Previous academic literature and Government agendas and policies share concerns about schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be not continuing in education and having lower qualifications. Despite this, research has not considered why schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be are more likely to drop out of education or why it is so difficult for them to continue. This thesis is an in-depth study of the experiences and challenges faced by schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be while continuing in education. Within this research consideration is given to: the deficit model that characterises schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be as discussed in the existing research literature; the experiences and challenges of schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be while attending school; and the support provided by education and health professionals to schoolgirl mothers/mothersto- be. The analysis of data (from questionnaires and interviews) was guided by three research questions: What experiences and challenges do schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be (aged 18 and under) living in Scotland encounter when continuing in education? What are the different approaches taken by local authorities in supporting schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be whilst at school? How do education and health professionals (school staff, health visitors) in schools and the National Health Service (NHS) support schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be while continuing in education during pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood? A review of policy was carried out across all local authorities in Scotland asking for information about how schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be are supported in school. The results of the review helped to identify the local authorities to be approached for inclusion in the study. Eleven local authorities and twenty-nine schools or alternative provisions across Scotland are represented in this study. Forty-three schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be who attended schools or alternative provisions within the eleven local authorities participated. Schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be completed a questionnaire and participated in an individual or group interview. A follow-up interview was conducted 9-12 months later. Seventeen members of staff from schools or an alternative provision that participants attended were interviewed. An interview was also held with five health visitors from the five NHS Boards across Scotland that the identified local authorities fell within. Overall, the experiences of participants in this study often do not fit with the deficit model that characterises schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be in popular accounts or Government agendas and policies. Many participants had a ‘really good’ or ‘good’ experience of school before pregnancy, conflicting with the expectation of disengagement with education. Schoolgirl mothers do have conflicting legal demands to remain in education and care for their baby but the data do not suggest that all are either engaged or disengaged from the education system. Professionals sometimes unintentionally exacerbated difficulties. Only a minority of participants were given the opportunity of a flexible tailored curriculum to attend school and college. Schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be could have had a much better experience at school had support such as childcare and transport assistance been provided. The relationship between professionals and schoolgirl mothers/mothers-to-be is key to help them overcome the different experiences and challenges of continuing in education while pregnant or after having a baby.

M.A. / South Africa has an exceptionally high divorce rate. The stressful nature of parental separation and divorce results in higher susceptibility of children to psychological, social, academical and health problems. Parental ability to deal with the divorce transition largely influences the long term adjustment of children after divorce. An effective empirically researched based parentfocused educational programme which addresses the most essential divorce related issues and the effects thereof on children, can be of exceptional value. Supplying parents with sufficient knowledge and information regarding divorce as a process, as well as the way it effects children of different ages en developmental stages, will assist the parents in making better choices concerning the children. By educating parents about the effect of prolonged interparental conflict on children and by supplying them with constructive conflict management skills, the negative consequences of divorce on children may be minimised or even eliminated. In this study an educational programme (k.i.d.s.) was assessed by using a one group pretest- postest design. K.i.d.s. is a short, informative and user friendly educational programme. It comprises two, two hour sessions, scheduled two weeks apart. Statistical significance was achieved when pretest-posttest results were compared regarding knowledge on conflict and the divorce process. Participants also reported a significant decline regarding negative conflict behaviour. An overall high level of consumer satisfaction with the program was reported. Despite the small study sample, the positive results of this study proves the k.i.d.s. program to be a potential promising preventative and intervention method for use with divorcing parents.

Adolescent boys can either possess an internal or an external locus of control. An internal locus of control refers to a perception of being in control of one’s own life through own decisions and abilities. An external locus of control refers to the opposite, meaning a belief in luck and fate and also that one is being controlled by powers outside oneself. With these different perceptions, especially with the last perception, the high expectations of society of adolescent boys, can lead to frustrations. This can lead to aggression, consisting of physical, verbal and/or indirect aggression, which might be one of the possible causes of aggression in schools. Consequently a questionnaire consisting of 56 items was compiled by a combination of Julian Rotter’s (www.ballarat.edu.au/ard/bssh/psych/rot.htm) “Locus of control” questionnaire (1966) - and Björkqvist, Lagerspetz and Österman’s (www.vasa.abo.fi/svf/up/dias.htm) DIAS (“Direct and Indirect Aggression Scale) questionnaire (1992). Biographical items, namely language of instruction, age and grade of learners, were included as independent variables in the questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by 184 boys from School A and 256 boys from School B in Grade 9-11. From the factor analysis, three factors were distinguished consisting of physical, verbal and indirect aggression. All the factors consisted of a high Cronbach Alpha (physical aggression=0.847, verbal aggression=0.820 and indirect aggression=0.845) which reflected a high validity and reliability of the research instrument. According to the relational analysis there was a relationship between external locus of control and especially verbal and indirect aggression, although very slightly. From the differential analysis, it has been judged according to the low averages, that the tendency of the different ways of aggression in language, age and grade are not prominent enough. Yet the following findings were made: • from language of instruction a meaningful difference was found, although with an average of only 0.2, it is not substantial; • age wise it was found that the 15 year old adolescent boys’ indirect aggression was statistically meaningful lower than the 17 year old boys; and lastly • grade in general reflects that the grade 9 learners of specifically School A, were more aggressive (physically, verbally and indirectly) than the grade 10 and 11 learners. From the literature study and empirical search, a definite relationship was found between adolescent boys with an external locus of control and aggression. With the increase of aggressive and violent behaviour in schools, this research topic has relevant and important educational implications for all parties that form part of the educational process.

Teenage pregnancies by married men are challenges and serious problems that are affecting Vhurivhuri, and other areas within the Vhembe district. The aim of this research is to add value towards a way of unfolding impacts regarding teenage pregnancies by married men, especially of those teenagers who are impregnated by married men who end up dampening them with the responsibility of raising their children alone. Another issue which this research study is focusing on is the issue of betrayal that these traumatised teenagers undergoes when married men who impregnated them refuses the responsibilities of caring for the child, and to the extend of no longer fulfilling their promises of marriage. This research study is focused on the traumatic experiences that these teenagers goes through as they continue with their lives, their studies happen to be affected as some of them discontinues their studies. This research study explored a model of pastoral care in which the affected teenagers have to be helped to acquire healing after trauma counselling by the pastoral care givers who are empowered through this research. A model which has been employed in this research includes the one of the shepherding method of Charles Gerkin and of Adams which is on pastoral care as shepherding of flocks which belonging to God. The word of God has been used to explore where the author wanted to show His love towards his people even when they are under difficult circumstances. <p This research study has also indicated roles of different groups and individuals who should contribute to the sake of healing which traumatised teenagers in this problem. It also have to include the issue of HIV/AIDS as a problem which is having a connection with teenage pregnancies by married men which endangers lives of teenagers who are affected as they get into sexual relationship with unfaithful married men, this is another gap to be researched on in future either in my doctoral level or by someone else. If teenage pregnancies by married men continue within our society, our future is at high risk of HIV/AIDS as there are some practices of unprotected sex involved. This problem not only affects teenagers but their faithful wives who are married to these unfaithful men. By addressing this issue of teenage pregnancies by married men and associate it with HIV/AIDS, one solution will lead to the other. At the end of this research study, these are concluding which will lead to recommendation that readers have to take note of. / Dissertation (MA (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Practical Theology / MA / unrestricted

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master Of Education (M.Ed.) in the Department of Comparative and Science Education at the University of Zululand, 2017 / The ever-increasing rate of teenage pregnancy has become a major societal challenge, not only in South Africa, but universally. The same applies in King Cetshwayo district in KwaZulu-Natal. Teenage pregnancy has many causes, some of which are new, like the child support grant. The results of teenage pregnancy are destructive, and long-lasting. This has given the researcher an impetus to conduct this study, and investigate as to: ∙ What the factors are that contribute to teenage pregnancy in King Cetshwayo district secondary schools? ∙ Whether there is a relationship between family background and teenage pregnancy in King Cetshwayo district? ∙ What role can be played by educators in mitigating factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in King Cetshwayo district secondary schools? This investigation was pursued with the aim of attaining practical and relevant solutions to this societal menace of teenage pregnancy. The quantitative method involving the use of questionnaires was used to extract data from 125 learners and 25 educators selected to partake in the study in King Cetshwayo district secondary schools. The findings of the study based on the data collected through questionnaires revealed that: ∙ There are factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy in King Cetshwayo district secondary schools, some of which did not exist before. ∙ There is a relationship between family background and teenage pregnancy in King Cetshwayo district. ∙ Educators can play a crucial role in mitigating factors which contribute to teenage pregnancy in King Cetshwayo district secondary schools. The key recommendations which emanated from this study, amongst others, were: ∙ There is a need for fully- fledged sexuality health education to be undertaken in schools. ∙ Contraceptives must be distributed in schools and learners be advised on their use. ∙ Poverty amongst the communities must be eradicated through women’s skill development and education. ∙ Peer educator programmes in schools must be resuscitated. ∙ Sexuality health campaigns must be organised in schools. ∙ Sports and cultural activities in schools must be encouraged. ∙ In-house codes of conduct to manage learner pregnancy must be developed and implemented. / National Research Foundation (Grant Number:CPT 160 5131 64973 and 105246)

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