to alleviate the problems identified in Vhembe District. Application of a geographical approach to an adaptive strategy considers the natural environment in political, social and economic context. It suggests that education authorities could apply such a strategy to make the schools in rural areas more sustainable / Geography / D. Phil. (Geography)

The role of the principal can no longer be viewed as merely being a manager and administrator but rather as learning-expert and lifelong learner. Principals are expected to establish appropriate preconditions for effective teaching, learning and assessment, and flow through with interactions aimed at improving teaching and leaning. The problem statement for this study was based on the researcher’s opinion that the lack of knowledge of effective assessment practices by principals as instructional leaders seemed to have a negative influence on teacher’s perceptions of the implementation of quality assessment practices in their respective classrooms. The reason for this challenge is because principals are not involved in the classroom assessment practices, to revise, support and manage the quality of assessment by indentifying teacher’s assessment to them. The purpose of this study was to design a proposed instructional leadership model/ framework to ensure effective and quality assessment practices at school level. This ILQA framework/model was designed from the literature review, findings and personal experience as a principal. The aim of this ILQA framework/model was to support principals understand their roles in the teaching and learning environment in ensuring quality assessment practices at school level. This study investigates how principals execute their roles as instructional leaders in ensuring effective and the implementation of quality assessment practices using structured questionnaire from a sample of 250 respondents and semi structured interviews with five primary school principals in the Free State Department of Basic Education. It was found that to ensure quality assessment practices, principals should understand their role in assessment for learning, assessment of learning and assessment as learning and integrate them into classroom instruction as an important component of quality teaching and learning. In summary the researcher further hopes that when the findings and the recommendations of this study are implemented, it will add value to the school principals’ instructional leadership roles in ensuring quality assessment practices at school level. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)