Educational Studies / DED (DIDACTICS)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the way in which OBE teacher training in the Northern Province is being managed, particularly in Region 4. The study also aimed to contribute in providing information about how the Provincial office of the Northern Province is managing OBE teacher training. The literature review covered both materials in the Provincial, National and other countries. The study's research methodology was qualitative, which includes interviews, observation and case study based. Interviews were scheduled with Provincial, Regional, District Dept officials, Educators and Principals. The study has revealed that Region 4 cannot manage the implementation of OBE teacher training properly and effectively due to constrains such as lack of transport, insufficient training for trainer facilitators and educators, et cetera. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Education Management)

South Africa's decade of democracy inevitably gave rise to a transformed South Africa. She enjoys international status in the world and is one of the foremost countries in Africa. This status requires communication to engender good relations. Language is one of the key issues facing South Africa. There are eleven official languages in South Africa alone and a host of other languages in the world. English plays a very important role. It has become the lingua franca for South Africans. This qualitative case study investigated how English how English was taught to primary school pupils. Five teacher-trainees were observed and the lessons they delivered were captured on video camera. The trainees and the pupils have as their mother tongue, Xhosa. The researcher used purposeful sampling when selecting the teacher-trainees. The schools chosen were in close proximity to the college where the trainees lodged. This was convenient and economical. The purpose of the study was to establish how orientated the trainees were towards the communicative approach, the recommended approach by the Collegiate of Education, an arm of the University of Transkei. All colleges of education in the former Transkei fell under the jurisdiction of that Collegiate. Another factor was the transformation and its impact in the classroom. This study addressed the following issues. * Colleges of Education in transition * General educational transformation * State of feeder schools * Culture of learning and teaching The literature study included current changes in education that appeared in newspapers of the day. The paradigm shift from the apartheid system to present day was examined in this qualitative research. The focus of this empirical study was on the method of teaching English adopted by the teacher-trainees. Left to their own resources, the trainees delivered lessons. The data obtained from these lessons were analysed and interpreted using an evaluation sheet. There was clear indication that the lessons generally were teacher-centred. There was a lack of healthy communication in the classrooms. The passive pupils responded to questions posed by the trainees. The pupils were not given much chance to talk freely to the trainees or even among themselves, though they were seated in groups and groupwork was indicated.. Emerging out of these findings are implications for all concerned : the prospective and present teachers ; tertiary teacher training institutions ; and the Department of Education. In conclusion, there is recommendation for INSET and PRESET training for teachers, not only for English language teaching but also other subjects across-the-curriculum as the medium of instruction in a majority of schools in South Africa is in English. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Didacties)

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie studie is die opvoedingspraktyke van verskillende samelewings met betrekking tot verstandelik erg gestremde kinders histories-analities ondersoek. Die tendense wat telkens onderliggend aan veranderinge was, is geidentifiseer en aan die hand van pedagogiese kriteria geevalueer. In die antieke Griekse en Romeinse beskawings is 'n praktyk van uitwissing gevplg. Die Christelike godsdiens bet 'n meer verdraagsame houding meegebring, maar in die Middeleeue bet onkunde en bygeloof nog steeds hoogty gevier. Eers vanaf die agtiende en negentiende eeu bet groter kennis en 'n nuwe kindbeeld tot 'n meer rasionele benadering tot die verskynsel van verstandelike gestremdheid gelei. Pioniers, veral medici, bet na vore getree en die weg gebaan vir 'n beter bedeling vir hierdie kinders. Dit was egter eers in die tweede helfte van die twintigste eeu dat onderwys aan verstandelik erg gestremdes 'n werklikheid geword bet. Die beginsel van normalisasie is toenemend op dienste wat aan hierdie kinders verskaf is, toegepas en het tot gevolg gehad dat wetgewing met betrekking tot die onderwys aan verstandelik erg gestremde kinders tans in die toonaangewende lande en in SuidAfrika op 'n handves vir menseregte geskoei is. Hierdie bevindings bet segwaarde vir die huidige situasie ten opsigte van die beplanning van onderwysvoorsieninge vir verstandelik erg gestremde kinders in die Republiek van Suid- Afrika. / In this study the education practices with regard to severely mentally handicapped children of various societies have been investigated from a historic-analytical perspective. The trends related to a certain anthropologic view and a specific child image, which have been the cause of certain changes have also been identified and were evaluated according to pedagogic criteria. In the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations a trend of infanticide influenced the education of severely mentally handicapped children. The Christian religion brought a more tolerant attitude, but during the Middle Ages superstition and ignorance were still at the order of the day. It was only from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that more knowledge and a new child image brought about a more rational approach to this problem. Pioneers, mostly medical surgeons, came to the fore and paved the way for a better dispensation for these children. In the latter part of the twentieth century education for the severely mentally handicapped had for the first time become a reality. The normalization principle was increasingly applied to all services rendered to these children and this resulted in legislation regarding the education of severely mentally handicapped children in all leading countries and in South Africa being based on a declaration of human rights. These findings have an important meaning for the present situation with reference to the planning of education services for severely mentally handicapped children in South-Africa. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Historiese Opvoedkunde)

This study investigates the effect of multilevelled semanticogrammatical consciousness raising procedures on fossilised verb structures. It is hypothesised that these procedures will reactivate grammaticisation processes leading to the destabilisation of fossilised structures. The study attempts to establish whether fossilised structures can be destabilised, how processes of grammaticisation may be activated, whether adult advanced learners are still able to improve grammatical accuracy levels, what cognitive processes operate in interlanguage change, and how ESL teaching in the primary school classroom may be improved. The subjects are first-year ESL teacher trainees who have been learning English in formal classrooms for eight to ten years. They are subjected to pretests, a ten-week consciousness raising intervention programme, and posttests. The consciousness raising activities are set in a primary school teaching context, thus establishing relevance. The varied strategies used are presented progressively on different levels of consciousness. The theoretical contributions of the study are the insights gained in respect of the psychodynamics of fossilisation and learning theory as it relates to semantico-grammatical consciousness raising within a Cognitive Theory paradigm. According to the findings the total number of verb errors are significantly reduced and self-monitoring and other-monitoring skills significantly improved after the intervention. The semantic value of verb structures evidently acts as a regulator of form: semantically significant structures are destabilised but semantically vacuous structures do not respond to semanticogrammatical consciousness raising strategies. By implication, semantic significance of structures promotes learnabili ty whereas semantic vacuity is conducive to fossilisation. A relatively invariant ability gap between self-monitoring and other-monitoring is also identified. Subjects are significantly better at monitoring structures produced by others than their own. Self-monitoring, which is a necessary prerequisite for interlanguage change, is improved by consciousness raising but is apparently affected negatively by conventional analytical rule-based teaching. This study concludes that multilevelled semantico-grammatical consciousness raising procedures may precipitate defossilisation and that fossilised structures are not necessarily immutable. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (Lunguistics)

D. Tech. Education / The study explores the experiences of 23 primary school teachers who participated in a nine-month professional development that focused on assessment for learning. The study addresses questions about teachers knowledge of assessment for learning and their capacity to learn and implement the techniques; to describe teachers beliefs and practices of assessment for learning before their participation in the teacher professional development programme, discover how reflective practices can influence teachers to enhance knowledge of assessment for learning, and to explore the depth of teachers learning after their participation in the teacher professional development programme.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A. Background - Registrars play a significant role as teachers for undergraduate medical students and junior doctors in the clinical setting. (Jack et al. 2010; Busari & Scherpbier 2004). Many however teach ineffectively as registrars are rarely taught how to teach (Morrison et al. 2002, Busari et al. 2002; Thomas et al. 2002). This has prompted a number of universities to implement “Registrar-as-Teacher” training programs as part of faculty development (FD) initiatives (Leslie et al. 2014; Post et al. 2009, Hill et al. 2009). Although available evidence has demonstrated a positive impact of these programs on the teaching performance of registrars, large differences exist in the interventions, curricula content and participant characteristics. Few studies identified a conceptual framework that informed the design. Most studies focused on a quantitative approach to evaluate outcome; ignoring contextual factors that may shape the successful implementation of new knowledge and skills gained. At Tygerberg Hospital, education is a key performance area of registrar’s staff performance management agreement but no formal training program for registrars as teachers exists. The Centre for Health Professions Education at Stellenbosch University thus piloted a half-day workshop for newly appointed registrars from various disciplines with the aim to develop the clinical supervision skills of registrars as clinical educators. B. Research Design and Methodology - The overall aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of a pilot “Registrar-as-Teacher” workshop at the University of Stellenbosch. The specific objectives included: - To evaluate registrar perceived relevance of workshop content - To evaluate registrar self-evaluation of teaching practices - To identify factors affecting the teaching practices of registrars - To observe and evaluate registrar teaching practices in the clinical setting - To increase the “Registrar-as-Teacher” workshop effectiveness A two-phased mixed method design was used, using semi-structured interviews and observation of registrars. Phase one comprised of semi-structured interviews to elicit both numerical and text-based data. Phase two included observer ratings to further explore the application of knowledge, skills and attitudes gained. The “Registrar-as-Teacher” program content was informed by the teaching roles described by Harden and Crosby (2000). As educational strategy, Knowles’ adult learning theory (1980) was applied. The study was conducted at Tygerberg Hospital, a Stellenbosch University Faculty of Health Sciences affiliated teaching hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. The study population included newly appointed registrars (year 1 and 2) from the Departments of Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Surgery, and Orthopaedics. An inductive approach was used to analyze the qualitative data. Demographic, registrar self- evaluations and workshop evaluation data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. This study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University (protocol number S13/10/177). C. Results - Seven of the fifteen registrars attending the pilot workshop agreed to take part in phase 1 of the study; five from the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and one from Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynaecology respectively. Five agreed to take part in phase 2 of the study; all from the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. Participants reported satisfaction with the program and experienced the workshop as a positive learning experience (Kirkpatrick level 1). Participants self-reported positive changes in attitudes, including motivation, self-confidence, enthusiasm, and conceptions of teaching. Knowledge and skills were gained, as self-reported and observed. Individual benefits such as increased self-awareness of teaching ability and increased awareness of student needs were reported (Kirkpatrick level 2). Participants self-reported behavior changes in their teaching practices. Participants, bar one, demonstrated appropriate educational practices and teaching skills (Kirkpatrick level 3). Participants in our study reported their expanded conceptions of the roles of a teacher as one of the most useful aspects of the workshop. Role modelling was singled out as the most useful session. Participants generally had a positive view on their contribution to student learning. They saw it as a formative influence on how students view the profession and discipline. Unique aspects of registrar teaching were highlighted as being more informal in nature, more practice orientated; and working in a closer relationship with students; thus complementary to the consultant teaching role. Participants recognized that they are still developing their clinical teaching skills. Most participants rely on observed teaching methods or borrow from their own experiences as students. Participants based their self-assessment of being a good teacher on their personal views that mirrored their conceptions of a good teacher; seldom asking for or receiving feedback on their teaching skills to shape their own learning or performance as clinical teachers. Most participants in our study asked for regular or follow up training where they could reflect on their development and also receive feedback on progress made. Few participants felt comfortable to give feedback to students or to use the ‘one-minute preceptor’ compared to other aspects of clinical teaching. Our FD program’s session on teaching in the clinical setting and the ‘one-minute preceptor’ thus worked less well. This speaks to how to increase the effectiveness of future workshops. Even though all participants enjoyed teaching students, reported barriers to effective teaching were many. Participants often felt frustrated and overwhelmed by their teaching task. Limited time with competing responsibilities such as huge service demands and administrative duties impacted negatively on participants’ ability to teach students. Participants mostly felt unsupported and undervalued as teachers by their various departments, with little guidance on the expected student teaching content, process or learning outcomes. Although the expectation to teach is clearly communicated by the various departments, there is no training, supervision structure, formative feedback, or appreciation of their teaching performance. This lack of orientation and communication was further highlighted by participants pointing to the explanation of the MBChB undergraduate curriculum structure as the second most useful component of the course after role modelling. D. Conclusion and Recommendations - Our study confirmed the important role of registrars as teachers in the clinical setting. Apart from sharing theoretical and on-the-job knowledge, registrars teach practical skills and act as role models for the profession. Participants perceived the pilot “Registrar-as-Teacher” workshop content as relevant and the workshop shaped their teaching conceptions and practices. But workplace barriers like limited time with competing responsibilities impacted negatively on participants’ ability to teach students. A reported lack of guidance and support from the respective departments further undermined their ability to develop as clinical teachers. Future “Registrar-as-Teacher” FD initiatives at Stellenbosch University should thus provide registrars with optimal approaches and best teaching practices for busy clinical settings; enabling them to merge teaching with work. Strengthening FD requires the adoption of a broader conceptual framework that does not just focus on the individual participant, but link FD to the development of the department or institution as a whole (Swanwick & McKimm 2012). Workplace communities that include departmental faculty members should be involved in FD programs; allowing for ongoing learning and professional development of registrars as clinical teachers (O’Sullivan & Irby 2011; Steinert et al. 2010; Webster-Wright 2009; Hunter et al. 2008; Thorndyke et al. 2006). This requires a longitudinal strategy. Our “Registrar-as-Teacher” FD program should thus move away from the one-time workshop and instead create multiple learning events with opportunities for application and reflection. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: A. Agtergrond - Kliniese Asssistente (KAs) speel ‘n belangrike rol as onderwysers vir voorgraadse studente en junior dokters in die kliniese omgewing (Jack et al. 2010; Busari & Scherpbier 2004). Baie gebruik egter oneffektiewe onderrigmetodes omdat hulle selde opleiding ontvang oor onderrig (Morrison et al. 2002, Busari et al. 2002; Thomas et al. 2002). Verskeie universiteite het die probleem aangespreek deur “KA-as-Onderwyser” opleidingsprogramme as deel van hul Fakulteitsontwikkelings inisiatiewe te loots (Leslie et al. 2014; Post et al. 2009, Hill et al. 2009). Alhoewel beskikbare bewyse dui op ‘n positiewe impak van die programme op die onderrig prestasies van Kliniese Assistente, kom groot verskille voor in die intervensies, kurrikulum inhoud en deelnemer eienskappe. Min studies het sover ‘n konseptuele raamwerk geidentifiseer wat die studie ontwerp belig. Meeste studies fokus ook op slegs ‘n kwantitatiewe benadering as evalueringsuitkoms; en ignoreer die kontekstuele faktore wat die suksesvolle implementering van nuwe kennis en vaardighede mag beinvloed. By Tygerberg Hospitaal is onderrig ‘n sleutel prestasie area vir Kliniese Assistente se personeel prestasie bestuur ooreenkoms, maar geen formele opleidingsprogram vir KAs bestaan nie. Die Sentrum vir Gesondheidsberoepe Onderwys by Stellenbosch Universiteit het dus ‘n halfdag werkswinkel geloots vir nuutaangestelde KAs van verskeie departemente met die doel om hul kliniese supervisie vaardighede te ontwikkel. B. Navorsingontwerp en Metodiek - Die oorkoepelende doel van die studie was om die uitkoms van die nuwe “KA-as-Onderwyser” werkswinkel by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch te evalueer. Die spesifieke doelwitte het ingesluit: - Om die KAs se relevansie van die werkswinkel inhoud te evalueer - Om KAs se self-evaluasie van hul onderrigpraktyke te evalueer - Om faktore te identifiseer wat onderrigpraktyke van KAs beinvloed - Om KAs se onderrigpraktyke in die kliniese omgewing te observeer en te evalueer - Om die effektiwiteit van die “KA-as-Onderwyser” werkswinkel te verbeter. ‘n Twee-fase gemengde metodiek ontwerp is gebruik wat die gebruik van semi- gestruktureerde onderhoude en observasies van KAs ingesluit het. Fase een het bestaan uit semi- gestruktureerde onderhoude om beide numeriese en teks-data te ontlok. Fase twee het ingesluit observasies en gradering van onderrig aktiwiteite om die toepassing van nuwe kennis, vaardighede en houdings te verken. Die “KA-as-Onderwyser” program inhoud is deur die onderwyser rolle soos beskryf deur Harden en Crosby (2000) toegelig. As onderrigstrategie is Knowles se volwasse leerteorie (1980) toegepas. Die studie is uitgevoer by Tygerberg Hospitaal, ‘n Stellenbosch Universiteit Fakulteit van Geneeskunde en Gesondheidswetenskappe geaffilieerde onderrighospitaal. Die studie populasie het ingesluit nuutaangestelde KAs (jaar 1 en 2) van die Departemente Interne Geneeskunde, Pediatrie, Obstetrie en Verloskunde, Chirurgie en Ortopedie. ‘n Induktiewe benadering is gevolg om die kwalitatiewe data te analiseer. Demografiese, KA self- en geobserveerde evaluasies, en werkswinkel evaluasie data is met behulp van beskrywende statistiese metodes geanaliseer. Die studie is goedgekeur deur die Gesondheids Navorsings Etiese Komitee van Stellenbosch Universiteit (protokol nommer S13/10/177). C. Resultate Sewe van die vyftien KAs wat die werkswinkel bygewoon het, het ingestem om deel te neem aan fase 1 van die studie; vyf van die Departement van Pediatrie en Kindergesondheid, en een elk van Chirurgie en Obstetrie en Verloskunde. Vyf het ingestem om deel te wees van fase 2 van die studie; almal van die Departement van Pediatrie en Kindergesondheid. Deelnemers was gelukkig met die program en het die werkswinkel as ‘n positiewe leerervaring beskryf (Kirkpatrick vlak 1). Deelnemers het positiewe veranderinge in houding, insluitend motivering, selfvertroue, entoesiasme, en opvattings van onderrig rapporteer. Beide selfbeskrywende en geobserweerde kennis en vaardighede is uitgebrei. Individuele voordele soos verhoogde self bewustheid van onderrig vermoeens en verhoogde bewustheid van studentbehoeftes is gerapporteer (Kirkpatrick vlak 2). Deelnemers het veranderinge in hul onderrig praktyke rapporteer. Alle deelnemers, behalwe een, het ook toepaslike onderrig praktyke en onderrig vaardighede demonstreer (Kirkpatrick vlak 3). Deelnemers van ons studie het die nuwe opvattings oor hul rol as kliniese onderwysers as een van die waardevolste aspekte van die werkswinkel beskryf. Rolmodellering was uitgesonder as die mees waardevolste sessie. Deelnemers het in die algemeen ‘n positiewe siening van hul bydrae tot studente onderrig gehad. Hulle sien dit as ‘n formatiewe invloed op hoe studente die mediese professie en spesifieke dissiplines beskou. Unieke aspekte van KA onderrig wat uitgelig is was die meer informele aard van hul onderrig, dat dit meer prakties georienteerd is, en dat hul ‘n nouer verhouding met studente het; dus ‘n komplementere rol tot die onderrig rol van die konsultant. Deelnemers erken dat hul steeds ontwikkel as kliniese onderwysers. Meeste deelnemers maak staat op geobserweerde onderrigmetodes of leen van hul eie ervarings as student. Deelnemers baseer hul siening oor hulself as goeie onderwysers op hul persoonlike siening van ‘n goeie onderwyser en vra selde terugvoer oor hul onderrig praktyke om sodoende hul eie leer en prestasie as kliniese onderwysers te vorm. Meeste deelnemers in ons studie het egter gevra vir gereelde en opvolg opleiding sodat hulle oor hul eie onderrig praktyke kan reflekteer. Min deelnemers was gemaklik om terugvoer aan studente te gee of om die ‘one-minute preceptor’ strategie te gebruik in vergelyking met ander onderrig strategiee. Ons werkswinkel sessie oor onderrig en strategiee in die besige kliniese omgewing was dus minder suksesvol en sal in toekomstige werkswinkels aangespreek moet word. Alhoewel deelnemers studente onderrig oor die algemeen geniet, is baie hindernisse tot effektiewe studente onderrig beskryf. Deelnemers voel dikwels gefrustreerd en oorweldig deur hul onderrig taak. Min tyd, met kompeterende verantwoordelikhede soos dienslewering en administratiewe pligte beinvloed onderrig negatief. Deelnemers rapporteer dat hul nie voldoende ondersteuning ontvang van hul verskeie departemente nie, en voel ondergewaardeer as onderwysers. Min leiding word verskaf oor verwagte studente leeruitkomste, prosesse of kennis wat oorgedra moet word. Alhoewel die verwagting dat KAs moet onderrig gee duidelik gekommunikeer word deur die verskeie departemente, vind geen opleiding, supervisie of terugvoer oor hul prestasies plaas nie. Hierdie gebrek aan orientering en kommunikasie was verder uitgelig deurdat deelnemers die verduideliking van die MBChB voorgraadse kurrikulum struktuur as die waardevolste sessie naas rolmodellering beskryf het. D. Opsomming en Aanbevelings - Ons studie bevestig die belangrike rol van KAs as onderwysers in die kliniese omgewing. Behalwe dat teoretiese en praktiese kennis en vaardighede geleer word, tree hul ook as rolmodelle vir die mediese professie op. Deelnemers het die “KA-as-Onderwyser” werkswinkel inhoud as relevant beskou en rapporteer dat dit hul onderrig opvattings en praktyke positief beinvloed het. Werksplekhindernisse soos beperkte tyd en kompeterende verantwoordelikhede beinvloed onderrig van studente egter negatief. ‘n Gerapporteerde gebrek aan leiding en ondersteuning van hul onderskeie departemente ondermyn verder KAs se ontwikkeling as kliniese onderwysers. Toekomstige “Kliniese Assistent-as-Onderwyser” Fakulteitsontwikkelings-inisiatiewe by Stellenbosch Universiteit moet dus KAs voorsien van optimale strategiee en onderrig praktyke om werk en onderrig suksesvol te kan kombineer. Om Fakulteitsontwikkelings-inisiatiewe verder te versterk, moet ‘n breer konseptuele raamwerk aanvaar word wat nie net fokus op die individuele deelnemer nie, maar wat Fakulteitsontwikkeling koppel aan die ontwikkeling van departemente en instansies (Swanwick & McKimm 2012). Werksplek gemeenskappe wat departementele konsultante insluit, moet betrokke wees by Fakulteitsontwikkeling om KAs in staat te stel om professioneel te ontwikkel as kliniese onderwysers (O’Sullivan & Irby 2011; Steinert et al. 2010; Webster-Wright 2009; Hunter et al. 2008; Thorndyke et al. 2006). Hierdie vra vir ‘n longitudinale strategie. Ons “KA-as-Onderwyser” Fakulteitsontwikkelingsprogram moet weg beweeg van eenmalige werkswinkels en eerder veelvuldige leergeleenthede skep met geleenthede vir toepassing en refleksie.

Thesis (PhD (Education))--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / 241 leaves printed on single pages, preliminary pages i-xii and numbered pages 1-230. Includes bibliography. / Digitized at 600 dpi grayscale to pdf format (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 Konica Minolta Scanner. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Educators at schools are expected to implement education policy changes promulgated through policy frameworks by the Department of Education in South Africa. However, whether these teachers are equipped to implement education policy or whether they have interacted sufficiently with policy issues remains a contentious issue. My contention is that pre-service and in-service teachers are expected to perform certain roles and demonstrate certain competences, as required or implied by changing education policy frameworks, like the Norms and Standards for Educators (Department of Education, 2000), but might not necessarily be equipped to do so. This dissertation utilised conceptual analysis and a literature review, as research methods, to explore constitutive meanings of the concept 'education policy' in relation to teacher education transformation in post-apartheid South Africa, with reference to the Norms and Standards for Educators (Department of Education, 2000). Constitutive meanings (Fay, 1975) of post-apartheid teacher education refer to all those shared assumptions, definitions, and conceptions, which structure teacher education transformation and post-apartheid teacher education in certain definite ways. Without these constitutive meanings, according to Fay (1975: 76), social practices, like teacher education, could not exist. By revealing these constitutive meanings, in terms of the interpretive paradigm (Fay, 1975: 78), I have given a possible explanation of post-apartheid teacher education, by articulating the conceptual scheme that frames post-apartheid teacher education. These constitutive meanings, which were extracted from a literature review, were explored in relation to the main question of this dissertation: Can the new teacher education policy framework, as set out in the Norms and Standards for Educators of 2000, improve teaching and learning in South African schools? I argue that the latter process will not materialise because of question marks over the transformative potential of the Norms and Standards for Educators (Department of Education, 2000). The mentioned policy framework may be an inappropriate framework to structure and guide the transformation of existing teacher education practices because of certain conceptual gaps. These conceptual gaps are stumbling blocks to transform existing teacher education practice and improve teaching and learning in our schools in the post-apartheid era. I argue that these gaps could be bridged if the Norms and Standards for Educators are reconceptualised along the lines of Benhabib's (1994) deliberative democratic model. Deliberation is necessary because policy alone cannot lead to the transformation of post-apartheid teacher education. Deliberation is also necessary because of the limitations on the state's power to enforce its will through promulgated policy. More engagement, via deliberation, is needed between the government, educational leaders, policy-makers and the other policy actors, like teachers, bureaucrats and teacher education institutions. The arguments of Burbules (1997) and Biesta (2004) seem to substantiate my claim that education policy, alone, cannot lead to the improvement of teaching and learning in our schools. Burbules (1997) posits that teaching is a complex human endeavour that is characterised by predicaments or dilemmas, which cannot be permanently solved. I argue against the integration of the seven roles, as advocated by the Norms and Standards for Educators, because of certain dilemmas. We need the tragic perspective on teaching, of Burbules (1997), to approach teaching differently. Biesta (2004) also urges us to approach teaching differently, by advocating a new language for education. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word van Suid-Afrikaanse opvoeders by skole verwag om opvoedingsbeleid veranderinge, wat via beleidsraamwerke gepromulgeer is deur die Departement van Onderwys, te implementeer. Wat egter 'n kontensieuse kwessie bly is of hierdie opvoeders toegerus is om opvoedingsbeleid te implementeer en of hulle genoegsaam omgegegaan het met beleidskwessies. My argument is dat daar van voor-diens- en indiens opvoeders verwag word om sekere rolle te speel en sekere kompetensies of bekwaamhede te demonstreer, soos vereis of geimpliseer deur veranderende opvoedingsbeleid raamwerke, soos die Norme en Standaarde vir Opvoeders (Departement van Onderwys, 2000), maar dat hulle nie noodwendig toegerus is om dit te doen nie. Hierdie proefskrif utiliseer konseptuele analise en 'n literatuur oorsig, as navorsingsmetodes, om konstituerende betekenisse van die konsep 'opvoedingsbeleid', in verhouding tot onderwyseropvoeding transformasie in postapartheid Suid-Afrika, met verwysing na die Norme en Standaarde vir Opvoeders (Departement van Onderwys, 2000), te eksploreer. Konstituerende betekenisse (Fay, 1975) van post-apartheid onderwyseropvoeding verwys na al daardie gedeelde aannames, definisies, en konsepsies, wat onderwyseropvoeding transformasie en post-apartheid onderwyseropvoeding op sekere definitiewe maniere struktureer. Sosiale praktyke soos onderwyseropvoeding kan volgens Fay (1975: 76) nie sonder hierdie konstituerende betekenisse bestaan nie. Ek het hopelik, deur die ontbloting van hierdie konstituerende betekenisse, in terme van die interpretatiewe navorsingsparadigma (Fay, 1975: 78), 'n verduideliking gegee van post-apartheid onderwyseropvoeding, deur my artikulasie van die konseptuele skema wat die realiteit van onderwyseropvoeding op sekere maniere definieer. Hierdie konstituerende betekenisse, wat onttrek is van 'n literatuur oorsig, was geeksploreer in verhouding tot die hoof vraag van hierdie proefskrif: Kan die nuwe onderwyseropvoeding beleidsraamwerk, soos uitgespel in die Norme en Standaarde vir Opvoeders van 2000, onderrig en leer in Suid-Afrikaanse skole verbeter?

Thesis (MPhil (Curriculum Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / A new Outcomes-based Education (OBE) system, as well as a new Further Education and Training (FET) framework, has been proposed by the government to address past inequalities and provide a skilled labour force. The introduction of OBE has necessitated a paradigm shift in both educational and assessment practices. The FET policies, led by the introduction of the Green Paper for FET in 1998, aimed to inform the FET institutions on the implementation of outcomes-based assessment. However, the implementation of these policies has posed many obstacles and challenges. Lecturers are unsure about the implementation strategies, and their attempts to cope with these uncertainties are seldom effective. Consequently, lecturers struggle to bring their assessment practices in line with the policies. This was the research problem of the study. The aim of the study was to determine discrepancies between the policies and the practices. The FET policies and related literature were consulted to determine how assessment practices should change. Subsequently, a questionnaire and focus group discussions were used to determine the current assessment practices of lecturers at the Klerksdorp campus of Vuselela College. Thereafter, the requirements of the policies and the current assessment practices of the lecturers were compared to determine the extent to which the lecturers had adopted the new assessment practices. Various discrepancies were found. The first discrepancy existed between the implementation strategies of the new FET curriculum and the actual implementation process at the college. No learnerships had been implemented in the N-courses and the implementation process had been delayed several times. A second discrepancy existed between the requirements for lecturers to be registered as assessors and the registration process. Lecturers completed the training courses but struggled to register as assessors. A bottleneck existed with the registration process because of the number of lecturers that had to be registered. In addition, the training did not provide the lecturers with sufficient knowledge to implement outcomes-based assessment while the training was presented on the wrong National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level. Another discrepancy existed with regard to the implementation of the learnerships and the implementation of outcomes-based assessment. Lecturers were only expected to implement outcomes-based assessment in courses where learnerships had been implemented. This meant that lecturers who lectured on N-courses were still required to use more traditional assessment methods. While some lecturers preferred paper-based assessment methods, other lecturers felt that the restrictions imposed by the DoE were depriving them of the opportunity to use more alternative methods. Problems such as an increase in the workload, administration and paperwork and learner numbers were also experienced. Regarding these discrepancies, it was firstly recommended that the DoE be realistic about implementation dates and be transparent about delays and problems. Lecturers could assist the DoE in the implementation process by writing unit standards. Secondly, it was recommended that the DoE should have an efficient structure in place to deal with the vast number of lecturers that would have to register as assessors. This can be done by employing extra human resources. Better training is necessary to support and empower lecturers to implement outcomes-based assessment. Thirdly, lecturers could be encouraged to implement the new assessment practices by giving them recognition for good work, providing them with assistance and appointing lecturers who act solely as assessors. These discrepancies are more related and the recommendations more useful to this particular college than the assistance that is provided by the DoE by making the college aware of the obstacles and challenges that the new assessment practices pose.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / When CURRICULUM 2005, hereafter C2005 (Department of Education [DoE], 1997b), was implemented in Grade 7 in 2000 none of the in-service teachers were sufficiently trained to teach Life Orientation. Higher Education Institutions had only then started to adapt teacher-training programmes to meet the needs of an outcomesbased curriculum for all aspiring teachers. Some in-service teachers had been trained as subject specialists in some of the focus areas contained within Life Orientation, like Physical Education, Guidance and Religious Education, but no teacher had been trained, pre-service or in-service, to be a specialist in all of the focus areas contained within Life Orientation. The Department of Education prepared teachers for the implementation of C2005 (DoE, 1997b) by means of a weeklong orientation programme. Teachers were orientated to an outcomes-based philosophy and teaching approach, and to specific outcomes and assessment criteria, but no content training was offered. A Life Orientation teacher is expected to have a body of knowledge on a range of subjects or focus areas as prescribed by the specific outcomes (DoE, 1997b). This study is aimed at researching the Life Orientation learning area and investigating the ways and level of preparation teachers had received to equip them to implement Life Orientation in the Senior Phase of the General Education and Training Band. A case study was used as a research design and specific schools in the Education Management and Development Centre Metropole North were selected to participate in the case study. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained through questionnaires, interviews and observations. A descriptive research strategy was employed to capture, analyse and interpret the data. The research found that there were gaps in the preparation of Life Orientation teachers to implement C2005 (DoE, 1997b). Recommendation are made with regard to training and support programmes to ensure that teachers are adequately empowered to implement Life Orientation in the Revised National Curriculum Statement (DoE, 2002b) in the General Education and Training Band and in the National Curriculum Statement (DoE, 2003b) in the Further Education and Training Band.