The purpose of this study was to investigate the misconduct of learners in secondary schools in the Ntoane village. It served to determine the • extent to which teenage fall pregnant; • the intensity in which teachers tackle gender violence in schools; • the manner in which the parents’ culture and values are enforced by the teachers. Recommendations are made on how to overcome these barriers and to improve the level of misconduct. A literature study was carried out to gain an understanding of misconduct, and covered the following issues: • What is misconduct? • The causes of misconduct. • An overview of learner misconduct. • The origins of learner misconduct. • Manifestations of learner misconduct in the classroom. • The factors which cause learner misconduct. A qualitative research method was used in this research. The targeted population groups are teenagers in grades 9 and 10 in the Ntoane village. v Interviews were conducted at two schools in the Ntoane village where educators, the school governing bodies and members of the representative council of learners were interviewed. The findings were discussed at length to determine the research objectives. Conclusions were drawn after analysing these findings, and recommendations were formulated. / Education Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The main purpose of this study was to determine the management of the phenomenon of learners’ partial absenteeism and late coming at four public secondary schools of the Tshwane West (D15), in the light of the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) Circular 13 of 2002. Respondents targeted for data collection were members of the School Management Teams (SMTs) of the four public secondary schools (n35). To address the initial propositions of this study, a qualitative case study research design and its techniques for data collection and analysis were used. The emergent findings indicated that: absenteeism during school hours (partial absenteeism) and late coming, which also applies to educators, are rife across the four participating public schools. SMT members’ limited knowledge of school management in general, and the GDE’s Circular 13 in particular, were found to be the main barrier to the effective management of partial absenteeism and late coming. Additional contributory factors were learner’s attitude and conduct and poor school infrastructure. Recommendations to help address the problem under inestigation are also made. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Educational Management and Leadership)

The aim of this study was to investigate the management strategies conducive to establishing constructive discipline for optimal learning. The study represented a case study conducted in a primary school in the Empangeni district of KwaZulu-Natal. An in-depth literature study was followed by an empirical investigation based on a qualitative research design employing focus group and individual interviews. The research findings revealed that optimal learning is achieved through effective classroom management practices promoting constructive discipline. A classroom environment in which constructive discipline prevails includes the organisation of the physical environment in a functional way, the consideration of instructional strategies such as teachers being well-prepared for the lesson, as well as class routines and procedures being well communicated. Based on the findings of the empirical investigation, and concurring with the findings from literature, recommendations were made regarding classroom management strategies for constructive discipline in order to arrange for optimal learning. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed.

The changing structures of families and the increase in the number of child headed families are progressively becoming noticeable both nationally and internationally. Reviewed literature has confirmed that the increasing trend in orphan status among school going age over the period 2002-2009, is of major concern. A growing body of literature also indicates that child headed families and orphan hood are becoming common phenomena in many African countries in general and South Africa in particular. This scenario presents certain challenges especially on the orphaned children‘s learning and schooling experiences as well as their behavioural and social interaction patterns. The phenomenon calls for greater educational support for such learners at school and home. Increasingly, teachers and schools world over are expected to respond to the changing educational environment and contextual realities of schooling that include the orphaned learners who head households. The aim of this thesis was to address the behavioural challenges that orphaned learners who head household experience and to develop a psycho-educational programme to support their learning. A qualitative instrumental case study research design was used with a study sample of 30 orphaned learners living in child headed household aged 10 to 16 years, ten Life Orientation Teachers, four members of School Management Team, eight members of School Based Support Team (SBST) and four Social Workers who were purposively sampled to participate in the study. The study was conducted in 15 classes located at four schools (3 secondary, 1 primary) in Taledi Area, Mamusa Circuit located in Ipelegeng Township of Schweizer Reneke town under Dr R.S. Ruth Momphati District-North West Province, South Africa. In order to answer the research question, data was collected using a variety of data collection techniques. These were semi structured interviews, observations and documentary analysis. Data obtained was analysed using the interpretational analysis method to determine the common themes and sub themes describing the behavioural challenges that the orphaned learners experience during schooling in the playgrounds and in the classroom. Data analysed revealed that although orphaned learners are socially strong with regard to interaction with their peers, they experience learning difficulties in the classroom leading to underperformance and grade repeating. The study also noted that orphaned learners exhibit negative conduct behaviours and negative social interaction patterns with their LO teachers and members of the school management team. The study also revealed that emotional problems and lack of material support are common phenomena amongst these learners. The study arrived at the recommendation that a psycho-educational programme to address the behavioural challenges be developed to enhance the academic performance of the learners. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The aim of the study was to understand the teachers’ experiences of learners with disciplinary problems. A literature study was conducted on various issues related to disciplinary problems in schools. In the empirical investigation a qualitative research approach with a phenomenological research design was used. The study was conducted in one secondary school in KwaZulu-Natal. The purposive sample comprised of 10 teachers who experienced discipline problems and two teachers who were knowledgeable about the issue. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the data were analysed and interpreted by means of the theoretical frameworks of the Bar-On Model of Emotional Intelligence and the Bronfenbrenner ecological model of child development. The findings revealed how disciplinary problems impacted negatively on the emotional and social well-being of the teachers. It was concluded that teachers needed improved coping strategies and collaborative support from the School Management Team and the Department of Education to deal with disciplinary problems. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The corporal punishment of children is being widely challenged today. Christians have traditionally followed the "spare the rod and spoil the child" approach and must respond to the new situation. Corporal punishment is part of the wider disciplinary process. It can lead to corporal abuse, but this is not a reason per se to reject it. Parents have a right to discipline their children, including the use of reasonable corporal punishment. Teachers can also use corporal punishment to enforce discipline, although its use will soon be banned in all South African schools, following world trends. Corporal punishment in the home and at school satisfies the criteria of both the deontological and teleogical approach to theological ethics. It should be retained as part of a multi-faceted approach to discipline. / Philosophy and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Theological Ethics)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Quiet Time Programme as a technique to maintain learner discipline in primary schools in Chatsworth, Durban. Data regarding the impact of the Quiet Time Programme on positive discipline was collected. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data was collected from principals, educators and learners. Three primary schools in Chatsworth were used. A quantitative research approach was used in this study. The empirical investigation revealed that there are many learner discipline issues that educators are faced with on a daily basis. The investigation also demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the alternatives to Corporal Punishment that are used at schools currently. This study introduced the Quiet Time Model. Principals, educators and learners revealed their perceptions of the Quiet Time Programme. The study concluded with the discussion of the major findings emanating from the data analysis. Recommendations have been provided to schools for drawing up their discipline policies. The role of the principals, parents, educators and learners play in creating an environment conducive to teaching and learning must be considered. Some techniques to keep all stakeholders interested and inspired in the implementation of new discipline techniques are provided. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and practices of School Management Teams (SMTs) in the control and management of school bullying in the Tshwane West District of the Gauteng Province. This study came out of a global concern about the security and safety of learners in schools. While there is substantial international and national literature on violence in schools, South Africa continues to experience high levels of violence in schools more than ever before and this in the Tshwane West District is no exception. In this study, a mixed method approach was undertaken to explore the experiences and practices of SMTs in the controlling and managing of bullying in the Tshwane West District. The questionnaires and focus group interviews were used as research tools for data gathering to unpack the experiences of the SMTs. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

For many years the South African educational platform has been the target of international and national criticism for its apartheid ideals. Since 1994 the former Model C high school has endured a changing landscape characterised by the ideals of educational transformation. However, the current face of the former Model C high school has been marred by the challenge of learner ill-discipline. This research aimed to explore the challenges experienced by female principals in a former Model C high school. A literature review focussed on female leadership and school discipline through the lens of a theoretical framework based on the ethics of care and transformational leadership theories. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected and analysed. The analysis revealed that school discipline was a major challenge to the principal personally and professionally, and to the school. It further highlighted the strong need for support by the Department of Education. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

This study focused on the schools of KwaDabeka Township in KwaZulu-Natal. This project explored the underlying reasons for and types of violence, as well as initiatives for violence prevention. This is a qualitative study; therefore it is located within the interpretive paradigm. A case study strategy was employed in which qualitative methods such as interviews, observations, document reviews, and journals were used to collect data. The findings suggest that besides ill-discipline and uncooperativeness by learners, criminals and thugs from outside schools pose a threat to the stability of schools. The findings also suggest that girls and young boys are victims of violence in schools. The research findings suggest that violence production in schools is shaped by socio-economic status of community where the school is in, as well as gender and masculinity. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)