This study investigates parental involvement in school governance in selected high schools in Zwelitsha, King Williams Town District in the Eastern Cape Province. The research study was conducted in three high schools in Zwelitsha Township. These schools are Nompendulo Senior Secondary, Thembalabantu High School and Xolani Senior Secondary School. Questionnaires were designed and distributed to the principals, educators and parents whose children are learners in these schools. The interview questions were designed and distributed to parents whose children are learners in these selected schools, educators and school principals and members of the school governing body from each school. Respondents were asked about the levels of parental involvement in their schools, parents’ awareness of school governance and the relationship between schools and communities. However, the objectives of the study were to: Assess parental involvement in school governance in selected high schools in Zwelitsha, King Williams Town District in the Province of the Eastern Cape; To determine the nature and extent of parental participation in school academic activities; To examine the role of parents in the school governing body; To determine measures that can be taken to encourage the participation of parents in school governance These objectives have been achieved by providing empirical evidences which shows that the levels of parental involvement in the previously disadvantaged high schools are very low. This is related to the parents’ level of education. Parents who are literate are more involved than those are illiterate. This research also reveals that high v. levels of working parents contributes to the low levels of parental involvement in school governance. Most parents in this area know nothing about school governance and those that are aware are not keen to be involved. The class structure of the society has an influence in the participation of parents in school governance. Parents’ meetings that are held on Sunday afternoon are a challenge to parents that come from the villages outside Zwelitsha because of the scarcity of transport on this day. and these situations discourage them from being actively involved in their children’s education. The study provides the factors that cause non-involvement of parents in school governance. Subsequently, the following strategies for participation of parents in school governance were given:  Capacitating of parents Establishment of teacher-parent collegiality  Recognition of cultural capital Establishment of parent organisations  Utilisation of non-governmental organisations Establishment of centres of learning. This study also indicates the following strategies that may assist to enhance the parental involvement in school governance: Parents engagement and empowerment Co-operation between schools and parents Collaboration with other community, private and other public institutions Invitation of complaints and welcoming of criticism. In conclusion, the findings provide clear indication that the participation of parents in school governance is low. Recommendations that could assist the schools to encourage and to enhance parents to participate in school governance are given.

Teenage pregnancy is a worldwide phenomenon. World Health Organisation (2009) reports that teenage mothers between the ages of 15-19 years account for 11% of births recorded worldwide. In South Africa it has been estimated that teenagers aged 17-19 account for 93% of all teenage pregnancies. A large proportion of these adolescents return to school after giving birth. Research has shown that there is a great deal of controversy about not only pre-marital sex, but also concerning whether teenage mothers should be allowed back in school at all. The aim of this study was to gain some insights into the lived experiences of teenage mothers in schools with particular reference to how they cope with school work and the responsibilities of motherhood. A case study of four teenage mothers who returned to school after giving birth was carried out. In-depth phenomenological interviewing designed to elicit the voices of the selected adolescents was done. There were five main findings. First, all four teenagers were minors, under the age of 18 when they gave birth. Two of them were even under the statutory age of consent. Second, upon return to school, teenage mothers experienced stigmatisation from peers and teachers and this forced them to continually negotiate their dual identities as mothers and learners. Third, teenage mothers experienced psychological emotions of stress; low self-esteem; shame and depression. Fourth, they also had sociological experiences in the form of material, financial and social support from family and friends. In some cases they experienced rejection from peers and abandonment by boyfriends who had made them pregnant. Some educators discriminated against and ridiculed teenage mothers. Fifth, teenage mothers reorganised their lives after childbirth and established routines that enabled them to cope with the demands of school work and the responsibilities of motherhood. iii The study concludes that, although viewed with scepticism by sections of the community and some educators, and given that some pregnancies are a result of abuse and unequal power relations between men and women in society, the policy of allowing teenage mothers back to school after giving birth gives them another chance to re-focus their lives. It is recommended that the voices of teenage mothers who return to school after childbirth should be taken into account to inform any planning for future policies on teenage pregnancy by schools and the state. It is further recommended that all educators should also be trained to be able to assist the teenage mothers instead of alienating them. There should also be counselling services available for the teenage mothers to enable them to deal with psychological and sociological problems they might encounter. For further research, students from different backgrounds should be the target of similar research. Another area of research should focus on academic performance of teenage mothers who return to school after giving birth. Lastly, there should be research that seeks to link what is taught in the Life Orientation curriculum and voices of teenage mothers.

D.Ed. / Guidance is essential in a child's development because most traits of human life, with the exclusion of genetic characteristics, are learned (City Press, 1998:7). The learning process raises the question of where and from whom these characteristics are acquired. This, according to Ferron (1990:45), implies that maximum performance of man is a result of good and sound guidance. This may be an oversimplification, but even if it is only partly true, guidance cannot be neglected without detrimental effects for the children involved. Furthermore, the question of school guidance becomes increasingly important as shifts in family structures and values - such as are common today - affect the quality of interaction between parents and children. According to Godbold (1994:6) an increasing number of children face deteriorating family bonds, lack of shelter, out-ofwedlock births, abortion, and drug and alcohol related crimes. Ferron (1991:72) adds bullying, truancy, delinquency, lack of motivation, peer pressure and parental relationship problems to this list. Many children experience grave educational neglect - virtually none of their needs are cared for. There even are rural children who are left alone by parents who have gone to the cities to work, and who have no one to take care of them. They often have no one to turn to for sustenance and advice. As a result guidance teachers must be more than ever involved in helping children with various personal problems (Moraba, 1996:3), which were traditionally handled by parents. When schools fail to address the immediate family and social needs of learners, learning becomes difficult and relatively unimportant (Godbold, 1994:7). According to Chuenyane (1990:10), through the school guidance activities, learners should be assisted to know who they are, to accept themselves, to master selfimprovement and self-direction, and to develop good life skills. With regard to socialisation, they should learn to relate to others by interacting with them and becoming sensitive to their feelings and being appreciative of their views and beliefs. Our youth is seen as our most precious resource and the future leaders; therefore, they must be mature and increase their peaceful co-existence (Chuenyane, 1990:10). Guidance in the secondary school is chiefly concerned with meeting the physical, social, emotional and educational needs of learners (Rooth, 1995:54). Vocational guidance is included in the needs list and is an important facet. The purpose of school guidance is to help each child make a satisfactory adjustment to life, both in school and out. Although Kallaway (1988:1) does not focus explicitly on school guidance, his remark that " ... the crucial relation between schooling and society is often and systematically denied" is of extreme importance. As this subject is ideally suited to emphasise this relation, it is a service that should be provided to all learners, and not only those who have behaviour problems, learning difficulties and emotional disturbances. Normal, well-adjusted learners also need to be guided in their thinking, their attitudes and their personality development. They must be prepared for all challenges in the future job market and life in general. The gifted, talented ones are often also in need of special help in gaining social approval and in finding suitable outlets for their interests (Sowetan, 1996:12). If the school is seen as an agent for change, it must implement career counselling (vocational guidance) to help the child in self-understanding, self-acceptance, interests, aspirations, experiences, as well as in physical, intellectual, psychological and spiritual development (Chuenyane, 1990:46). These are considered important because it helps learners to appreciate and utilize their aptitudes, interests and values (Sedibe, 1991:4). This will help them to gain insight into their limitations with regard to their coping strategies, which concern problems they are confronted with on a daily basis. Furthermore it must be kept in mind that certain elements in the school situation that influence learners can be identified; these include the impact teachers' and peer groups' behaviour has on children. One aspect that comes to mind, for example, is that of substance abuse, especially alcohol. Chuenyane (1991:46) reports that almost 70% - 80% of all learners in his research were drinking and abusing drugs. As drugs and alcohol have a negative effect on the education and health of the learner, and it is indicated by Raikane (1996:28) that drugs and alcohol have a strong relationship to crime, frustration and aggression, such learners need proper guidance and counselling. Adolescents, especially, need guidance and counselling as they are in a difficult developmental phase, and often have negative attitudes towards school (Wiseman, 1991:71).

M.Ed. (Education Management) / Taking up the first principalship is a demanding career transition involving emergency professional development, not only for the new principal to move from the role of teacher and administrator, but for him to successfully diagnose a new culture. The degree of success that a new principal -has in discovering, understanding, developing further and managing a new school culture within the first year of his appointment, will determine his overall effectiveness in managing the new school. Against this background, the focus of this research paper will be to identify and define school culture. Included here will be a discussion of what constitutes culture, the process of acculturation, the influence of sub-cultures and the impediment of culture on both management and change. The role of the new principal in managing and where necessary changing existing culture in a school is described in this paper. The problem areas likely to be encountered and the solutions to these problems are also discussed. A strategy is proposed to assist future new principals with the problem of managing existing culture in the school. Divided into three parts, the strategy assist the new principal to read the existing culture of the school. Secondly, it proposes that the new principal follows a collaborative process for the review of and transformation of existing school culture. The final part of the strategy is to revise and establish innovative communication networks to ensure the strategy's overall success.

Thesis (M. Ed.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / One of the effective ways of teaching science is by developing the thinking abilities of individuals by allowing them to engage in enquiry-based learning. Computer simulation (CS) can help improve understanding of scientific concepts and enhance conceptual development and performance. This study focused on exploring learners’ conceptual development using CS in Grade 10 science class. A pre- and post-test research designs were used. 105 Grade 10 learners participated: 53 from one whole class were assigned to an Experimental Group (EG) and 52 from another class to a Control Group (CG). The EG was taught using CS while the CG was taught using the traditional approach. Data on learners’ performance were collected using a performance test and interviews were employed to collect data on learners’ attitudes towards science. The results revealed that the EG performed better than the CG (t-test, p < 0.05), (ANCOVA, p < 0.01). Girls in the EG performed better than girls from the CG (t-test, p < 0.05), and independent sample t-test revealed that girls in the EG were in the same range with boys after intervention suggesting that CS did not discriminate against gender in this study. Furthermore, the results from interviews indicate that learners from EG exhibited positive attitudes towards science, unlike their counterparts from the CG. This suggests that learners from the EG may have been excited to observe phenomena on the screen of a computer that they would otherwise not do due to lack of laboratory equipment in their school.

MPM / Oliver Tambo Istitute for Gverment and Policy Studies

Bibliography: p. 155-160. / The Emil Weder High School is in the small rural town of Genadendal, which is situated about 150 kilometres south-east of Cape Town, near Caledon. While doing field work for the Education Foundation early in 1994, one of the schools I Weder High School. It was the last of visited was Emil six House of Representatives schools that I visited, and I immediately noticed a difference at Emil Weder, compared to the other schools. The school buildings and surrounding fields and gardens were very neat and well maintained, the students were neatly dressed and very polite· and the staff were far friendlier than we had previously encountered. My initial impressions of a well-run school were confirmed, when I found out that the school is achieving outstanding academic and extra-mural results. I naturally assumed that this was the norm at the school and was very surprised to find out that it was, in fact, a fairly new phenomenon and that as recently as 1990 the school had experienced student unrest, boycotts, vandalism, gang activities and very poor academic results (in 1990 only 48% of their matriculants passed). Yet, in 1991 the pass rate was 88%, in 1992 it was 100% and last year they had a 98,8% pass rate (one failure). The topic to be researched Based on the above information I developed the hypothesis that certain school-level policy changes had occurred at Emil Weder from 1990 onwards which had led to the establishment of a culture of learning at Emil Weder High School. The purpose of my study was to find out whether policies had in fact changed at the school, and to what extent these new policies could explain the dramatic improvement in Matriculation results at the school. The study was conducted in two distinct phases, one in March 1994 and the other in September 1994. The initial study formed part of the Education Foundation and served to give an overview of how the school operated at the time. The follow-up study took much longer as it involved conducting in-depth interviews with teachers, ex-students and parents. The study revealed that by adopting a multi-level approach to improving the school, with the achievement of better Matriculation results being the major area of focus, the school not only improved these results, but that the school also started achieving better outputs in other areas as well.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree MASTER OF EDUCATION in the Department of Educational Planning and Administration of the Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, 2006. / This study examines the leadership role of School Management Teams (SMTs) in marketing schools in the Lower Tugela Circuit in KwaZulu-Natal. School managers currently face the major challenge of finding innovative ways of attracting learners to their institutions. With at least part of their budget derived from school fees and private donors, they need to ensure solid learner enrolment numbers and good pass rates. To address this issue, SMTs are expected to employ business and marketing principles in their management plans. SMTs are faced with the task of changing educators' mindsets and perceptions with regard to marketing. They are required to inculcate a competitive spirit among educators and create partnerships with industries to attract sponsorships. Furthermore, SMTs need to ensure that the needs of their learners are satisfied. An empirical investigation was undertaken to assess and evaluate the role of SMTs in marketing their schools. Data was solicited from a sample of SMTs by means of questionnaires. Both open and closed-ended questions were used. The following are key findings of the study: • Some schools lack teacher development programmes to capacitate educators to market their schools effectively. • School Governing Bodies (SGBs) are not sufficiently involved in school marketing decisions. • Some schools have not established partnership with business and industry. On the basis of these findings, the following recommendations were made: • SMTs must be tasked with developing programmes to capacitate educators to market their schools effectively. • SGBs should be involved in a greater capacity in school marketing decisions. • SMTs should bridge the gap between schools as education service providers and business/industry as the ultimate consumer of these services, by marrying the business/industry knowledge and skills requirements with relevant school curriculum design.

The study focuses on the extent to which the “no fee” policy affects the financial management and support for educational programmes at “no fee” secondary schools in Mpumalanga. The “no fee” policy derives from the Education Laws Amendment Act (Act No. 24 of 2005) according to which the levying of mandatory fees have been abolished at public schools that are declared “no fee” institutions. The State has subsequently assumed the role of funding these “no fee” schools in order to create greater access to quality education and to improve the supply of educational resources as well as equipment in the impoverished schools. The findings of the research study eventually led to the recommendations that are presented as guidelines for the SGBs, principals as well as education authorities on the management of “no fee” schools. / Further Teacher Education / M.A. (Education Management)

The implementation of the South African Schools Act (Act 84 of 1996) has placed additional financial management responsibilities on school principals and school governing bodies. Financial management has created several challenges for school principals and members of school governing bodies who do not have the necessary financial knowledge, skill and expertise to perform this function. This research was undertaken primarily to determine how principals and members of school governing bodies, in public primary schools, implement financial policy. The research is supported by a detailed literature study covering financial policy, the budget process, approaches to budgeting, the advantages of a budget system and requirements for effective financial control. In order to determine the financial management practices at public primary schools a questionnaire was designed and administered amongst twenty five public primary schools in the Ekurhuleni South District of the Gauteng Department of Education. The findings suggest that there is a need for schools to communicate resolutions adopted at parents’ meetings and other consultative procedures to parents of learners and in this way ensure the dissemination of pertinent information. There is a need for early intervention by schools concerning outstanding school fees to prevent the exacerbation of the problem. Educational institutions should prepare their budgets on the basis of their main objectives and policies in order to ensure an efficient allocation of funds. / Education / M. Ed. (Education Management)