The purpose of this study is to investigate teaching and learning practices in Grade nine Technology Education classrooms. However, this is to ensure the relationship between the existing Technology Education teaching and learning practices and the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) requirements. The study was conducted in three King William’s Town Senior Secondary schools. The research took the form of a qualitative interpretive case study focusing on a study sample of three Technology Education teacher participants. The qualitative methods used allowed the researcher to gather the data in order to describe and interpret teachers’ Technology Education instructional practices in Grade nine classrooms. The data was gathered by the observation of Technology Education lessons in the classrooms, through the interviews, as well as the examination of the learning area policy documents (mainly the lesson plans and the activities in the classrooms). In contrast to the past traditional curriculum, the outcomes-based RNCS proposes that teachers teach for understanding and concept development with emphasis on active learning, problem solving, reasoning and communicating technologically. To achieve the outcomes of the RNCS, teachers who are regarded as the “key contributors to the transformation of education in South Africa” need to be “qualified, competent, dedicated, caring and be able to fulfill the various roles outlined in the Norms and Standards for educators” (Department of Education, 2002a, p.9). vi It has been evident by the researcher that instructional practices are not aligned with curriculum expectations. The findings revealed two fundamental reasons for this, namely the teachers’ understanding of the RNCS is limited and teachers’ lack of confidence with regard to content knowledge for Technology Education teaching. Teacher competence relates to teachers having the content knowledge and the ability to use this knowledge pedagogically to ensure that the curriculum is thoroughly covered at all levels. It has been recommended in this study that teacher development needs to become a priority. It is vital, that programmes are developed to retrain Grade nine Technology Education teachers in-service.

It has been argued that assessing learner performance is considered to be one of the most important things a teacher can do to promote learners’ learning. The Mathematics and Physical Science guidelines on assessment make a distinction between ‘assessment of learning’ and ‘assessment for learning’. Both processes are seen to be complementary aspects of continuous assessment (CASS) practices which constitute 25% of the final year learner’s mark in the National Senior Certificate. How teachers understand these processes and how they achieve them during their CASS practices were the focus of the study. This was a qualitative study in which two senior secondary schools in the East London District in the Eastern Cape participated. The respondents were four grade 12 Physical Science and Mathematics teachers and two heads of department (HoDs). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis. There were five main findings. First, it was found that CASS assessment practices were skewed towards fulfilling accountability requirements of the Department of Education. Teachers focused on the Programme of Assessment (PoA) tasks and ignored other forms of assessment. Second, it appeared the use of the term ‘informal’ in the Department policy documents with regard to ‘assessment for learning’ encouraged teachers to treat informal assessment tasks as unimportant, not to be marked and recorded. In some cases assessment tasks were used to ‘occupy’ learners when teachers did not feel like teaching, so that learners would not be idle and disruptive in class. Third, some teachers did not set their own assessment tasks; they took previous papers and did cut and paste. Such a practice seemed to preclude assessment tasks that are tailor-made for particular learners. This practice also may undermine the alignment of learning outcomes and assessment standards. Fourth, moderation of CASS tasks was sometimes ignored and in other times done not strictly according to guidelines. These findings cast doubt on the validity and reliability of CASS marks. Finally, in most assessment for learning tasks, learners were not given feedback by teachers. This appears to undermine one of the most fundamental uses of assessment, which is feedback on performance that guides learning. It can be concluded that the CASS assessment practices did not reflect a balance between ‘assessment of learning’ and ‘assessment for learning’. This state of affairs seemed to be encouraged by the fact that district departmental support systems were too technicist and appeared to encourage teachers to do assessment to fulfil accountability purposes rather than for learners’ learning. It is recommended that research on assessment practices based on probability sampling for which results can be generalised to the target population should be carried out. It is further recommended that courses on assessment should be run for teachers in order to renew and/or give them assessment skills that will enable them to achieve a balance between assessment for learning and assessment of learning.

D.Ed. (Psychology of Education) / A democratic and prosperous society necessitates responsible behaviour from its members. The observation is often made that responsible behaviour is often absent or underdeveloped in society, especially amongst the schoolleaving youth. The development of responsible, well-trained schoolleavers is universally seen as the task of the school. This is because the development of responsibility is usually associated with the aims of the education process and the attainment of adulthood. It is at school that the opportunities may arise to teach, take and experience responsibility. Any of the activities at school may present opportunities which either contribute to the development of responsibility or inhibit it. Great emphasis is placed on the rights of children, yet too little is made of the opportunities which may assist in creating the perception amongst children that they are able to accept and act responsibly. The aspect of creating positive perception about a pupil's own ability is a very important aspect of education as a whole and should be developed to the fullest extent, in order teach and develop responsibility. Schools should take cognizance of this and endeavour to create a climate for pupils in which to accept responsibility. The invitational approach in education is based on the assumption of the perceptual tradition that all people have unrealized potential that may be developed within a climate of trust, intentionality, respect and optimism. In this approach all the participants in the educational process are regarded as responsible, capable and valuable. What teachers believe the pupils to be, they convey to them through their actions, words and the opportunities they present to them. These perceptions influence behaviour. It is therefore imperative that positive perceptions about pupils' ability to accept responsibility and to act independently are created and enhanced. The role of the school in the development of responsibility, the opportunities present for the development of pupils' acceptance of responsibility and the lack of responsible behaviour amongst school leavers, as indicated by employers, prompted the following questions: • does the school present pupils with opportunities to accept responsibility? • to what extent do pupils experience the opportunities to accept responsibility as such?

M.Cur. / The Government has committed itself to primary health care as the only way of providing an affordable health service to all the Inhabitants of the Republic of South Africa, namely by a partnership service between the State and the private sector. A team approach In the provision of primary health care is essential to ensure Its success. Eskom has a responsibility towards Its employees to ensure that the occupational health nurse receives the necessary training to enable her to provide an effective health service. Eskom has obtained permission to provide health services In accordance with Section 38A of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No 50 of 1978) and has committed Itself to give the occupational health nurse the necessary training for her extended role under Section 38A of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No 50 of 1978). Section 38A of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No 50 of 1978) authorises the occupational health nurse to do a physical examination, diagnose a physical defect and identify an illness in any person. The keeping of prescribed medicines and the supply and administering thereof by the occupational health nurse, subject to the prescribed conditions, as well as the promotion of family planning, are also authorised by the said Section 38A of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No 50 of 1978). An exploratory and descriptive study was done within a contextual framework, with the occupational health nurse, In-service training and the syllabus asthe maln concepts. The occurrence of health problems was thoroughly explored by means of statistics, a literature study and discussions with a panel of experts In Eskom. The learning needs of the occupational health nurses In Eskom were then investigated by means of a questionnaire. It was established that occupational health nurses In Eskom already possess sufficient knowledge In respect of certain health problems. Knowledge of these problems was made a prerequisite In the syllabus for In-service training for Section 38A of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No 50 of 1978). A syllabus was designed for the In-service training of the occupational health nurse in Eskom for Section 38A of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No 50 of 1978).

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Ed. (Psychology) / To adhere to present day demands, leadership in the primary as well as in the secondary schools requires a specific form of education and training to enable our youth to cope with these requirements. Educational authorities - especially school authorities- are therefore compelled to address the matter of training, identification and utilization of leaders in a different way. Leadership development should also therefore be part of the educational programme and not an accessory or fractional component thereof. Leaders should undergo training in such a way that leadership potential can be nurtured and exploited to the utmost. These goals could in particular be achieved if the theories in regard to systems, as well as specific approaches in regard to teaching and learning, are taken into account. For the above mentioned reasons this research was centred around the construction of a model for leadership development in the primary school. The specific aim of the model is to ensure that as many pupils as possible - if not all - will be involved in a long term leadership training programme. The reward for such a venture in the short term is directly linked to what a schools benefits can be in a number of ways ranging from assista?ce of teachers to the enhancement of the school's managerial structure. In the long term, of course, the ultimate benefit lies in the fact that our future leaders are secured on all levels of society. A theory generational approach was used in the design and description of the model for leadership development in the primary school. The methodology of Chinn & Jacobs (1987) was combined with that of Dickoff, James & Wiedenbach (1968) as well as that of Mouton & Marais (1992) in this process. The following steps were included in this combined approach a) The identification, definition and classification of concepts central to the model. Concepts were identified by utilizing two different methods a literature survey of the systems theory - a dictionary and literature survey of the concepts concerned ; The definition of concepts proceeded according to Wandelt's three-step method (In: Wandelt & Stewart, 1975), after which concepts were classified by means of the survey list of Dickoff, James & Wiedenbach (1968) b) The identification of the assumptions upon which the model is based c) The clarification of the aim and parameters of the model d) The formulation of relationship statements between concepts e) A description of the structure and processes inherent to the model. The description of the structure and process of the model was followed by an evaluation of the model by experts in their field. That was followed by the formulation of certain guidelines and conclusions concerning the model as well as the indication of specific shortcomings or limitations of the research. The research was concluded with recommendations referring to various aspects in connection with the field of study. 'The result of the study is a model for developing leadership in the primary school by involving all the pupils in the school on a continuous basis within the existing academic programme. It is possible to achieve the goals that have been set in the model, especially if all the teachers who are involved in the programme are well informed and motivated in regard to the ~rocess of leadership development within the framework of this model.

M.Ed. (Educational Linguistics) / The problem addressed in this research is the working hypothesis stating that teachers' tacit notions about individual writing development is related to their views on the pedagogy of writing. The rationale for the premise underlying the problem is that pedagogy is invariably based on teachers' conceptions of content and that unarticulated notions could accommodate conceptions which could in turn inhibit pedagogic activity, in this instance. the teaching of writing at higher capacity levels. The theory frame for this study includes readings in the phylogeny and ontogeny of writing. contemporary models of the teaching of writing and psycholinguistic theory on writing, as well as sociolinguistic views on the development and nature of writing. The theoretical premise for the research is based on Vygotskian principles of semiotics, the main ones being that writing as cultural tool and as sign impacts in a socio-cultural way on the signifiedand that the tool and sign as mediators are partners in intermental but especially also intramental functioning. The implications for pedagogy are that the meaningful teaching of writing skills and strategies could enhance mental activity (cognition) and communication. The nature of the research question presupposes a microgenetic study as format. which in turn directs the research to protocol interviews, on-site observations and analysis of documents. much of which will be of qualitative interpretive nature. A group of 16 teachers will be studied. with the microgenetic analyses focusing on three cases, selected in a stratified way. The findings of the inquiry indicate that there seems to be a relationship between the ontogeny and the pedagogy of writing, because the teachers involved in the inquiry emphasize the use of the prosthetic device, both in their own writing and in their instructional design and this is the way they were taught to write. It was also found that the teachers are deficient with regard to knowledge of the cognitive nature, the structure and the pedagogy of writing. The teachers were also found to have a positive attitude towards writing. despite the fact that their writing proficiency is severely impaired by a lack of knowledge of writing strategies as well as linguistic incompetence in English

M.Ed. / In die orienterende inleiding van hierdie hoofstuk is aangetoon dat rekeningkundige vaardighede en tegnieke vir die modern besigheidsomgewing baie belangrik is. Hierdie vaardighede en tegnieke is egter nie slegs vir besighede belangrik nie, maar ook vir elke individu in die samelewing. Daar is verder aangetoon dat daar 'n aansienlike tekort aan opgeleide rekeningkundiges uit die etniese (swart) bevolkingsgroepe is. Die noodsaaklikheid van die regstelling van die demografiese wanbalans in die rekeningkundige beroepe, is ook genoem. Die navorser het beklemtoon dat daar faktore bestaan, wat die leer van rekeningkunde reeds op sekondere skoolvlak beinvloed. Hierdie faktore dra moontlik daartoe by dat daar 'n groot tekort aan veral swart rekeningkundiges in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika is. In hoofstuk 2 het die navorser die relevansie wat sekere faktore vir die leer van rekeningkunde het, beskryf. Die faktore wat deur Gagne geidentifiseer is, is as uitgangspunt gebruik. Die navorser het self sekere faktore, as subfaktore van Gagne se faktore, geldentifiseer, aangesien daar in die literatuur voorheen geen spesifieke afbakening geskied het nie. In hoofstuk 3 is die data-insamelingmetode, sowel as die werklike insameling van data, bespreek. Die ingesamelde data is getranskribeer, op rekenaar ingelees, drukstukke is voorberei en deur middel van 'n datamatriks geanaliseer. Die faktore wat deur die respondente as belangrik vir die leer van rekeningkunde beskou is, is as navorsingsresultaat beskryf. Uit die analisering van die navorsingsdata, paragrawe 3.9.1 tot 3.9.6 hierbo, blyk dit asof daar enkele baie belangrike faktore, wat die leer van rekeningkunde beinvloed, in die praktyk voorkom. Hierdie faktore kan veral in die volgende kategorie of groepe ingedeel word: algemene 98 rekeningkundige voorkennis, onderrigtaal, persoonlike eienskappe van die leerder; die skool, die klaskamer en die onderwyser. In hoofstuk 4 word die inligting uit die twee navorsingsbronne, naamlik die literatuurondersoek en die onderhoude, met mekaar vergelyk om sodoende die werklike faktore wat die leer van rekeningkunde beInvloed, to identifiseer.

M.Ed. (Media Studies) / The twentieth century is characterised by technological development, and even more by electronic development. It is therefore logical that the computer is increasingly used in the labour market and at home. This puts greater pressure on schools to educate and train pupils to attain computer literacy. As it appears that teachers are insufficiently trained to convey these skills, there is a definite need for in-service training regarding computer literacy. The function and task of the media centre teacher are such that he is the most suitable person to present this in-service training. In-service training is non-formal and andragogically grounded. The presentation of in-service training must .therefore be based on specific principles. To be of any value it must be directed at the teacher's professional needs. These needs determine that in-service training may be presented from the macro-, meso- and microlevels. The direct involvement of the media centre teacher in computer literacy occurs at microlevel and it is indicated that In-service training and guidance are related matters. The computer, as an aid and a medium, has qualities which make it useful in education. Although the computer has many advantages as an educational medium, many didactitions object to its being regarded as a super medium. At present there are many limitations which curtail the maximal usage of the computer as an educational medium. The concept of computer literacy is non-static and differs from culture to culture and person to person; consequently a variety of knowledge and skills is needed for computer literacy. An effort has, however, been made to identify the generally valid knowledge and skills. A model of the guidance activity, as a teaching skill, has been applied to computer usage. The given reference framework and guidance activity are followed by guidelines for the media center teacher's androgenic guidance task regarding computer literacy.

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract