This research set out to investigate the role that community radio can potentially play as a space in which young people engage with their own role as citizens and, in so doing, participate in discussions that seek to address social problems in a community divided by class, income, gender and race. The study examines how a local community radio station - Radio Grahamstown - developed a youth programme Y4Yin which the producers of the show and its audience came together to negotiate the meaning of citizenship. The study examines whether this interactive programme was able to function as something like a public sphere where in young people were able to develop a greater sense of agency, at least in the realm of citizenship. Using evidence gathered through focus group discussions with a group of young school-going leamers, interviews conducted with the producers of the show Y4Y, and drawing on Dahlgren's elaboration of a functional public sphere, the research concludes that the show provided a useful platform for Grahamstown high school students to develop their own notions of citizenship and to, at least partially and tentatively, build some 'bridges' across the vectors of socio-economic division in the town. However, the research also concludes that the Y4Y producers often failed to use a mode of address contemporary to the youth and often did not use production techniques congruent with young people's cultural tastes. This limited the programme's appeal and its potential as an enabler of discussion about notions of citizenship and as a platform for social bridging. In addition, because of the producers' control over the choice of topics put up for discussion, open interaction was more limited than could have been expected. In addition, the study also concludes that various limitations to the leamers' freedom of expression (including their fear that teachers might be listening in to the shows) inhibited the programme's role as a deliberative public sphere where issues could be aired, common ground found, and solutions discussed.

Hazards are an integral part of people-environment relationships. The impact of hazards locally and globally has become increasinglymore severe. particularly in the previous two decades. This is largely as a result of unwise human intervention in natural systems. The study of hazards at secondary school level affords valuable opportunities for learning about people-environment issues. This in turn, can promote a greater awareness of environmental problems. One of the most important current aims of Geographical Education is the development of critical thinking skills in pupils. Such skills are vital for equipping pupils with the necessary tools to understand and participate in solving the world's increasing human and environmental problems. The development of a critical faculty in pupils is best achieved by the use of learner-based participatory teaching strategies where pupils are involved in problem solving activities. Research has shown that British and South African Geography curricula reflect current thinking in Geographical education and learning theory. The 1992 Junior Secondary Geography Syllabus in line with these trends. includes a section for study on hazards. Hazards are presented primarily as case studies in modern Geographical texts. which is seen as one of the most effective ways of teaching hazards. Research however suggests that South African textbooks have certain shortcomings. notwithstanding the importance placed on textbooks by teachers in this country. This study investigated the extent to which case study teaching materials on hazards are optimising opportunities available for effective learning within an Environmental Paradigm. An evaluation methodology, which is believed to have value for use by other researchers, was developed to suit the specific requirements of the study. The study findings reveal a poor realisation of the current aims of Geographical Education and learning theory, regarding the South African teaching materials. Recommendations are made improvements in the development and use of local case teaching materials. Guidelines for the development of for study local materials are provided from case studies in British texts and from methods developed by the researcher.

The overall aim of the study was to study the relevance of educational provision in KwaZulu-Natal. There have been no vocationally orientated alternatives available in the schools of this province. The poor performance of our matriculants results in wide-spread media coverage. A further consideration in the formulation of the aims of this study was the decline in the socio-economic development of this province. It was postulated that the problems of high youth unemployment were related to the perceived irrelevance of educational provision. A basic needs approach for human development was adopted as the theoretical foundation for the study. The aims included a comparative examination of a selection of international systems of education from high and low-income economies of the world. Primary analysis was vis-a-vis a historical, legal, socio-economic, and structure of education analytical framework .. The secondary analysis was visa- vis a framework that included trends, critical issues and anticipated future developments or reforms in education. The analytical framework was applied stringently through-out the study. Consequently the data reduction process was cyclical and on-going. Data gathering process was done by means of a process of document collection supplemented by interviews with stakeholders and educators. Two questionnaires were designed for implementation at a critical stage of the study .. These two surveys focused on critical areas of relevant education in the region. Data reduction took place systematically the context of Chapters 3, 4 and 5. The emerging themes were concluded in a final summarising chapter. The findings indicated that the problems of relevance in KwaZulu-Natal were linked to a fragmented historical past. The perpetuation of irrelevance in education was however, associated with neo-ideological considerations. The study suggested that the provincial education department did not have the capacity to provide relevant education. A decline has taken place in the standards of education in the public school sector. The strength of the private sector of this province was concluded to be a factor of relevance. Further research in human resources development was critical for the future development of the province. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Comparative Education)

This study investigated the seemingly conflicting and incompatible ideological positions that post-apartheid South Africa appears to straddle. On the one hand, South Africa is an aspiring liberal democracy courtesy of its constitution of 1996, which is liberal in that it enshrines a wide range of rights and freedoms for the individual. On the other hand, the same constitution recognises the institution of traditional leadership, whose claim to power is hereditary and not by popular vote. Thus the study established that South Africa is an aspiring liberal democracy that is also heavily steeped in African traditions and cultures. It offered a rebuttal of the view that existence and recognition of traditional institutions of politics and governance in a liberal democracy is a fundamental contradiction. Drawing on the literature the study showed that liberal democracies such as Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), Belgium, The Netherlands and Spain, have had monarchies from time immemorial. But their monarchies are not a hindrance to either liberalism or liberal democracy. The study underscored the importance of Ubuntu as a socio-cultural discourse in South Africa, more so given that South Africa is an African country whose population is 80 per cent African. Concomitantly the study proposed a philosophy of education that amalgamates some aspects of liberal education with some aspects of African traditional education. Aspects of liberal education that were found to pertain to the amalgamation are ‘cultivating humanity’ and ‘narrative imagination’, while aspects of African traditional education are the values and principles implicit in Ubuntu, the latter understood as a humane normative concept. At a practical classroom level the study proposed that such an amalgamated philosophy of education would be attained through storytelling and the teaching of history through chronology and causation. As a form of ‘narrative’, storytelling reveals the finite in its fragile uniqueness and illustrates how the past influences and shapes the present, and how the present determines aspects of the past that are useful and meaningful today. Similarly the teaching of history through chronology and causation enables the students to organise their historical thought processes and construct their own probable historical narratives. The teaching of history through chronology and causation therefore offers the students multiple opportunities to gain a better understanding of historical events, and lessons that can be learn from such events. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

M.Cur. / The study started by establishing that there Is a need for further education for nurses in general. It'was further stated that due to increased technology and the need for patient care, effective further education becomes a priority. But the problem that remains Is how nurses could further their education In the circumstances of the current nature of their work, I.e. the lack of accessibility to flexible learning programmes, long working hours, staff shortfall, low staff morale and institutional constraints. The aim of this study Is to Investigate and report on the Web-based Instruction environment programme in Critical Care Nursing Science Education presented by Technikon Pretoria for nurses. The rationale led to .the formulation of the research question as: "To what extent can Web-based Instruction be used to facilitate a course in Critical Care Nursing Science Education at the Technikon Pretoria?" A literature review of the field of Web-based Instruction was undertaken. It was established that Web-based Instruction is an instructional strategy where the course presenter and the students are not in contact, and it can bridge the gap in tenns of time and space because of its flexibility and accessibility. The students and the course presenter generally reported positive experiences in the Web-based Instruction environment. Web-based Instruction is certainly not the only method for.all our teaching strategies, but it is a strategy that could be used tohelp course presenters to teach more effectively. In terms of the experiences of the students and the course presenter with regard to the Web-based Instruction environment as reported in this study, as well as the technological changes In education. it must be concluded that Web-based Instruction could be considered an acceptable Instructional method and that Critical Care Nursing Science education can be presented in this way...

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

M.Cur. / The manager is responsible for quality education, research and appropriate community service. The aim of this study is to provide guidelines for the purpose of excellent management of a nursing department at a distance education technikon with a view to facilitating the achievement of one of these responsibilities, that is to provide quality education. In South Africa increasing demands are being made on educational structures as everyone needs to be afforded the opportunity for education and training. This also implies demands on the training of nursing staff. Theoretical and vocational training are combined in technikon training. Therefore a nursing department at a distance education technikon should be managed excellent to meet all the demands. In an attempt to make nurse training more accessible, this study focuses on management in the context of a distance education technikon. The paradigmatic perspective guiding this study is described by means of metatheoretical, theoretical and methodological assumptions. The Nursing Theory for the Whole Person is used to state the methodological and theoretical assumptions. The methodological assumptions of this study are based on Botes's research model (1994), which implies that a functional approach has been used. In phase I of the research the experience of managers of distance education nursing departments are investigated and described on the basis of individual interviews. The data is used to formulate propositions to create a tentative conceptual framework. In phase II the experience of managers of departments at a distance education technikon is investigated and described by using a focus group interview. Propositions are formulated by using the data and, together with the statements from phase I, serve as a basis for creating a refined conceptual framework. In phase III of the research a conceptual framework based on the propositions from phase I and II as well as other literature, is described. From this the final conceptual framework is formulated. Phase IV, derived from phase III, sets out guidelines for managing a nursing department at a distance education technikon.

M.Ed. (Educational Linguistics) / With the use of English as a medium of instruction from senior primary upwards in the traditional schools, pupils experience problems related to lack of proficiency in English. This becomes evident when they have to express themselves, and then lack the appropriate vocabulary to use in different learning areas or subjects at school. Pupils seem to be underprepared for senior primary work. An academic support programme which will help upgrade the standard or level of proficiency is discussed at length. Partnership and team teaching among teachers affected by this problem are discussed. If this programme succeeds, the failure rate which has already drained the South African economy will be reduced. The study ends with recommendations that will hopefully help remedy the situation.

M.Ed. / The research question which is addressed in this study is the lack of functional reading and writing skills in a content subject such as Geography. The research was conducted with the assumption that most black students are lacking in the advanced literacy skills to learn Geography successfully. The rationale for the research is that if our education system wishes to improve learning skills and especially literacy amongst most black students the curriculum should put into practice effective reading and writing programmes in the teacher training colleges so that these skills are taught from the pre-primary schools up to matric as an on-going activity. The findings show that there is a large amount of rote learning without understanding of the learning content in the research sample, that they have limited vocabulary that contributes to poor self-expression and that some teachers are not well trained in the teaching of reading and writing skills across the curriculum.

D.Cur. (Professional Nursing Science ) / The nursing practice needs critical thinkers because of diverse and rapidly changing developments and desired outcomes in health care. These developments are based on health and informational changes, organisational and cultural change sin nursing education, changes in the scope o fpractice, and increasing patient acuity and the movement of patient care from acute care facility to community selling have increased demands for nurses to think critically, evaluate and quickly choose patient strategy. a need for effective clinical decision making and a need for clinical judgement (Sedlack, 1997:11). Old standards of simply being able to score well on standardized test of basic skills, though still appropriate. cannot be the sole means by which we judge the academic success or failure students. The implication of SAQA Act (/995) and the Education White Paper(1997) on transformation of higher education bring with them challenges for reaching and assessment of tertiary education graduates. The white paper stressed the importance of the development of the ability to think independently and with innovation. The South African Nursing Council (SANe, 1984:3) states explicitly in the philosophy about nursing education, that the development of critical analytically thinking is imperative. Therefore it is imperative for nurse educators to use specific assessment strategies that will assess if students have acquired critical thinking skills. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe strategies to assess critical thinking in a four year program leading to registration as a nurse (General, Psychiatry and Community) and Midwifery in South Africa)