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

M. Tech. Education, Tshwane University of Technology, 2010.

The aim of the research was to document as fully as possible the programmes and practices in Indian secondary schools in the Republic of South Africa for the induction of beginning teachers. Teacher education is viewed as a career-long professional continuum and induction as the transition between graduation from a pre-service teacher education institution to the onset of in-service education. Induction is viewed as an important stage in the prolonged period of professional development. The method of research was, initially, to make a study of induction programmes in England, Australia and the United States of America. The concept adopted to guide questionnaire compilation and item writing was that prospective teachers had acquired knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in anticipation of their professional performance during the pre-service period. The premise was that those acquired ideas and skills will become active only in so far as the new situation allowed, demanded and encouraged the beginning teacher. The major findings that emerge from the study are that induction activities assume varied forms and that the integration and orientation of beginning teacher into the teaching profession depend very much on the nature of the schools and the willingness and co-operation of the principal and certain members of his established staff. There is no well defined system for the orientation of beginning teachers into the profession. The underlying problem was found to be the absence of a philosophy and policy for induction by the Department of Education and Culture (House of Delegates). The study concludes with several recommendations to the Department of Education and Culture (House of Delegates) the most important being: the formulation of a policy by the Department based on a well defined philosophy for induction; implementation of programmes arising from the policy in the form of school based induction activities, external support programmes by the teachers' centres, subject advisers, tertiary institutions and the teachers' associations. The underlying conclusion of the study is that induction is a complex process but definitely not an opportunity to be missed. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, 1988.

M.Ed. (Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Induction for teacher development is important for quality teaching and learning to take place in schools. The process of induction should be well-structured so that it is not mistaken as just an orientation to school procedures; it should be well-planned and implemented for the purposes of professional development and support (Rolley, 2001). The main aim of this study was to investigate beginner educators’ experiences of the induction process for professional development in the Bochum East Circuit of Limpopo Province. The assumption was that if schools are held accountable for learner performance, then support measures in terms of induction should be provided to newly appointed educators. Poor performance or educator turnover can sometimes be ascribed to inadequate interventions or the design of educator induction programmes. Although educators may have received the best training at university or training college, they still need to adjust to the realities of classrooms. To achieve the aim of the study, a qualitative research approach was followed to collect data through semi-structured interviews. The study is ensconced in the Educator Development Theory which acknowledges that educator preparation is rarely sufficient to provide all the knowledge and skills necessary for successful teaching. A great deal of knowledge and many skills are, mostly, acquired while on the job and principals should, therefore, adequately induct newly appointed educators. Four beginner educators and two principals from average performing primary schools were purposively sampled in the Bochum East Circuit of the Limpopo Province. A thematic analysis was carried out to generate themes that addressed the problem of the study. The findings from participant responses revealed differences in an understanding of the induction process. Support from the principal, HoDs and fellow colleagues were considered to be part of induction. Recommendations include that educators should be given continuous professional development through standardised induction programmes which could be adjusted to the needs of the school. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Induction for teacher development is important for quality teaching and learning to take place in schools. The process of induction should be well-structured so that it is not mistaken as just an orientation to school procedures; it should be well-planned and implemented for the purposes of professional development and support (Rolley, 2001). The main aim of this study was to investigate beginner educators’ experiences of the induction process for professional development in the Bochum East Circuit of Limpopo Province. The assumption was that if schools are held accountable for learner performance, then support measures in terms of induction should be provided to newly appointed educators. Poor performance or educator turnover can sometimes be ascribed to inadequate interventions or the design of educator induction programmes. Although educators may have received the best training at university or training college, they still need to adjust to the realities of classrooms. To achieve the aim of the study, a qualitative research approach was followed to collect data through semi-structured interviews. The study is ensconced in the Educator Development Theory which acknowledges that educator preparation is rarely sufficient to provide all the knowledge and skills necessary for successful teaching. A great deal of knowledge and many skills are, mostly, acquired while on the job and principals should, therefore, adequately induct newly appointed educators. Four beginner educators and two principals from average performing primary schools were purposively sampled in the Bochum East Circuit of the Limpopo Province. A thematic analysis was carried out to generate themes that addressed the problem of the study. The findings from participant responses revealed differences in an understanding of the induction process. Support from the principal, HoDs and fellow colleagues were considered to be part of induction. Recommendations include that educators should be given continuous professional development through standardised induction programmes which could be adjusted to the needs of the school. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Text in Afrikaans / Die studie poog om die doeltreffendheid van beginneronderwysers se aanpassing en ervaring van werksbevrediging in werksomstandighede te hersien. Enige organisasie kan nuwe mense aanstel maar kan nie verwag dat hierdie "aanstelling" hul beste werk lewer en doelwitte bereik voordat die persoon aangepas is in sy werk, omgewing en by sy kollegas nie (Steyn & Van Niekerk 2008:205, Steyn 2004:82, Whitaker 2001:7, Arends & Phurutse 2009:7). Beginneronderwysers moet leiding en ondersteuning ontvang om so gou as moontlik effektief by die skool in te skakel sodat hulle 'n produktiewe bydrae kan lewer ten opsigte van opvoeding en onderrig vir leerders en die onderwys in Suid-Afrika. Met hierdie navorsing wil die navorser dus ondersoek in stel om te bepaal of beginneronderwysers goed genoeg toegerus word om aan te pas en in te skakel by werksomstandighede en of hulle werksbevrediging ervaar. Die navorsingstudie is gedoen deur agt beginneronderwysers in vier laerskole in die Gert Sibande-streek van Mpumalanga te betrek. In hierdie studie maak die navorser gebruik van die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering. Die kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode is die geskikste metode om die ervarings van beginneronderwysers te beskryf. Individuele onderhoudvoering is dat data insamelingstegnieke gebruik om vas te stel wat die aard, omvang en moontlike oplossings is vir die navorsingsprobleem. Die navorsingstudie het bevind dat die beginneronderwyser begeleiding en ondersteuning benodig tydens inskakeling. Positiewe strategieë sluit in inskakelingsprogramme, handleidings asook ervare toegewysde mentors. Uit die bevindinge van die navorsing is daar ongetwyfel 'n sterk behoefte aan leiding en ondersteuning vir beginneronderwysers om effektief in te skakel by die skool. Beginneronderwysers moet bemagtig word om optimaal te kan ontwikkel, hulself te bevorder en te kan handhaaf in die onderwys in Suid-Afrika. / The study aims to review the effectiveness of novice teachers' adaptation and experience of job satisfaction in working conditions. Any organisation can appoint new people but cannot expect that this "appointment" to do their best work and reach goals before the person has been adapted in his work environment and to his colleagues (Steyn & Van Niekerk 2008: 205, Steyn 2004: 82, Whitaker 2001: 7 Arends & Phurutse 2009: 7). Beginner teachers should receive guidance and support quickly and effectively as soon as possible at school so they have a productive contribution to education and training for students and education in South Africa. This research would therefore examine to determine whether novice teachers are well equipped enough to adapt and to participate in working conditions and whether they experience job satisfaction. The research study was conducted by involving eight novice teachers in four primary schools in the Gert Sibande region of Mpumalanga. In this study, the researcher used a qualitative approach. The qualitative research method is the most appropriate way to describe the experiences of novice teachers. The data collection techniques that were used included individual interviews to determine the nature, extent and possible solutions to the research problem. The research study found that the new teacher needed guidance and support during integration. Positive strategies for guidance include induction programs, manuals and experienced dedicated mentors. From the findings of the research, there is a strong need for guidance and support for beginning teachers to be involved in the school. Beginner teachers should be empowered to develop their potential, to promote themselves and to maintain in education in South Africa. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The study was undertaken because of the need to understand the impact of mentoring novice Science teachers within the Gauteng Province. The study was conducted within the Gauteng Province, because there have been many debates and concerns on the need to come up with ways of improving the comprehension of science in secondary schools in the Gauteng Province. The purpose of this study therefore was to understand the effects and impact of mentoring novice natural science teachers within the Gauteng Province. The study therefore, utilised qualitative research approach and this was motivated by the need to understand the perceptions and experiences of the research participants. Furthermore, purposive sampling was utilised as the sampling method where the novice science teachers and relevant teachers were selected to be part of the sample. Through the use of the semi-structured interview as the data collection method, it was discovered that mentoring of novice teachers refers to the method of empowering new teachers to be effective in their work-related tasks to become true professionals in the academic profession. The study concluded that there are a number of mentoring initiatives and mechanisms utilised to assist novice teachers. Amongst these programmes training, skills development and technical support to enhance communication skills and manage the curriculum are underscored. The study concludes that mentoring of novice teachers is important within the Gauteng Province for it raises awareness, leads to expert Science teachers equipped with a wide range of skills to achieve the best results within the classroom. It also capacitates the novice teacher on how to handle laboratory equipment and chemicals to benefit learners. The study also gathered that mentoring has a direct impact on novice Science teachers. It leads to the creation of an effective and excellent teaching environment, results in higher levels of teacher retention and improves teachers’ service delivery. It also strengthens the emotional and psychological well-being of teachers. The study therefore, recommended that there is need for training and development and a budget allocated towards enhancing the mentoring of novice Science teachers. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Science and Technology Education)

This study focuses on the contribution of induction programmes to the teaching potential of beginner teachers at primary schools in the Ilembe District. Based on convenience in terms of accessibility and purposeful sampling, four primary schools were selected with eight novice teachers (two from each selected school) and four members of the school management team (one from each selected school) acting as participants. Using individual interviewing, beginner teachers and members of school management teams narrated their perceptions on the value of induction programmes for beginner teachers in order to improve beginner teachers’ teaching competency. Findings revealed that none of the sampled schools had a formalised induction programme offered to beginner teachers. Beginner teachers felt overwhelmed and challenged with real classroom situations whereas members of the school management teams acknowledged the need for beginner teachers to be capacitated with hands-on knowledge and skills to teach effectively within the specific classroom context. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Educational management and Leadership)