M. Tech. Education / Given the challenges of shortage of skills as informed by low performance in Grade 12 Mathematics, it seemed appropriate that a study on factors behind poor performance in Mathematics amongst grade 12 learners be undertaken. The study explored various factors that contribute to poor performance of learners in Mathematics in grade 12.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doelstelling van hierdie kwalitatiewe navorsing was om die kind in die middelkinderjare met leerprobleme se belewenis van remediëring binne die skoolmilieu te verken en te beskryf. Ten einde hierdie doelstelling te bereik is bepaalde doelwitte gestel. Die doelwitte het onder andere die daarstelling van ‘n konseptuele raamwerk behels wat met behulp van ‘n literatuurstudie en konsultasie met kundiges die kind in die middelkinderjare met leerprobleme wat remediëring binne die skoolmilieu ontvang binne die konteks van hierdie studie gedefinieer het. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is met die deelnemers gevoer, waarna data geanaliseer is en gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gemaak is na aanleiding van die deelnemers se belewenis. Hooftemas, subtemas en kategorieë is uit die onderhoude geïdentifiseer en met bestaande literatuur geverifieer. Tydens die bespreking van die data is daar gepoog om nie bevindings te veralgemeen nie en aangesien dit ‘n kwalitatiewe studie was, is elke deelnemer toegelaat om sy of haar belewenis te deel. / During this research, the aim was to explore and describe the experiences of remedial education within the school milieu of the child in middle childhood with learning problems. In order to reach the required goal, a number of objectives were set. The objectives included conceptualising a theoretical framework by means of a literature study and consultation with experts in order to define the child in middle childhood with learning difficulties that receives remedial education within the school milieu. Semi-structured interviews with participants were conducted, whereupon data were analysed and conclusions and recommendations were made according to the participants’ experiences. Main themes, sub-themes and categories were identified in the transcriptions and were verified with existing literature. During the discussion of data the aim was not to generalise the findings, as it was a qualitative study and each participant was allowed to share his or her experience / M.Diac. (Spelterapie) / Social Work

Text in Afrikaans / Die doelstelling van hierdie kwalitatiewe navorsing was om die kind in die middelkinderjare met leerprobleme se belewenis van remediëring binne die skoolmilieu te verken en te beskryf. Ten einde hierdie doelstelling te bereik is bepaalde doelwitte gestel. Die doelwitte het onder andere die daarstelling van ‘n konseptuele raamwerk behels wat met behulp van ‘n literatuurstudie en konsultasie met kundiges die kind in die middelkinderjare met leerprobleme wat remediëring binne die skoolmilieu ontvang binne die konteks van hierdie studie gedefinieer het. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is met die deelnemers gevoer, waarna data geanaliseer is en gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gemaak is na aanleiding van die deelnemers se belewenis. Hooftemas, subtemas en kategorieë is uit die onderhoude geïdentifiseer en met bestaande literatuur geverifieer. Tydens die bespreking van die data is daar gepoog om nie bevindings te veralgemeen nie en aangesien dit ‘n kwalitatiewe studie was, is elke deelnemer toegelaat om sy of haar belewenis te deel. / During this research, the aim was to explore and describe the experiences of remedial education within the school milieu of the child in middle childhood with learning problems. In order to reach the required goal, a number of objectives were set. The objectives included conceptualising a theoretical framework by means of a literature study and consultation with experts in order to define the child in middle childhood with learning difficulties that receives remedial education within the school milieu. Semi-structured interviews with participants were conducted, whereupon data were analysed and conclusions and recommendations were made according to the participants’ experiences. Main themes, sub-themes and categories were identified in the transcriptions and were verified with existing literature. During the discussion of data the aim was not to generalise the findings, as it was a qualitative study and each participant was allowed to share his or her experience / M.Diac. (Spelterapie) / Social Work

M.A. (Linguistics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities and learners affected by it are found in both mainstream and specialist schools. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the school experiences of learners who had been diagnosed with dyslexia and attended a long-term remedial school. A phenomenological research design was followed. Six learners in grades 6 to 9, who were attending a long term remedial school, were the participants. Semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews were held to collect data, posing questions that focused on the learners’ experiences with their educators, peers, written and verbal school work, as well as homework. From the data collected themes were formed. The findings showed that participants believed most of their teachers were aware of and knowledgeable about suitable methods to use when teaching dyslexic learners. The results also indicated that the school understood the challenges faced by the dyslexic learners and it was doing well in attempting to provide them with an educational environment suitable for their academic and personal needs. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Literature indicates that there is a national outcry about learners who read below the required levels and that poor matriculation results are, in part, due to the low levels of learners’ reading skills. The focus of this study is reading difficulties experienced by learners in the Foundation Phase in inclusive schools in Makapanstad. The researcher used a qualitative method for the study. The case study research design was adopted for the study. Three schools in Makapanstad were sampled for the study. Empirical investigation was conducted through literature study, observations, interviews and document analysis. There is a worldwide concern with regard to learners’ low reading levels. The study explores the extensive models, methods and theories on reading, the strategies that could be used to teach reading in the Foundation Phase to alleviate or improve reading difficulties experienced by learners, as well as the findings and recommendations towards minimising the reading difficulties in primary schools. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities and learners affected by it are found in both mainstream and specialist schools. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the school experiences of learners who had been diagnosed with dyslexia and attended a long-term remedial school. A phenomenological research design was followed. Six learners in grades 6 to 9, who were attending a long term remedial school, were the participants. Semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews were held to collect data, posing questions that focused on the learners’ experiences with their educators, peers, written and verbal school work, as well as homework. From the data collected themes were formed. The findings showed that participants believed most of their teachers were aware of and knowledgeable about suitable methods to use when teaching dyslexic learners. The results also indicated that the school understood the challenges faced by the dyslexic learners and it was doing well in attempting to provide them with an educational environment suitable for their academic and personal needs. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Literature indicates that there is a national outcry about learners who read below the required levels and that poor matriculation results are, in part, due to the low levels of learners’ reading skills. The focus of this study is reading difficulties experienced by learners in the Foundation Phase in inclusive schools in Makapanstad. The researcher used a qualitative method for the study. The case study research design was adopted for the study. Three schools in Makapanstad were sampled for the study. Empirical investigation was conducted through literature study, observations, interviews and document analysis. There is a worldwide concern with regard to learners’ low reading levels. The study explores the extensive models, methods and theories on reading, the strategies that could be used to teach reading in the Foundation Phase to alleviate or improve reading difficulties experienced by learners, as well as the findings and recommendations towards minimising the reading difficulties in primary schools. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The main aim of this study was to assess teachers’ awareness levels of dyslexia, their perceptions of their ability to identify and manage dyslexia, and their perceptions of the adequacy of their pre-service and in-service training in dyslexia. The sample comprised teachers at 16 mainstream high schools in the Western Cape. A Likert type scale questionnaire was used to collect data that were analysed by means of a sign test of difference and a Kruskal-Wallis test of variance. The results indicated that teachers had adequate knowledge of dyslexia, believed they are able to identify and manage dyslexia, and believed that they received little or no pre-service and in-service training in dyslexia. The main conclusion that can be drawn is that teachers need on-going adequate pre-service and in-service training in the field of dyslexia. / Department of Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)