The purpose of this qualitative, participatory action research study was to explore and describe the nature of a reading culture in a rural secondary school before and after a literacy intervention. Themes of reading culture were investigated within the framework of systems theory and with interpretivism as epistemological paradigm. A secondary rural school was conveniently selected as part of ongoing FLY and STAR1 studies on resilience and rural schools. Language teachers (n=6, male=1, female=5) were purposively selected to participate in the literacy intervention. The literacy intervention was developed with phonetic acquisition as basis to develop reading skills. The intervention was implemented in two two-day phases, with a three-month gap in between. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected by means of three focus-group interviews with the teacher-participants. These interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis. In addition, the school site (classrooms, notice boards) was observed (documented by means of field notes, visual data, and researcher journals). Textual documents (minutes of staff management team meetings) were analysed to investigate the nature of the reading culture at the school pre- and post-intervention. The following themes emerged from thematic analysis: the reading culture in (i) the learners’ system, (ii) classroom system, and (iii) school system in the rural secondary school. Subsequent to a literacy intervention, changes in the reading culture were evident. It was found that the reading culture in a rural secondary school may be affected negatively by the following systemic factors: learners enter this education phase without adequate reading capacity, the language of learning and teaching is an additional language for both learners and teachers, secondary school teachers are not trained to teach (secondary school) learners to read, and the isolated and scarce-resourced nature of a rural school also compounds the difficulties of nurturing a reading culture. Nonetheless, certain systemic factors contributed to enriching the reading culture in the rural secondary school. In the teacher system, the literacy intervention programme addressed teachers’ need for training to help secondary school learners to learn to read. At post-intervention in the learner system, learners received the required learning support to read, their participation in classroom activities in the classroom system improved, and they read more and with greater confidence. In the school system, effective management and use of the library contributed to the reading-culture post-intervention. The role of leadership to implement reading initiatives was another contributing factor at the school-system level. Education-system support by the Department of Education in the form of reading resources and the introduction of a policy providing for a reading period also proved valuable to enriching the reading culture. In terms of the community system, the reading-culture initiative led to collaborative networking with neighbouring primary schools in fostering joint capacity development in the literacy intervention. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The aim of this research was to determine the motivation levels of Zimbabwean rural secondary school teachers, and to identify and discuss the factors that influence their motivation so that management interventions could be designed to enhance teacher motivation. A quantitative research design, involving the descriptive sample survey method to collect data by means of self-administered structured questionnaire was adopted. The sample consisted of 175 rural secondary school teachers in Bikita District. The information was statistically analysed with the aid of a computer after which it was interpreted. Results indicated that teachers were not highly motivated and satisfied with their jobs, and that their motivation was affected by several aspects of their work. Working conditions emerged as a primary demotivator while interpersonal relations was a principal motivator. The data also showed that certain biographical variables affected teacher motivation significantly. Subsequent to these results recommendations to enhance teacher motivation were made. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

This study explores the management of parent volunteers in secondary schools in the Limpopo Province. A literature study was conducted to investigate the existing theories and models of managing parent volunteerism in secondary schools. The literature revealed how parent volunteer programmes are conducted in countries, which have developed successful programmes such as the United States. The present state of parent volunteering in secondary schools in South Africa is also investigated to reveal the current situation. A qualitative investigation in two secondary schools in the Limpopo Province was done. Data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews with principals and deputy principals. Analysed data revealed that there are no volunteer programmes which are implemented in secondary schools in the Limpopo Province and school managers do not have the necessary skills to implement and manage parent volunteer programmes at secondary schools. / Educational Studies / (M.Ed (Education Management))

This study explores the management of parent volunteers in secondary schools in the Limpopo Province. A literature study was conducted to investigate the existing theories and models of managing parent volunteerism in secondary schools. The literature revealed how parent volunteer programmes are conducted in countries, which have developed successful programmes such as the United States. The present state of parent volunteering in secondary schools in South Africa is also investigated to reveal the current situation. A qualitative investigation in two secondary schools in the Limpopo Province was done. Data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews with principals and deputy principals. Analysed data revealed that there are no volunteer programmes which are implemented in secondary schools in the Limpopo Province and school managers do not have the necessary skills to implement and manage parent volunteer programmes at secondary schools. / Educational Studies / (M.Ed (Education Management))

The aim of this research was to determine the motivation levels of Zimbabwean rural secondary school teachers, and to identify and discuss the factors that influence their motivation so that management interventions could be designed to enhance teacher motivation. A quantitative research design, involving the descriptive sample survey method to collect data by means of self-administered structured questionnaire was adopted. The sample consisted of 175 rural secondary school teachers in Bikita District. The information was statistically analysed with the aid of a computer after which it was interpreted. Results indicated that teachers were not highly motivated and satisfied with their jobs, and that their motivation was affected by several aspects of their work. Working conditions emerged as a primary demotivator while interpersonal relations was a principal motivator. The data also showed that certain biographical variables affected teacher motivation significantly. Subsequent to these results recommendations to enhance teacher motivation were made. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Die doel van die verkennende en beskrywende studie was om die bruikbaarheid van liggaamsportrette vir kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasilitering te ondersoek. Met interpretivisme as metateoretiese paradigma en Savickas se lewensontwerp benadering as teoretiese raamwerk is ʼn gerieflikheidseleksie van bestaande databronne gedoen vir die inhoudsanalise-studie. Die databronne (assesserings- en intervensiebeplanning, reflektiewe joernale van die terapeut en portuur-supervisor, foto’s en oudio-visuele opnames as visuele data, transkripsies van oudiovisuele opnames en assesseringsnotas van supervisor) is saam met agt siSwati Graad 9-seuns gegenereer tydens ʼn akademiese diensleer-praktikum by ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool as deel van die 2009-MEd (Opvoedkundige Sielkunde) opleiding. Twee temas met bepaalde subtemas was die gevolg van analise aan die hand van a priori aannames wat verkry is uit kruis-kulturele sielkunde en loopbaanfasilitering-literatuur. Die eerste tema hou verband met die teenwoordigheid van kruis-kulturele sielkunde tydens die liggaamsportret-sessie, met die volgende subtemas: kruis-kulturele bekwaamhede van die terapeut, effektiewe kommunikasiestyle in die kruis-kulturele konteks, en geleenthede vir kruis-kulturele bekwaamheid. Die tweede tema hou verband met die teenwoordigheid van lewensontwerp tydens die kruis-kulturele sielkundige praktyk in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool, met die volgende subtemas: loopbaanfasiliteringsvaardighede van die terapeut, loopbaanfasiliteringsmomente vir die kliënt, en lewensontwerp as loopbaanfasiliteringstegniek. Uit die studie blyk dit dat die liggaamsportret-tegniek bruikbaar is vir kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasilitering met Graad 9-seuns in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool. Die liggaamsportret-tegniek was bevredigend in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks aangesien die terapeut assesseringsresultate kon integreer, kruis-kulturele bekwaamhede kon implementeer om adolessente seuns aktief te betrek en kontekstuele inligting van kliënte kon verkry. Verder was die tegniek bevredigend aangesien kliënte aan die hand van lewensontwerp loopbaanfasiliteringsvaardighede kon inoefen; naamlik beroepsverkenning, selfkennisverkenning, self-werksaamheid, loopbaandoelwitstelling, loopbaanaanpasbaarheid, uitkoms-verwagtinge, en die gebruik van beroepsinligting. Die liggaamsporttret-tegniek was prakties in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks deurdat dit aangepas het by die adolessente seuns se ontwikkelingsfase, hulle aktief betrek het en nie-verbale kommunikasie geredelik gehuisves het. Die tegniek was derhalwe geskik vir gebruik in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool omgewing met beperkte hulpbronne deur van maklik bekombare hulpbronne (papier, potlode, penne, verf, klippies) gebruik te maak. Die liggaamsporttret-tegniek was toepaslik in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks aangesien beide verbale (ʼn tolk) en nie-verbale (toepaslike gesigsuitdrukkings en interpersoonlike spasies) kommunikasie geakkommodeer is om taalhindernisse te oorbrug. Vir hierdie doel het die tegniek ruimte geskep vir individuele en groepsloopbaanfasilitering, en kon ander narratiewe en post-moderne aktiwiteite (soos beroepsleiding-kaartsortering en beroepskennis-werkkaarte) deel vorm van loopbaanfasilitering vir die konstruering van die kliënte se lewens. ENGLISH : The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the utility of body-maps for cross-cultural career facilitation. With interpretivism as a metatheoretical paradigm and Savickas’ life design approach as a theoretical framework, data sources where collected through convenience sampling for this content analysis study. The data sources (assessment- and intervention planning, reflective journals of the therapist and peer group supervisor, photograph’s and audio-visual recordings as visual data, transcriptions from audio-visual recordings and assessment notes from the supervisor) were generated in collaboration with eight Grade 9 siSwati speaking boys during an academic service learning practicum at a rural secondary school as part of the 2009-MEd (Educational Psychology) training. Guided by a priori assumptions (based on cross-cultural psychology and career facilitation literature) two themes with sub-themes each resulted from the content analysis. The presence of cross-cultural psychology during the body-mapping session was established with instances of, the therapist’s cross-cultural competencies, effective communication styles in a cross-cultural context and opportunities for cross-cultural competencies to develop. Secondly the presence of life design during cross-cultural psychological practise in a rural, secondary school was determined, indicating the presence of career facilitation skills of the therapist, career facilitation moments for the client, and life design as a career facilitation technique. It was apparent that body-mapping has utility for cross-cultural career facilitation with Grade 9 boys from a rural secondary school. Body-mapping was satisfactory in a cross-cultural career facilitation context as the therapist could integrate the assessment results, implement cross-cultural competencies to engage adolescent boys in active participation, and obtain contextual information on clients. Clients were able to rehearse career facilitation skills (career exploration, gaining self knowledge, self-efficacy, career goal setting, career adaptability, outcome expectations and using career information) as part of life design. The body-map technique was practical in a cross-cultural career facilitation context because it suited the developmental phase of adolescent boys, actively involving them and accommodated non-verbal communication. The technique was well matched to a rural secondary school environment with limited resources, using easily accessible resources (paper, pencils, pens, paint and stones). The technique was applicable in a cross-cultural career facilitation context as language barriers could be addressed by means of verbal (a translator) and non-verbal (appropriate facial expressions and interpersonal space) communication. For this purpose, the body-mapping technique could be used on individual or group basis, and other narrative and post-modern activities (vocational card sorting and career knowledge worksheets) could form part of career facilitation and could be used in combination for constructing clients’ lives. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted