Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / One of the fundamental characteristics of technology is its ever-changing nature with the continuous release of new models and products almost on a daily basis. It is interesting to note that these new technologies seem to appeal more to the youth than to the old. This might explain why the content of some Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as films, TV, and games, are sometimes released with well-defined age ratings, in order to provide guidance to parents and guardians on the suitability of such content for their children. What is surprising is that there are age restrictions for the content presented by ICT devices, but devices themselves do not have any defined age restriction. For example, movies which can be played on computers, have a well-defined age restriction; but computers themselves do not have any defined age restriction. This non-definition of age ratings for ICT devices is certainly a general concern, but it is also a major concern for the education domain which needs to determine the minimum age from which learners should be allowed to use ICTs at school. This problem of the non-definition of age ratings for ICT devices serves as a motivation for this study, whose aim is to determine the factors affecting educators’ perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to use ICTs at school. The research objectives unfolding from this aim are: i) To select appropriate theories and models on the factors affecting educators’ perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to use ICTs at school; ii) To design a conceptual model of the factors affecting educators’ perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to use ICTs at school; iii To empirically test the above conceptual model of the factors affecting educators’perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to use ICTs at school; and iv) To make recommendations on the design of eLearning initiatives in schools based on the results of the current study. These four objectives were achieved as follows through the content analysis of existing literature and a survey of 70 primary and secondary school educators from the Camperdown magisterial district in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa: i) Specific personality and child development theories were selected as the theoretical foundation of this study; ii) The conceptual model proposed in this study gave rise to the following hypotheses: The demographics of an educator affect the full functionality, the health, and the self-actualisation of his or her personality as well as his or her perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to start using ICTs at school. The full functionality, the health, and the self-actualisation of the personality of an educator all affect his or her perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to start using ICTs at school; iii) The empirical testing of the above hypothesized model yielded the following results: the grade or class taught by an educator is the only demographic factor that affects the full functionality, the health, and the self-actualisation of his or her personality; the subject specialisation of an educator is the only demographic variable that affects his or her perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to start using ICTs at school; the full functionality, the health, and the self-actualisation of the personality of an educator all affect his or her perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to start using ICTs at school; and iv) One of the recommendation of this study is that eLearning pilot projects be designed in ways that clearly consider differences between educators from various subject specialisations. This study identified the need for more research on the effect of personality on the perceptions of educators on the age from which learners should be allowed to start using ICTs, not only at school as it is the case for this study, but also at home. The main contribution of this research is to have found that educators’ personality has an effect on their perceptions on the age from which learners should be allowed to start using ICTs at school, compared to the literature reviewed by this study which seems to be silent on the relationship between the personality of educators and the determination of the age when learners should be allowed to start using ICTs at school.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Accounting Degree: Management Accounting, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Empirical evidence highlighted the problem of underprepared graduates who lack critical thinking skills required in the work environment. Institutions of higher learning have been mandated to provide graduates with these critical thinking skills. However, in order to achieve this mandate, teaching, and, in particular, assessment practices at institutions of higher learning would need to be rethought and transformed. Integrated assessments that mirror real life situations are particularly useful in the development of critical thinking skills. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the integrated assessment conducted with the first-year ECP students in the Department of Management Accounting at the Durban University of Technology has enhanced the critical thinking skills of these students. This descriptive and inferential study employed a quantitative strategy, with a quasi-experimental, pre-test, post-test, non-equivalent group design and it was longitudinal in nature. The target population consisted of two groups: all the first-year students registered on the Extended Curriculum Programme in the Department of Management Accounting in 2014, which was approximately 40 students (experimental group); and all the first-year students registered on the Extended Curriculum Programme in the Department of Financial Accounting in 2014, which was approximately 40 students (control group). All five categories of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal UK edition were administered to both the control and experimental groups in a pre-test and post-test measure. However, only the experimental group was exposed to the integrated assessment. The aim was to measure the change, if any, in the students’ critical thinking skills over a period of time. The findings revealed a statistical significance in the overall post-test scores in favour of the experimental group. The norm group comparisons also revealed that, after the completion of the integrated assessment, the experimental group’s post-test mean scores were higher than the US grade 12 students and were closely matched to the US first year of 4 year colleges. In addition, the experimental group’s pre-and post-test mean scores were closely matched to the SA norm group. These results suggested that the experimental group experienced gains in their critical thinking ability in the post-integrated assessment. It is, therefore, recommended that integrated assessments, which are based on real world problems, should be conducted in the first year and in subsequent years. It is not always possible for universities of technology to offer cooperative education/ in-service training to all students. Contextualized integrated assessments, therefore, bridge this gap by allowing students to experience workplace requirements without physically being in the work environment.

M. Tech. Education / The intention of this study was to establish the use of the Annual National Assessment (ANA) results in improving learner performance in schools and to further establish the understanding and interpretation of the national assessment policy at school level and at circuit/district level in General Education and Training (GET) settings of Casteel schools, Bohlabela district. The literature supported the fact that available ANA results have identified certain challenges which require specific interventions to improve current skills in Literacy and Numeracy. Despite these concerns and the fact that the results do not achieve the set target of ensuring that 60 percent of learners achieve a pass mark of 50 percent, the results of the study indicated that the primary teachers, principals and circuit/district officials remained generally positive in their perception of turning the situation around.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Masters of Health Sciences in Emergency Medical Care, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Clinical practicum remains an integral part of training and a vital component of the emergency medical care curriculum that takes place in a realistic and complex emergency care environment. Clinical practicum should provide students with the opportunity to combine cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills to develop competencies to prepare the qualifying practitioner for demands of pre-hospital emergency care in the real world. The aim of this study was to explore the multidimensional aspects of the clinical practicum experience of ALS paramedic students in the Western Cape through the lens of a qualitative research design. The study involved exploring the experience of paramedic students in the clinical practice placement. In addition, the views of paramedic graduates were also explored, to ascertain whether the placement experience adequately prepared them for practice. An analysis of the clinical practice documents utilised in the training of ALS paramedic students was conducted with particular reference to identify correlations with relevant literature. In addition, it was necessary to identify how clinical practice manifested itself, not only in what students and graduates express but also how it was coordinated and conveyed in a professional work related context, against the backdrop of the work integrated learning framework. Using a case study design, focus group interviews were conducted with final year EMC students from CPUT and CCA students from the Western Cape CEC. This was followed with one on one interview with paramedic graduates. Further to this, clinical practice documents were analysed to triangulate the data. This study revealed that the clinical practice learning objectives for paramedic students were not adequately achieved and paramedic graduates felt ill prepared for independent practice. These discrepancies were attributed to the complex issues both in theory and practice. The study provided a number of recommendations for improving the clinical training experience, such that paramedic graduates who enter the complex and challenging world of EMC are better prepared. / M

Thesis (MPhil (Modern Foreign Languages. Hypermedia for Language Learning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The high penetration rate of mobile devices all over the world, and especially in South Africa, has significantly increased the relevance of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL). The objective of this study is to ascertain the viability of incorporating MALL technology to enhance the language learning experience of South African university students who are studying a foreign language. The students enrolled for the beginners’ German course at Stellenbosch University served as participants in this study, and surveys and interviews were used to establish their exposure to mobile devices, as well as their experiences in relation to the incorporation of Short Messages Service (SMS) into their German course. The results indicate that although the vast majority of students are mobile device owners, only a few students will embrace the idea of using these devices to improve their language skills without any incentive. Without constant motivation and encouragement to use mobile technologies, and the willingness from everybody involved in both teaching and learning a foreign language, mobile technology as a support structure cannot be implemented successfully. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Weens die hoë indringingsaanslag van mobiele toestelle regoor die wêreld, en so ook in Suid-Afrika, het die relevansie van Mobiele Ondersteuning vir Taal Onderrig (MOTO) aansienlik verhoog. Die uitkoms van die studie is om te bepaal wat die lewensvatbaarheid is, van die inkorporering van MOTO tegnologie om die taal aanleer ervaring van Suid-Afrikaanse studente wat `n vreemde taal aanleer te verhoog. Die studente wie geregistreer was vir die Duits beginners klas by die universiteit van Stellenbosch, het gedien as deelnemers aan die study. Opnames en onderhoude was gebruik om die studente se blootstelling ten opsigte van mobiele toestelle vas te stel, so ook hul ervaring van die inkorporering van kortboodskapdienste (SMSe) in die Duitse module. Die resultate toon dat alhoewel die meeste studente eienaars is van een of ander mobiele toestel, dat daar slegs `n paar studente is wat die konsep van die gebruik van hierdie toerusting vir die verbetering van taal vermoë, sonder enige insentief, aangryp. Sonder konstante motivering en aanmoediging om mobiele toestelle te gebruik, en die bereidheid van almal wie betrokke is in beide die leer en die onderrig van ’n vreemde taal, sal die implementering van mobiele tegnologie as ’n ondersteuningsmiddel nie suksesvol geskied nie.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Parent education programmes have been identified as intervention strategies which address numerous social problems in South Africa. This study aimed to highlight the importance of empowering parents through knowledge and skill development in order to positively invest in the future generations of South Africa. Early childhood development is a field which has emerged on the agenda of the helping professions, such as social work, psychology and education. The development of parent education programmes is an example of advancement in this field. The topic of parent education is noteworthy in light of the growing need to empower parents to raise well-developed children. The development of effective parent education programmes is beneficial to both the parents and practitioners. However, practitioners are seldom given the opportunity to reflect on their own professional experiences of delivering these programmes. Therefore, there is a need to investigate and analyse these experiences to potentially improve programme delivery. Consequently, the aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of practitioners’ experiences of facilitating programmes aimed towards early childhood development by utilising social learning and cognitive behavioural approaches. A combination of a quantitative and qualitative research approach was used in this study. Exploratory and descriptive research designs were implemented in order to describe the social phenomenon of parent education programmes for early childhood development. Practitioners delivering parent education programmes in the Cape Metropole in South Africa were selected to participate in the study. Data was collected during individually administered interviews by means of a semi-structured questionnaire. Practitioners were given the opportunity to share their reflections (which are qualitative in nature) on their experiences of facilitating programmes aimed at early child development. The main findings of this study indicated that there is a need for practitioners to be adequately trained to deliver programmes which are engaging and relevant to the needs of parents. Group-based and community programmes were found to be effective platforms for this intervention. The nature and components of parent education programmes, as outlined in the literature, provide clear guidelines for organisations and practitioners wishing to deliver such programmes and it is recommended that they be incorporated into facilitators’ training sessions. Furthermore, the findings of this study are significant for practitioners facilitating parent education programmes as they confirmed that the effectiveness of the implementation of such programmes are linked to the delivery by and experiences of practitioners. An effort should therefore be made to enhance these experiences by endorsing the use of best practice methods for programme delivery. South Africa has recently begun to explore the innovative avenue of parent education through group-based parenting programmes. The enhancement of parents’ capabilities through these programmes are seen as an asset for promoting social development and advancing legislation on childhood development. The conclusions drawn in this study indicate a need for further research into the topic of parent education programmes in South Africa. Consequently, recommendations are provided for further research that would complement this study and elaborate on its findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oueropleidingsprogramme word beskou as ʼn intervensiestrategie wat talryke maatskaplike probleme in Suid-Afrika aanspreek. Hierdie studie het dit ten doel gestel om te wys hoe belangrik dit is om ouers te bemagtig deur die ontwikkeling van hul kennis en vaardighede om so ʼn positiewe bydrae tot die toekomstige generasies van Suid-Afrikaners te maak. Vroeë kinderontwikkeling is ʼn veld waaraan daar toenemend aandag geskenk word in die hulpverleningsprofessies, byvoorbeeld maatskaplike werk, die sielkunde en die onderwys. ʼn Voorbeeld van vordering wat al op hierdie gebied gemaak is, is die ontwikkeling van oueropleidingsprogramme. Hierdie programme is van belang om die toenemende behoefte daaraan om ouers te bemagtig om goed ontwikkelde kinders groot te maak, aan te spreek. Die ontwikkeling van effektiewe oueropleidingsprogramme is voordelig vir sowel ouers as praktisyns. Praktisyns word egter selde die geleentheid gegun om te reflekteer op hul eie professionele ervaring as fasiliteerders van sodanige programme. Daarom is daar ʼn behoefte daaraan om hierdie ervarings te ondersoek en te analiseer om die lewering van hierdie programme moontlik te verbeter. Na aanleiding van hierdie behoefte, was die doel van hierdie studie om ʼn beter begrip te vorm van die praktisyns se ervaring van die fasilitering van programme vir vroeë kinderontwikkeling deur van die sosiale leer- en kognitiewe gedragsbenaderings gebruik te maak. ʼn Kombinasie van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenaderings is in hierdie studie gevolg. ʼn Verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp is toegepas om die sosiale fenomeen van oueropleidingsprogramme vir vroeë kinderontwikkeling te beskryf. Praktisyns van oueropleidingsprogramme wat in die Kaapse Metropool in Suid-Afrika aangebied word, is gekies om aan die studie deel te neem. Data is ingesamel tydens individuele onderhoude deur middel van semi gestruktureerde vraelyste. Praktisyns is die geleentheid gebied om te reflekteer (ʼn kwalitatiewe benadering) op hulle ervaring van die fasilitering van programme wat gerig is op vroeë kinderontwikkeling. Die hoofbevindinge van hierdie studie dui op ʼn behoefte vir praktisyns om doeltreffend opgelei te word om programme aan te bied wat aantreklik en relevant is vir ouers om hulle behoeftes aan te spreek. Daar is bevind dat groepsgebaseerde en gemeenskapsprogramme effektiewe platforms vir hierdie intervensie is. Die aard en komponente van oueropleidingsprogramme, soos uiteengesit in die literatuur, bied duidelike riglyne vir organisasies en praktisyns wat sodanige programme wil aanbied en daar word aanbeveel dat dit in opleidingsessies vir fasiliteerders inkorporeer word. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie is verder van belang vir fasiliteerders van oueropleidingsprogramme aangesien dit bevestig dat die geslaagdheid van die programme gekoppel is aan praktisyns se lewering en ervaring daarvan. ʼn Poging moet dus aangewend word om hierdie ervaring te verbeter deur praktisyns aan te moedig om die “beste praktyk”-metodes te gebruik wanneer hulle programme aanbied. Suid-Afrika het onlangs ʼn innoverende benadering tot oueropleiding begin volg, naamlik om sodanige programme in groepsverband aan te bied. Die verbetering van ouers se bekwaamheid deur middel van hierdie programme word beskou as ʼn manier om vooruitgang in maatskaplike ontwikkeling te bewerkstellig en wetgewing oor kinderontwikkeling te bevorder. Die gevolgtrekkings waartoe daar in hierdie studie gekom word, dui aan dat daar ʼn behoefte vir verdere navorsing oor oueropleidingsprogramme in Suid-Afrika bestaan. Gevolglik word daar ter afsluiting aanbevelings gemaak ten opsigte van verdere navorsingsgeleenthede wat hierdie studie kan aanvul en op sy bevindinge kan uitbrei.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / On t.p.: Doctor of Philosophy in Education Policy Studies. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this dissertation I critically explore educational leadership and management practices in relation to how current school principals lead and manage schools in a democratic society. The aim of this study is to explore to what extent school leaders and managers are transformative in their approach to deepening democracy in schools. In order to contextualise my understanding, I choose to tell my story. Therefore, I give a narrative account of my personal career experience as a teacher, and specifically as a school principal. I argue that educational leaders and managers continue to think and act according to traditional notions of leading and managing school practices. I contend that educational leadership and management practices ought to change in order for schools to transform into institutions implementing democratic practices in a more thoroughgoing way. I argue that current understandings of leadership and management in schools seem to be embedded in positivist tendencies that undermine transformative practices in schools and that positivist leadership and management engender thin forms of democratic school practices. I show how positivist theories of educational leadership and management connect with indefensible forms of leading and managing, namely skewed authority, gender discrimination and exclusion of cultural diversity. I contend that school leadership and management practices ought to be reconceptualised in relation to a framework of democratic citizenship education. Cultivating democratic citizenship education with reference to the seminal thoughts of Jürgen Habermas, Seyla Benhabib and Iris Marion Young will hopefully strengthen my argument for social justice, renewal and redress in school practices. These theorists have shaped the thinking and actions of educational leaders and managers to provide a critical understanding of transformative educational leadership and management practices in schools. Such ideas conceptualise a critical understanding of deliberative leadership and management practices as constructs for deepening democracy in schools. It is within this context that the dissertation explores a pathway towards deepening democracy in schools through a deliberative leadership and management approach. Such an approach has the potential to cultivate communicative democratic moments in educational leadership and management practices through engaging the voices of “others”. For deliberative leadership and management practice to manifest itself, I propose that conditions ought to be established whereby the democratic rights of “others” as incorporated voices in classroom pedagogy, school management and school governance engender deeper citizenship through the inclusion of these “other” previously marginalised voices. By embracing the voices of “others”, the potential is created to move towards deepening democratic leadership and management practices which can possibly engender “schools of hope” for the future. Keywords: Educational leadership, educational management, positivist, critical, citizenship, deliberative democracy, communicative democracy / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif is ʼn kritiese ondersoek na skoolhoofde se onderwysleierskap en -bestuurspraktyke in die huidige demokratiese bestel. Die doel van die studie is om die mate van transformatiewe integrasie van demokrasie onder skoolleiers en -bestuurders te verken. Ek het besluit om my eie storie te vertel, dus gee ek ʼn verhalende verslag van my loopbaan as ʼn onderwyser, en spesifiek as ʼn skoolhoof. Ek beweer dat leiers en bestuurders in die onderwys nog steeds die tradisionele opvattings oor skoolleierskap en bestuur huldig, en dat hierdie opvattings hulle denke en optrede rig. Ek voer aan dat onderwysleierskap en bestuurspraktyke verander moet word sodat skole tot dieper, demokratiese praktyke kan transformeer. Ek argumenteer voorts dat dit voorkom asof huidige begrippe van leierskap en bestuur in skole in positivistiese tendense vasgelê is wat transformatiewe praktyke in skole ondermyn en dat positivistiese leierskap en bestuur “dun” vorme van demokratiese skoolpraktyke voortbring. Ek toon aan hoe positivistiese teorieë van onderwysleierskap en -bestuur verband hou met onverdedigbare wyses van lei en bestuur, naamlik verwronge gesag, genderdiskriminasie en die uitsluiting van diverse kulture. Ek voer aan dat onderwysleierskap en -bestuurspraktyke geherkonseptualiseer behoort te word binne ʼn raamwerk van demokratiese burgerskapsopvoeding. Die ontwikkeling van demokratiese burgerskapsopvoeding wat onder meer voortspruit uit die seminale denke van Jürgen Habermas, Seyla Benhabib en Iris Marion Young, versterk my betoog vir sosiale geregtigheid, vernuwing en herstel binne die skoolpraktyke. Hierdie teoretici vorm die denke en optrede van leiers en bestuurders in die onderwys as deurslaggewende begrippe van transformatiewe onderwysleierskap en bestuurspraktyke in skole. Sulke idees konseptualiseer ʼn deurslaggewende begrip van oorlegplegende leierskap en bestuurspraktyke as konstrukte vir grondliggende integrasie van demokrasie in skole. Binne hierdie konteks ondersoek die proefskrif ʼn werkwyse vir ʼn grondliggende integrasie van demokrasie in skole deur oorlegplegende leierskap en bestuur. So ʼn benadering het die potensiaal om kommunikatiewe demokratiese momente in onderwysleierskap en -bestuurspraktyke aan te moedig deur na die stemme van die “ander” te luister. Ek stel voor dat, ten einde demokratiese leierskap- en bestuurspraktyke te vestig, toestande geskep moet word waardeur die demokratiese regte van die “ander”, wat voorheen gemarginaliseer was, in klaskamerpedagogie en skoolbestuur ingesluit moet word om “dieper” burgerskap te verseker. Met ander woorde, deur na die stemme van die “ander” te luister, word die potensiaal geskep om verdiepende demokratiese leierskap en bestuurspraktyke aan te moedig sodat “skole met hoop” tot stand gebring kan word. Trefwoorde: Onderwysleierskap, onderwysbestuur, positivisties, kritiese, burgerskap, oorlegplegende demokrasie

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the past drama education was an uncommon occurrence in South African schools, limited to the elective subject Speech and Drama at secondary level, which was only offered in a few schools in some of the provinces. The assumption is made that the introduction of Arts and Culture as one of the eight learning areas in Curriculum 2005 has greatly impacted on drama education at school level. This study aims to determine the state of affairs with regards to drama education within the current (2011) education system by investigating the nature, implementation and outcomes of drama curricula in South African schools. In the context of the far-reaching changes that has occurred in South African education since 1994, a historical overview of education before 1994 is given to act as a backdrop for a discussion of the process of education reform. The shift to an outcomes-based education approach is investigated by defining and discussing it in relation to the chosen South-African approach; identifying and discussing the theories and philosophies underpinning an outcomes-based approach to education; and looking at the national curriculum from its introduction as Curriculum 2005 until the recent revision of the National Curriculum Statement (Grades R-9), which will be phased into schools from 2012 as the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement. A comparative evaluation of the drama curricula in the current (2011) National Curriculum Statement (Grade R-12) and the drama curricula in the revised Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement serves as the means to determine the nature, content and outcomes of the drama curricula. The Africanisation of the drama curricula is investigated and it becomes apparent that indigenous knowledge, traditions, customs and cultural practices are successfully included in the drama curricula. The comparative evaluation also leads to the conclusion that the revised national curriculum is a definite improvement on the status quo. Through the investigation of the nature and outcomes of the different drama curricula, it is possible to identify specific requirements for the successful implementation of drama curricula. With these requirements in mind possible challenges and/or problem areas with regards to the implementation of drama curricula are determined and discussed. These challenges and/or problem areas are the following: the curriculum itself, the socio-economic circumstances of schools and learners, language issues, the status of drama education at school level, time allocation and management, funding and infrastructure, and teacher training. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Drama-opleiding op skoolvlak was in die verlede ’n nie-algemene verskynsel en is hoofsaaklik beperk tot die keusevak Spraak en Drama wat slegs in sekere provinsies by ’n beperkte aantal skole op sekondêre vlak aangebied is. Die veronderstelling word gemaak dat die bekendstelling van Kuns en Kultuur as een van die agt verpligte leerareas binne Kurrikulum 2005 ’n geweldige impak op drama-opleiding op skoolvlak gehad het en steeds het. Hierdie studie stel dit gevolglik ten doel om die stand van drama-opleiding binne die huidige (2011) onderwysstelsel te bepaal deur ’n ondersoek te loods na die aard, implementering en uitkomste van dramakurrikula in Suid-Afrikaanse skole. In die lig van die ingrypende veranderinge wat sedert 1994 binne Suid-Afrikaanse onderwys plaasgevind het, bied die studie eerstens ’n historiese oorsig van onderwys voor 1994 wat as agtergrond dien vir ’n bespreking van die onderwyshervormingsproses. Die oorskakeling na ’n uitkomsgebaseerde benadering tot onderwys word in oënskou geneem deur die gekose Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysbenadering te omskryf en te bespreek; die filosofieë en teorieë onderliggend tot ’n uitkomsgebaseerde onderwysbenadering binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te identifiseer en te bespreek; en die nasionale skoolkurrikulum in oënskou te neem vanaf die bekendstelling van Kurrikulum 2005 tot en met die voorgestelde hersienings van die Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring (Grade R-12) wat vanaf 2012 in skole infaseer word en bekend staan as die Kurrikulum- en Assesseringsbeleidverklaring. Deur middel van ’n vergelykende evaluering van die dramakurrikula in die huidige (2011) Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring (Grade R-12) en die dramakurrikula in die hersiene Kurrikulum- en Assesseringsbeleidverklaring, word die omvang, inhoud en uitkomste van die dramakurrikula bepaal. Daar word ondersoek ingestel na die Afrikanisering van die dramakurrikula en dit word duidelik dat inheemse kennis, tradisies, gebruike en kultuurpraktyke op suksesvolle wyse binne die onderskeie dramakurrikula ingesluit word. Na afloop van die vergelykende evaluering word die afleiding gemaak dat die mees onlangse hersiening van die nasionale kurrikulum ’n definitiewe verbetering op die status quo is. Dit is moontlik om na aanleiding van die aard en uitkomste van die onderskeie dramakurrikula spesifieke vereistes vir die suksesvolle implementering van die dramakurrikula te identifiseer. In die lig van hierdie vereistes word moontlike uitdagings en/of probleemareas ten opsigte van die implementering van die dramakurrikula vasgestel en bespreek. Hierdie uitdagings en/of probleemareas is die volgende: die kurrikulum self, sosioekonomiese omstandighede van skole en leerders, taalkwessies, die status van dramaopleiding op skoolvlak, tydstoedeling en -bestuur, befondsing en infrastruktuur, en onderwyseropleiding.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Municipalities are entrusted with the responsibility of providing sustainable social services to local communities. Issues of capacity to facilitate the delivery of such services feature prominently in these municipalities where a number of communities have expressed their frustration and even anger at the slow pace of delivery of services, or the absence of such service delivery. The reported failure by senior municipal managers to facilitate the delivery of the needed services to communities motivated this investigation. In particular, the possible contribution of leadership learning in the developmental needs of senior managers in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality was focused upon. The main knowledge claim in this study is that the proven lack of competencies and skills of senior municipal managers have much to do with the weak delivery of acceptable services to communities. Consequently, the study indicated the need to identify the developmental needs of senior municipal managers from a leadership learning perspective and to implement developmental interventions to possibly address such needs. The study was conducted in four phases. First, a number of pre-planning leadership learning questions were formulated, which were determined through document analyses and developing theoretical perspectives from review of relevant literature. Next, a needs assessment among senior managers was conducted. This phase was followed by the implementation of a planned intervention based on leadership learning principles. Finally, the potential success of the intervention was evaluated. The study revealed that although the municipality of Bushbuckridge has an acceptable policy framework that supports leadership learning, the leadership competencies and skills required for senior managers to facilitate delivery of municipal services to communities were lacking. The leadership intervention in this study had limited success due to systemic instabilities within the particular municipal system. The study showed that systemic stability appears to be essential for productive leadership development. It also showed that financial investment in leadership development or developmental interventions may contribute less to enhancing the performance of senior managers if a municipality lacks systemic stability. Given the reported large-scale systemic instability within local municipalities countrywide in South Africa, the results of this study indicate that capacity development initiatives are destined for failure if systemic issues are not addressed first. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Munisipaliteite is daarvoor verantwoordelik om volhoubare maatskaplike dienste aan plaaslike gemeenskappe te verskaf. Kwessies rakende die vermoë om sulke dienste te fasiliteer speel ʼn belangrike rol in munisipaliteite waar ʼn aantal gemeenskappe uitdrukking gegee het aan hul frustrasie en selfs woede oor die stadige pas waarteen dienste gelewer word of die afwesigheid van sulke dienslewering. Die gerapporteerde onvermoë van senior munisipale bestuurders om die vereiste dienste aan gemeenskappe te lewer het hierdie ondersoek gemotiveer. In die besonder is die kollig geplaas op die moontlike bydrae van leierskapleer in die ontwikkelingsbehoeftes van seniorbestuurders in die plaaslike munisipaliteit van Bosbokrand. Die belangrikste kennisaanspraak in hierdie studie is dat die bewese gebrek aan bevoegdhede en vaardighede van senior munisipale bestuurders grootliks toegeskryf kan word aan die swak lewering van aanvaarbare dienste aan gemeenskappe. Die studie het aangetoon dat daar ʼn behoefte bestaan om die ontwikkelingsbehoeftes van senior munisipale bestuurders vanuit die perspektief van leierskapsleer te identifiseer en om ontwikkelingsintervensies te implementeer om moontlik sulke behoeftes aan te spreek. Die studie is in vier fases uitgevoer. Eerstens is ʼn aantal voorafbeplanningsvrae rakende leierskapsleer geformuleer. Hierdie vrae is deur dokumentanalise en die ontwikkeling van teoretiese perspektiewe van ʼn tersaaklike literatuuroorsig gegenereer. Daarna is ʼn behoeftebepaling onder seniorbestuurders gedoen. Hierdie fase is gevolg deur die implementering van ʼn beplande intervensie gebaseer op leierskapsleerbeginsels. Laastens is die potensiële sukses van die intervensie geëvalueer. Die studie het aan die lig gebring dat alhoewel die munisipaliteit van Bosbokrand ʼn aanvaarbare beleidsraamwerk het wat leierskapsleer ondersteun, die vereiste leierskapsbevoegdehede en -vaardighede vir seniorbestuurders om die lewering van munisipale dienste aan gemeenskappe te fasiliteer ontbreek het. Die sukses van die leierskapsintervensie in hierdie studie was beperk vanweë sistemiese onstabiliteit in die besondere munisipale stelsel. In die studie is daar aangetoon dat sistemiese stabiliteit noodsaaklik is vir produktiewe leierskapsontwikkeling en verder dat geldelike investering in leierskapsontwikkeling of ontwikkelingsintervensies waarskynlik minder tot die verbetering van senior bestuurders se prestasie sal bydra as sistemiese stabiliteit in ʼn munisipaliteit ontbreek. In die lig van die gerapporteerde grootskaalse sistemiese onstabiliteit in plaaslike munisipaliteite in Suid-Afrika dui die bevindinge van hierdie studie aan dat inisiatiewe vir die ontwikkeling van kapasiteit sal misluk as sistemiese vraagstukke nie eers aangepak word nie.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges have experienced considerable change in the past 20 years. Recently, these colleges have become the focal point of education and training, ever since the publication of the Green Paper on Post-School Education and Training in 2012, transferring the colleges to the higher education and training system. These colleges are expected to increase their enrolments from 650 000 to 2.5 million by 2030. Leaders in these institutions have been faced with constant challenges in a rapidly changing environment. It has been internationally acknowledged that in order for leaders at all levels of vocational education and training institutions to be capable of and effective in transforming their institutions, leadership development is essential. Even though a leadership development programme was advocated in the Green Paper on Further Education and Training in South Africa (RSA, 2012), this training was not mentioned specifically in the subsequent White Paper (RSA, 2014). This lack of leadership development prioritisation of leaders in this sector differs from governments in other countries where customised leadership development in this complex sector has not only been prioritised but has become a matter of urgency. The purpose of this study was thus to develop a leadership development curriculum framework specifically for leaders, present and future, of public TVET colleges in South Africa. These colleges have also been examined as activity systems with their cultural and historical influences, according to Engeström’s (1987) version of activity theory. Through interactive qualitative analysis (IQA), an interpretive methodology grounded in systems theory (Northcutt & McCoy, 2004) which uses an interpretive approach by means of focus group and individual interviews with different constituency populations, an attempt was made to gain an understanding of what challenges these college leaders face and what knowledge, skills, attributes and attitudes they may need to achieve the mandate of the White Paper (RSA, 2014). / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die openbare tegniese en beroepsgerigte onderwys-en-opleidingskolleges in Suid-Afrika het die afgelope 20 jaar groot veranderings ervaar. Hierdie kolleges het onlangs die hoof-fokuspunt van onderwys en opleiding geword vandat die Groenskrif vir Na-skoolse Onderwys en Opleiding in 2012 gepubliseer is, wat die kolleges verskuif het na die hoër onderwys-en-opleidingstelsel met die verwagting om teen 2030 inskrywings van 650 000 tot 2.5 miljoen te vermeerder. Leiers in hierdie instellings ondervind voortdurende uitdagings in ’n vinnig-veranderende omgewing. Daar word internasionaal erken dat om leiers op alle vlakke by beroepsgerigte onderwys-en-opleidingsinstellings in staat te stel om hierdie instellings effektief te transformeer, leierskapontwikkeling essensieel is. Al word leierskapontwikkeling in die Groenskrif vir Na-skoolse Onderwys en Opleiding voorgestel, word daar nie vir hierdie opleiding in die daaropvolgende Witskrif (2014) voorsiening gemaak nie, wat verskil van die optrede van regerings in ander lande wat leierskapsontwikkeling in hierdie komplekse sektor prioritiseer. Gepaste leierskapskwalifikasies en -programme is oral ter wêreld vir leiers in dié sektor beskikbaar, maar nie in Suid-Afrika nie. Hierdie kolleges is ook as aktiwiteitstelsels ondersoek en daardeur is ’n analise van die kulturele en historiese invloede gemaak volgens Engeström (1987) se weergawe van Aktiwiteitsteorie. Die doel van hierdie studie was dus om ’n leierskapkurrikulumraamwerk vir huidige en toekomstige leiers van openbare tegniese en beroepsgerigte onderwys-en-opleidingskolleges in Suid-Afrika te ontwikkel. Deur interaktiewe kwalitatiewe analise, ’n interpretatiewe metodologie wat sy basis in stelselsteorie het (Northcutt & McCoy, 2004) en wat ’n interpretatiewe benadering toepas, is daar gepoog om deur middel van fokusgroep- en individuele onderhoude vas te stel wat leiers in die sektor glo in so ’n kurrikulumraamwerk ingesluit moet word, sodat die mandaat van die Witskrif (RSA, 2014) uitgeoefen kan word.