This study is a situational analysis of a school located at Nonkcampa village, just ten kilometres from King William’s Town, west of the national road between Peddie and King William’s Town. Toise Senior Secondary School is in the former Ciskei region. The Bulembu / Bisho airport is just next to our school. My focus on Toise Senior Secondary School, provides me as the principal of the school with a golden opportunity to find out more about the school. As a relative newcomer to the school this study also enables me to look at the school community, from this particular focal point. As this is a situational analysis, my focus will be on the history, the biophysical and socio-political aspects that influenced the development of the school to the present. In this way I will be able to analyse the school’s readiness to implement the new Out-Comes-Based Education (OBE) Curriculum soon to be implemented at secondary school level.

Learning style preferences play a significant role during the learning and teaching process. Therefore, a multitude of researchers have developed different models to accommodate students’ various learning styles. Those models share the same goal of trying to classify a particular students’ learning style and to provide an overview of better teaching strategies for educators. This paper presents a research study based on a survey that investigates the learning style preferences of computer network vocational senior secondary school students in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. This survey uses the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) questionnaire developed by Felder and Solomon. In total, 162 data sets from five different schools in five different areas were collected in order to represent the Yogyakarta Province. The findings from the study show that students participating in computer network vocational training preferred active (82.66%), sensing (67.66%), visual (83.83%), and sequential (52.44%) learning styles. Students most strongly prefer visual and least favor verbal (16.17%). Identifying learning styles can benefit teachers as they customize teaching methods and can maximize the learning and teaching process.

Modern day society is characterised by the availability of technology and the abundance of information in all formats that require all individuals using it to poses information literacy skills (ILS).ILS enable people the ability to locate, analyse, evaluate access and retrieve the desired information to satisfy a need. Research on IL in academic and school libraries has gained momentum in the field of Information Science where as little has been documented concerning public libraries and IL. This therefore calls for more research on IL in public libraries. Public libraries serve a wide and diverse community of which students are a part. In instances where school libraries are either non-existent or not developed, students seek assistance from the public library within their community. This study sought to investigate the role of public libraries in enhancing the ILS of senior secondary school students in the Central District in Botswana. The fact that school libraries in Botswana are underdeveloped to produce competent and confident students equipped with ILS that could be used in the work environment and continuous lifelong learning, motivated the study. A concern that there exists a gap in research concerning public libraries and IL within the Botswana context necessitated this study. The study used a survey research design where both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were adopted. This involved the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. The purpose of a mixed methods approach was based on the idea that qualitative results could assist in explaining and interpreting the findings of a quantitative study. Data collection involved three sets of closed ended questionnaires and observations in all schools and public libraries. The population of the study consisted of public librarians, teacher librarians and students. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) to generate statistics. The findings of the study revealed that the public libraries in the Central District in Botswana are above average in terms of materials and use. It brought to light that senior secondary schoolstudents use the public libraries for school purposes and get assistance when they seek for it. Public librarians do not have special classes aimed at enhancing the ILS of students. The public libraries offer IL in the form of computer training, they do this as, and when students register, just like the other members of the community. The library’s contribution to enhancement of the students’ ILS, (study skills, reading skills and use of reference works) is somewhat limited. Limited resources, lack of reading culture, low budgets, and lack of support from government negatively challenge the full potential impact of IL enhancement. / Information Science / M.A. Information Science

The interdependent relationship which exists between personality characteristics of adolescents and their achievements in oral examinations have been investigated. The following related aspects were studied in the literature: * * * The role of oral evaluation in English. Personality characteristics which are meaningful to achievement in oral work. Ways to measure personality with special reference to the High School Personality Questionnaire. An empirical study inter alia revealed the following: {i) Low oral achievers are emotionally less stable than high achievers. (ii) Verbal intelligence, emotional instability, anxiety experience and introvertedness play an influential role in achievement in oral work. (iii) Girls tend to achieve better in oral work in the secondary school than boys. The educational implications of the investigation relate to the adequate becoming-adult of the adolescent. The role of the educand's personality in oral examinations and the need of teachers to possess more information about this matter during evaluation, have been revealed in this study. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The interdependent relationship which exists between personality characteristics of adolescents and their achievements in oral examinations have been investigated. The following related aspects were studied in the literature: * * * The role of oral evaluation in English. Personality characteristics which are meaningful to achievement in oral work. Ways to measure personality with special reference to the High School Personality Questionnaire. An empirical study inter alia revealed the following: {i) Low oral achievers are emotionally less stable than high achievers. (ii) Verbal intelligence, emotional instability, anxiety experience and introvertedness play an influential role in achievement in oral work. (iii) Girls tend to achieve better in oral work in the secondary school than boys. The educational implications of the investigation relate to the adequate becoming-adult of the adolescent. The role of the educand's personality in oral examinations and the need of teachers to possess more information about this matter during evaluation, have been revealed in this study. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

This study’s purpose was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS and condom use, and sexual behaviours among senior secondary school learners in Kumba, Cameroon using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the theoretical framework. The ultimate goal was to determine how at risk learners were of contracting HIV/AIDS. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive, explorative and correlational research design was adapted; using self-designed questionnaires for data collection. Respondents were sampled through proportionally stratified simple random sampling resulting in 480 (240 male and 240 female) grade 10 to grade 12 learners from two participating high schools. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the SPSS version 12 software program. Most learners were knowledgeable about HIV transmission; the prevention of HIV/AIDS; and sexual risk behaviours pertaining to HIV transmission. Learners also manifested positive attitudes towards PLWHA. Most learners did not perceive themselves to be at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Up to 52,3% who were sexually active, only 30,0% used condoms consistently. The respondents knew about condoms, but had poor attitudes towards condom use. Most respondents received information on HIV/AIDS, condoms and sexuality from magazines/newspapers and teachers. The findings could assist policy makers, programme planners and educators in developing and implementing programmes to improve the health of adolescents. The perceived barriers to condom use and modifying factors should be addressed into consideration in designing any policy geared towards controlling risk exposure to HIV/AIDS among youths in Kumba, Cameroon.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die studie handel oor die belewing van die onderwyser-leerlingrelasies deur die senior sekondere skoolleerling. Bepaalde faktore uit die literatuur blyk 'n invloed uit te oefen op onderwyserleerlingrelasies, naamlik opvoedingsklimaat, opvoedingstyl en intermenslikheid van die onderwysers. Onderwyser-leerlingrelasies word deur 'n outokratiese opvoedingstyl en onwarme opvoedingsklimaat benadeel. 'n Betroubare meetinstrument is ontwikkel en in 'n empiriese ondersoek op standerd 6- tot 10-leerlinge afgeneem. Die resultate van die faktorontleding het getoon dat daar veral twee faktore is wat 'n invloed kan uitoefen op die onderwyser-leerlingrelasies, naamlik opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl van die onderwyser. Daar is ook bevind dat standerdgroepe en taalgroepe in hulle belewinge van die opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl verskil. Dit wil uit die resultate voorkom asof geslag 'n rol speel in leerlinge se belewing van opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl van die onderwyser. Norms is vir die vraelys bepaal deur routellings in staneges om te skakel. / This study concerns the experience of the teacher-student relationship by the senior secondary pupil. A literature study revealed that specific factors seem to influence teacher-student relationships, namely educational climate, educational style and the human nature of the teacher. An autocratic educational style and climate could harm teacher-student relationships. A reliable measuring instrument was developed and administered to standerd 6 to 10 pupils in an empirical study. The results of the factor analasys indicated that two major factors could influence the nature of the teacher-student relationship, namely educational climate and educational style of the teacher. The results also indicated a significant difference in standard groups' and language groups' experience of teacher-student relationships. It also appears from the results as if gender could play a significant role in pupils' experience of educational climate and educational style of the teacher. Norms were established for the questionnaire. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

This study’s purpose was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS and condom use, and sexual behaviours among senior secondary school learners in Kumba, Cameroon using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the theoretical framework. The ultimate goal was to determine how at risk learners were of contracting HIV/AIDS. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive, explorative and correlational research design was adapted; using self-designed questionnaires for data collection. Respondents were sampled through proportionally stratified simple random sampling resulting in 480 (240 male and 240 female) grade 10 to grade 12 learners from two participating high schools. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the SPSS version 12 software program. Most learners were knowledgeable about HIV transmission; the prevention of HIV/AIDS; and sexual risk behaviours pertaining to HIV transmission. Learners also manifested positive attitudes towards PLWHA. Most learners did not perceive themselves to be at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Up to 52,3% who were sexually active, only 30,0% used condoms consistently. The respondents knew about condoms, but had poor attitudes towards condom use. Most respondents received information on HIV/AIDS, condoms and sexuality from magazines/newspapers and teachers. The findings could assist policy makers, programme planners and educators in developing and implementing programmes to improve the health of adolescents. The perceived barriers to condom use and modifying factors should be addressed into consideration in designing any policy geared towards controlling risk exposure to HIV/AIDS among youths in Kumba, Cameroon.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die studie handel oor die belewing van die onderwyser-leerlingrelasies deur die senior sekondere skoolleerling. Bepaalde faktore uit die literatuur blyk 'n invloed uit te oefen op onderwyserleerlingrelasies, naamlik opvoedingsklimaat, opvoedingstyl en intermenslikheid van die onderwysers. Onderwyser-leerlingrelasies word deur 'n outokratiese opvoedingstyl en onwarme opvoedingsklimaat benadeel. 'n Betroubare meetinstrument is ontwikkel en in 'n empiriese ondersoek op standerd 6- tot 10-leerlinge afgeneem. Die resultate van die faktorontleding het getoon dat daar veral twee faktore is wat 'n invloed kan uitoefen op die onderwyser-leerlingrelasies, naamlik opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl van die onderwyser. Daar is ook bevind dat standerdgroepe en taalgroepe in hulle belewinge van die opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl verskil. Dit wil uit die resultate voorkom asof geslag 'n rol speel in leerlinge se belewing van opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl van die onderwyser. Norms is vir die vraelys bepaal deur routellings in staneges om te skakel. / This study concerns the experience of the teacher-student relationship by the senior secondary pupil. A literature study revealed that specific factors seem to influence teacher-student relationships, namely educational climate, educational style and the human nature of the teacher. An autocratic educational style and climate could harm teacher-student relationships. A reliable measuring instrument was developed and administered to standerd 6 to 10 pupils in an empirical study. The results of the factor analasys indicated that two major factors could influence the nature of the teacher-student relationship, namely educational climate and educational style of the teacher. The results also indicated a significant difference in standard groups' and language groups' experience of teacher-student relationships. It also appears from the results as if gender could play a significant role in pupils' experience of educational climate and educational style of the teacher. Norms were established for the questionnaire. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

For the past few years, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Chief Examiners’ reports on students’ performance in mathematics have indicated that some topics (e.g. concepts of latitude and longitude) have posed a major problem for students at the senior secondary school level. This poor achievement of students in understanding the topic may be associated with the traditional “chalk and talk” method that teachers use in teaching the concept. Education reforms in recent years, have advocated for a student-centred method of teaching; a method that allows individualstudent towork at his own pace or in groups. Various researchers have encouraged the use of different forms of ICT, such as computer-assisted instruction (CAI), in the teaching of mathematics to improve students’ learning of topics in mathematics perceived to be difficult. With all the efforts concentrated on improving students’ performance in mathematics, no research studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of CAI on students’ achievement and attitude towards the learning of the concepts of latitude and longitude in Nigerian secondary schools. The study employed pre-test, post-test non-equivalent control group, quasi-experimental design involving two groups: experimental group (162) and control group (158) research design to investigate the effect of the CAI method of teaching on 2nd year senior secondary school students’ achievement and attitude to latitude and longitude.Instruments for the research study were Achievement test in latitude and longitude (ATLL); questionnaire on students’ attitude to latitude and longitude (QSALL); semi-structured interview and class observations protocol. The instruments were validated, and found reliable via a pilot study before they were employed for the main study. Datacollectedwere analysed using both the descriptive and inferential statistics to answer the research questions and to test the stated null hypotheses. Results showed a statistically significant difference in the post-test mean scores of the experimental and the control groups, whereas there was no statistally significant difference in the pre-test mean scores of these two groups. In addition, the results revealed non- significant difference between the mean scores of girls and boys in the post-test. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between science students’ post-test mean scores and their counterparts in the arts and commercial classes, and there was no interactive effect related to treatment, gender and students’ subject area in the post-test. Specifically, the knowledge in this study has added another dimension to everyday experiences of students in mathematics when the software was used to teach the perceived difficult topics, and they were actively involved in the learning process through the use of CAI techniques. The study concludes with recommendations for future research, because even though it is limited to Ogun State, it has potential for future research to be undertaken by expanding its scope to cover many other states in Nigeria. This study also recommends that efforts be made to integrate the philosophy of CAI to the teaching curriculum in Nigeiran secondary schools. Furthermore, applications of the recommendations would be appropriate for the improvement to the teaching methodology of mathematics and other science-related subjects in Nigerian secondary schools / Mathematics Education / Ph. D. (MSTE)