The South African government has developed various policies to promote equality and inclusivity in education. Despite all the efforts, Grade R in-service teachers seem unable to cope with inclusive education and it appears that they are not adequately prepared for inclusive education. The purpose of this study is to explore Grade R in-service teacher preparation for inclusive education in South Africa, with a view to add to existing knowledge on this topic and propose guidelines that can be used to enhance Grade R in-service teacher preparation for inclusive education. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory formed the theoretical foundation for this study. Qualitative approach was used to understand Grade R in-service teacher preparation for inclusive education. A sample group of eleven Grade R teachers were selected to provide “information-rich” data. Interviews, observations and document analysis were selected as data collection techniques. Data analysis and interpretation was a qualitative and inductive process. The findings revealed that Grade R in-service teacher preparation programmes are inadequate to prepare them for inclusive education; and they have difficulty coping with inclusive education because of insufficient translation of theory into practice and insufficient knowledge on the use of available resources for inclusive education. Curriculum differentiation should form an important aspect of teacher training. It is recommended that there should be a consultative process between all stakeholders who are involved in training of Grade R teachers. Guidelines were also proposed that could be used to enhance Grade R in-service teacher preparation programmes for inclusive education. These include preparing Grade R in-service teachers to apply curriculum differentiation in practical situations, and using teacher trainers who are knowledgeable about inclusive education in the context of the Grade R classroom. The researcher proposes that Grade R teachers be prepared so they are skilled, knowledgeable and confident to transfer knowledge and skills among themselves, even in cluster meetings. / Inclusive Education / Ph. D. (Inclusive Education)

The purpose of the study was to explore teachers’ views on using mobile laboratories when teaching Integrated Science during science practical lessons; to assess the teachers’ competencies in using the mobile laboratories and the challenges they face in this practice. The research used a survey as a research design. The target population was all teachers teaching Integrated Science. The sample comprised of forty-five (45) respondents from Northern and Eastern provinces of Zambia. Purposive sampling was used to pick the participants of the study. In collecting data, questionnaires, interview schedules and observation checklist were used to collect data needed for this study. The instruments were piloted before they were used in the study. The findings from the study revealed that the quality of material in these laboratories are quite good but their numbers are not in line with the size of the classes, which negatively affects the teaching and learning process of practical lessons in science. Additionally, the teachers’ qualification, was found to be associated with their competence in the use of mobile laboratories; that is, the higher the qualification, the more the competence in the use of mobile laboratories apparatus. Furthermore, the study established the following challenges on the use of the mobile laboratories: inadequate materials in the mobile laboratories, schools are not financially strong to replenish them after they are used up, some teachers find it timeconsuming to prepare and set up the apparatus for experiments and orientation is needed for some teachers on how to use these laboratories. In view of the findings, it is recommended that the government should provide more laboratory materials and monitor the level of usage of these materials. Additionally, short courses should be organised aiming at improving science teachers’ knowledge and skills of the use of mobile laboratory facilities. Moreover, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) must be enhanced in schools with an emphasis on the orientation of mobile laboratories usage by all science teachers. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Sciences)

Learners’ Physical Science performance in South Africa has been under discussion for several years, the challenge being that it has been exacerbated by continuous changes in the curriculum. Systems that have been put in place have yielded insufficient satisfactory solutions to both underperformance in the subject and sustainable good performance. Although interventions by curriculum policymakers have been ineffective, the issue at hand remains that teachers need to implement good teaching practices in order to ensure that all learners receive quality education. Physical Science teachers are custodians of a subject that may address scarce skills in the education system, so the quality of teaching must be optimised. Teachers need to implement intervention processes put in place by other stakeholders to reduce the negative perceptions that most people have about Physical Science. This study investigates how various factors related to the quality of teachers may affect the performance of Grade 12 learners in this subject. Since past studies have presented a broad spectrum of these factors, this study has categorised them as those directly related to teaching and those indirectly related to teaching. As a basis for data collection the researcher first established the overall status of the Physical Science teachers and investigated how the factors identified affect teaching. A mixed method approach was followed, and given the breadth of the study, available raw data was collected through questionnaires, interviews and observations. Data collected on factors indirectly related to teaching showed that these factors affect factors directly related to teaching and both of them affect the performance of the teacher, and consequently those of learners. These findings revealed that the performance of Physical Science cannot be based on one factor only, but on a combination of factors that are interrelated and should be integrated for effective teaching practices. Recommendations have been made to the National and Provincial Department of Education, District offices, school management teams and Physical Science teachers to reinforce other strategies that have been in place in order to improve or sustain good performance of the subject and to close gaps that have not been identified as possible intervention strategies. They include upgrading qualifications with the current content and methodologies to match the changing curriculum, restructuring workshops so that they are informed by the teacher’s needs, stabilising the curriculum to avoid many changes in short periods of time, retraining of teachers, relevant appointment of Heads of Departments (HoDs) into subject management positions, utilisation of support groups by teachers, proper management of the subject, proper screening of Physical Science learners and provision of teaching and learning resources. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

The 2012 Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) curriculum recently introduced in all Botswana government preschools was examined by this study. To guide the findings of this study the literature addressing the effective preschool curriculum implementation strategies was reviewed. Furthermore, structured interviews, non-participant observations and documents review were conducted in line with the qualitative phenomenological research approach. Specifically, teachers from three preschools implementing the 2012 IECD curriculum framework were interviewed to obtain their views with regard to its implementation. The data collected from the interviews was thematically analysed and triangulated with that from the observations and documents. The findings of this study showed that even though the teachers were generally satisfied with their different levels of training, they were concerned about the limited duration of in-service training as well as the course content that did not address their unique needs and those of their supervisors. Consequently, effective IECD curriculum implementation was negatively affected by lack of effective supervision as well as lack of teaching resources and other forms of support. Drawing from the findings of this study, recommendations were made and teacher training guidelines were developed. The guidelines were informed by the SCLT (teacher training) and CoP (formation of partnerships) theories. The implications of this study are that the suggested training guidelines would promote teacher efficacy facilitated by proper teacher training strategies and they will hopefully motivate the formation of working partnerships. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The study focused on professional development of lecturers at Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges in the Eastern Cape Province. The effectiveness of lecturers at FET colleges depends on continuous development in order to meet challenges that they face due to continuous changes in technology and curriculum. Also, the development of the lecturers has a positive effect on their teaching with the result that both the students and the wider institution benefit from it. The literature reviewed revealed the effects, types, theories and nature of professional development. A qualitative research approach in the form of document analysis, interviews and observations was used in order to explore the implementation and/or lack thereof of professional development and its effects in teaching and learning within the institution. It is hoped that the qualitative study and the literature review will contribute to the implementation of professional development for the benefit of students and the college. Different strategies for the implementation of professional development were recommended that could further enhance the introduction of professional development in FET colleges. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The exploratory study sought to elicit and document mathematics teachers‟ views on how they enacted the process of transition between contexts and mathematics. The study pursued to understand teachers‟ beliefs and knowledge of mathematics. A mixed methods sequential explanatory research design was employed where a quantitative phase was followed by the connecting phase and concluded through a qualitative phase involving three case studies. A purposive sample of 165 practicing teachers who had registered for a professional advancement developmental course at a university participated in the study by voluntarily completing a survey questionnaire. From this sample, three cases of individual teachers were pursued. The first two cases involved conducting in-depth interviews with the teacher who had rated sentences in the questionnaire differently while the last case involved the recording of an interview of one individual using field notes. The questionnaire sought teachers‟ biographical details (section A), their views on contexts and mathematics (section B) and their rating of sentences in a passage with regard to the mathematics embedded in the sentences (section C). Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the qualitative phase to elicit in-depth views of the teachers‟ regarding the research problem. All the instruments were tested for validity and reliability. Quantitative data gathered was analysed using frequencies, percentages, cross tabulations, bar charts and pie charts as well as the calculation of Pearson chi-square tests (Cohen, Manion & Morrison, 2011). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to collate teachers‟ views from which themes were drawn and related to make inferences. It was found that teachers‟ positive views about contexts and mathematics did not translate into them recognising mathematics in some mathematics potent contexts as captured in their ratings in section C of the questionnaire. Statistically significant associations were recorded to support this. The study also conceptualised a mathematical participation model (MP-model) as a tool to describe and analyse participation that involves the use of real world data in the teaching and learning of mathematics. The MP-model involves four components, viz. the community of practice (CoP), real world data, mathematics and a model in which members of the CoP tap into the real world data and mathematics to model their participation. The study recommends the MP-model as tool for description and enactment of full mathematical participation. / Mathematical Sciences / D.Litt.et. Phil. (Mathematics Education)

This study explored how foundation phase heads of departments manage and support professional development in the foundation phase. The study also explored the support these heads of departments receive from external sources in managing and supporting teachers in their professional development. Teachers' perspective about their professional development and support from heads of departments were also explored. A qualitative approach, located in an interpretive paradigm, was adopted. Drawing on various elements of case study research designs, the study focused on six foundation phase HoDs, one Intermediate Phase HoD and five foundation phase teachers from different school settings in one of the provinces in South Africa. Interviews and document analysis were used as the primary tools for data collection. During the interviews, teachers outlined their views on the support provided by both heads of departments and external sources that work to enhance their professional learning. Through a cross-case analysis approach, the study indicated that teachers appreciated the support received from heads of departments and external sources. The main finding of the study was that there was little support for the heads of departments from external sources. Another finding was that there was minimal support for heads of departments from external sources, predominantly Non-Governmental Organisations. This study indicated the none availability of induction programmes for the newly appointed foundation phase heads of departments. It is recommended that the Mpumalanga Department of Education organise an induction programme for the newly appointed foundation phase heads of departments. The induction should focus mainly on leadership and management. Lastly, it is recommended that government officials from the district, province and nation provide external support that would benefit the foundation phase heads of departments. / Ifundorhubhululweli belihlola ngokuzeleleko kobana iinhloko zeminyango yezefundo ziphatha begodu zisekela njani ukukhula kwabosolwazi kusigabasisekelo. Ifundorhubhululweli, liveze isekelo lemithombo yangaphandle, lokuphatha nokusekela abotitjhere ekukhuleni kwabo ngokwelwazi. Indlela abotitjhere babona ngayo ukukhula kwabo ngokwelwazi nesekelo abalifunyana eenhlokweni zeminyango yezefundo nalo lihlolwe ngokuzeleko. Ifinyelelo lekhwalitheyithivi eliyi-interpretative paradigm ngilo elisetjenzisiweko. Ngokutjhejwa kwemihlobo eyahlukahlukeneko yeemfundosehlakalo, iinHloko zemiNyango ezisithandathu (HoD’s) zesigabasisekelo, iHloko yesiGaba (HoD) ngayinye nabotitjhere abasithandathu besigaba sisisekelo, ababuya eenkolweni ezihlukahlukeneko ngokuhleleka esifundeni sinye seSewula Afrika. Ukuhlunga nokuhlaziywa kwamadokhumende/kwemitlolo ngikho okusetjenziswe ukubuthelela ilwazi elaneleko. Ngesikhathi sokuhlungwa, abotitjhere baveze imizwa yabo ngesekelo ebalifunyana eenhlokweni zeminyango yezefundo nakumithombo yangaphandle ebasiza ukwandisa ilwazi labo kezefundo. Ngokwefinyelelo le-cross analysis, ifundorhubhululweli litjengise kobana abotitjhere bayalithokozela isekelo abalifunyana eenhlokweni zeminyango yezefundo nalelo elibuya kumithombo yangaphandle. Okukhulu okufunyenwe lirhubhululweli, litlhayelo lesekelo eenhlokweni zeminyango yezefundo elibuya kumithombo yangaphandle, kuqaliswe khulu eenhlanganweni ezingasekelwa mbuso (Non-Governmental Organisations). Ifundorhubhululweli litjengise godu itlhayelo lamahlelo wokufundisa iinhloko zeminyango yezefundo ezibekwe eenkhundleni ezitjha. Amahlelo wokufundisa iinhloko zeminyango yezefundo eziqedwa ukubekwa eenkhundleni, ezitjha azokuhlelwa mNyango wezeFundo eMpumalanga. Ukwethulwa kwabo kufanele kuqale zoburholi nokuphatha. Kokugcina, iinsebenzi zombuso ezibuya iiyingini, eemfundeni zenarha yoke zinikele ngesekelo langaphandle elizokuzuzisa iinhloko zeminyango yefundo yesigaba-sisisekelo. / Lolu cwaningo luhlola ukuthi izinhloko zeminyango yesigaba semfundo eyisisekelo ziyiphatha ziyesekele kanjani intuthuko yobuchwepheshe esigabeni semfundo eyisisekelo. Lolu cwaningo luhlole nangokwesekeleka okuvela emithonjeni yangaphandle okutholwa yilezi zinhloko zeminyango ekuphatheni nasekwesekeleni othisha ekuthuthukeni ebuchwephesheni emsebenzini wabo. Kwabuye kwahlolwa ukuthi othisha bakubuka ngeso elinjani ukuthuthuka kwabo emsebenzini wabo nokubheka ukwesekelwa kwabo yizinhloko zeminyango. Kwalandelwa indlela yokubheka ikhwalithi egaxwe emkhakheni wokuchazwa (interpretative) kwezinto. Kwacashunwa ezimpawini ezahlukene zokucubungula amadizayini okucwaninga kokwenzeka ngempela (case study), kwagxilwa kuZinhloko Zeminyango eziyisithupha zeSigaba Semfundo Eyisisekelo, eyodwa yeSigaba Semfundo Emaphakathi, nothisha abahlanu besigaba semfundo eyisisekelo abavela ezizindeni zemfundo ezahlukene kwesinye sezifundazwe zaseNingizimu Afrika. Kwasetshenziswa ukuhlaziywa kwama-intaviyu namadokhumenti njengamathuluzi okuqoqa imininingwane noma idatha. Ngesikhathi sama-intaviyu, othisha babenika imibono yabo ngokwesekelwa ababekuthola ezinhlokweni zeminyango nemithombo evela ngaphandle eyayibambisene ekuthuthukiseni ukufunda kwabo ubuchwepheshe. Lapho kusetshenziswa indlela yokuhlaziya ngokugamanxana kokucubungulwayo (cross-case), ucwaningo lukhombise ukuthi othisha bakuthokozela ukwesekelwa abakuthola kuzinhloko zeminyango nemithombo evela ngaphandle. Okubalulekile okwatholakala kulolu cwaningo ukuthi kuncane kakhulu ukwesekelwa ezazikuthola emithonjeni yangaphandle izinhloko zeminyango. Okunye okwatholakala ukuthi kuncane kakhulu ukwesekelwa izinhloko zeminyango ezazikuthola kuvela ngaphandle, ikakhulu eziNhlanganweni okungezona ezikaHulumeni. Lolu cwaningo lukhombise ukuthi azitholakali izinhlelo zokuzingenisa emsebenzini (induction) izinhloko zeminyango esigabeni semfundo eyisisekelo, Kunconywa ukuthi uMnyango Wemfundo WaseMpumalanga uhlele ukuba kube nohlelo lokuzingenisa emsebenzini izinhloko ezintsha zeminyango esigabeni semfundo eyisisekelo. Lokhu kungeniswa kumele kugxile ebuholini nasekuphatheni. Okokugcina-ke, kunconywa ukuthi izikhulu zikahulumeni ezivela esifundeni, esifundazweni nakuzwelonke zilethe ukwesekela okuzosiza izinhloko zeminyango esigabeni semfundo eyisisekelo. / Educational Management and Leadership / Ph. D. (Educational Leadership and Management)

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Zulu / The purpose of this interpretive study was to explore the perceptions of selected Namibian subject advisers on their role in supporting teaching and learning. There are limited studies on the roles of subject advisers in supporting instruction. Delivery of quality teaching and learning prompts subject advisers to support teachers. The study is important to build upon the body of literature on instructional support and how subject advisers elsewhere support instruction. International and national scholastic literature was interrogated to seek more insight into the research topic. This qualitative study was located within a phenomenological/interpretive paradigm. The study explored the purpose of subject advisory support, how teachers’ support needs are identified, the roles of subject advisers, character traits of subject advisers, formats of support used by subject advisers, and the challenges as well as support provided to subject advisers. The study was conducted at three Regional Offices of Education, Arts and Culture in Namibia and included ten subject advisers selected through purposive sampling. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Key findings emerged through the data analysis by identifying categories and themes. These findings emphasised that subject advisers understand the nature of instructional support differently. The findings revealed that subject advisers face challenges that make them less effective in teaching support. It was further evident that subject advisers receive limited support and that they need to be supported through training, provision of resources and reduction of workload. These conclusions and others informed the recommendations that are aimed at improving subject advisers’ practice. / Die doel van hierdie vertolkende studie was om die persepsies van uitgesoekte Namibiese vakinspekteurs oor hul rol in onderrig- en leerondersteuning te ondersoek. Die bestaande studies oor die rol van vakinspekteurs in onderrigondersteuning is beperk. Die lewering van gehalte-onderrig en -leer spoor vakinspekteurs aan om onderwysers te ondersteun. Hierdie studie is belangrik omdat dit op die bestaande literatuur oor onderrigondersteuning en hoe vakinspekteurs elders onderrig ondersteun, moet voortbou. Internasionale en nasionale skoolverwante literatuur is geraadpleeg om meer insig oor die navorsingsonderwerp te kry. Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie val binne ʼn fenomenologiese/vertolkende paradigma. Die studie het ondersoek ingestel na die doel van vakinspekterende ondersteuning, hoe onderwysers se ondersteuningsbehoeftes geïdentifiseer word, die rol van vakinspekteurs, karaktereienskappe van vakinspekteurs, ondersteuningsformate wat deur vakinspekteurs gebruik word, en die uitdagings wat vakinspekteurs te bowe moet kom sowel as die ondersteuning wat hulle ontvang. Die navorsing is gedoen by drie streekskantore van Onderwys, Kuns en Kultuur in Namibië, en tien vakinspekteurs is deur doelbewuste steekproefneming gekies vir hierdie doel. Die data is deur halfgestruktureerde onderhoude en dokumentontleding ingesamel. Sleutelbevindings het deur die data-ontleding aan die lig gekom deur die identifisering van kategorieë en temas. Hierdie bevindings beklemtoon dat vakinspekteurs die aard van onderrigondersteuning verskillend verstaan. Verder onthul die navorsingsresultate uitdagings wat vakinspekteurs minder doeltreffend maak in hul onderrigondersteuning. Dit was ook duidelik dat vakinspekteurs beperkte bystand kry en dat hulle ondersteun moet word deur opleiding, voorsiening van hulpbronne en verminderde werkslas. Bogenoemde en ook ander gevolgtrekkings het aanleiding gegee tot die aanbevelings wat gedoen is en wat gemik is op die verbetering van vakinspekteurs se manier van doen. / Lolu cwaningo oluhlaziyayo beluhlose ukuthola imiqondo yesihloko sabaluleki bezifundo baseNamibia abakhethiwe ngendima yabo yokuxhasa uhlelo lokufundisa nokufunda. Luncane kakhulu ucwaningo olwenziwe mayelana nendima edlalwa ngabaluleki bezifundo ekuxhaseni uhlelo lwezemfundo. Ukwethulwa kohlelo lokufundisa nokufunda kuphoqa abaluleki bezifundo ukuba baxhase othisha. Ucwaningo lubalulekile ekwakheni uhlaka lombhalo wobuciko ohlelweni oluxhasa ezemfundo nangendlela abeluleki bezifundo kwezinye izikhungo baxhasa izinhlelo zemfundo. Umbhalo wobuciko emhlabeni kanye nasezweni waphenywa ngenhloso yokufuna ulwazi olubanzi ngaphakathi kwesihloko socwaningo. Lolu hlobo locwaningo olwencike kwizingxoxo lwatholakala ngaphakathi kwepharadayimu yefenomenoloji/ yokuhlaziya. . Ucwaningo luye lwaphenya inhloso yohlelo oluxhasa ngezeluleko, indlela izidingo zothisha zivezwa ngayo, izindima ezidlalwa ngabaluleki bezezifundo, izimpawu zesimilo sabaluleki bezifundo, izinhlaka zokuxhasa ezisetshenziswa abaluleki bezifundo, kanye nezinselelo ezibhekene nabaluleki, kanyenoxhaso olunikezwa abaluleki bezifundo. Ucwaningo lwenziwa kumaHovisi eSiyingi ezeMfundo, eZobuciko kanye neZamasiko eNamibia kanti luye lwaxuba abeluleki bezifundo abayishumi abakhethwe ngohlelo lwesampuli olunenhloso. . Idatha yaqoqwa ngohlelo lwenhlolovo embaxambili kanye nokuhlaziywa kombhalo. Kuye kwavela ulwazi olubalulekile olutholakele ngokusebenzisa uhlelo lokuhlaziya idatha ngokukhipha izigaba kanye nezindikimba. Lolu lwazi olutholakele lugcizelela ukuthi abeluleki bezifundo banolwazi ngobunjalo bohlelo oluxhasa ezemfundo ngendlela eyehlukile. Ulwazi olutholakele lukhombisa ukuthi abeluleki bezifundo babhekene nezinselelo ezibenza ukuba bangakwazi ukusebenza kahle ohlelweni lokufundisa oluxhasayo.. Ngaphezu kwalokho kuye kwacaca ukuba abeluleki babengaxhaswa ngokwanele mayelana nokuqeqeshwa, ngokuhlinzekwa ngemithombo yezemfundo kanye nangokunciphisa umthamo womsebenzi. Lezi ziphetho kanye nokunye yikho okuye kwakha izincomo ezenziwe futhi ezazihlose ekuthuthukiseni imisebenzi yabeluleki bezifundo. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The study developed and designed a pedagogical content knowledge framework to guide and support the professional development of pedagogical content knowledge to about 130 statistics teachers. It captured the experiences of teachers during the development of pedagogical content knowledge, to come up with the main themes that describe pedagogical content knowledge as the relevant knowledge for teaching Grade 11 and 12 statistics. The study was overall qualitative in nature and supported by some quantitative data. Questionnaires, in-class facilitated tasks/activities, in-class facilitated discussions and observations were used as the main data collection instruments. This process revealed some significant themes, described as “missed opportunities”, which were defined as incidents in which pedagogical content knowledge was needed but not used. The thesis contributes to the theoretical and knowledge base of secondary school statistics teachers in the education system by providing measures that can be used to determine professional development needs of teachers. / Mathematics Education / D. Ed. (Mathematics Education)

School districts face tremendous budget challenges and, as a result, professional development has been "trimmed" from many school budgets. (Habegger & Hodanbosi, 2011). School administrators responsible for planning professional development face a daunting task and often focus on PowerPoints, district mandated training, one-shot presentations, and workshops that are delivered by expensive experts. These types of activities lack teacher collaboration, time for sharing of ideas and opportunity for reflection and analysis (Torff & Byrnes, 2011, Coggins, Zuckerman & Mckelvey, 2010). The problem addressed in this study is that teacher professional development is usually planned by school administrators who are provided little support or training. This study used the problem-based learning approach designed by Bridges and Hallinger (1995) to determine the usefulness of a handbook for principals to utilize as they plan professional development. The handbook was developed, field tested and revised using Borg and Gall's (2003) research and development cycle. This qualitative study included surveys, observations, interviews and workshops to determine the usefulness of the handbook. The study consisted of preliminary field testing and product revision followed by the main field testing. The main field test was a workshop for K-12 school and district level administrators on how to use the handbook in planning meaningful, ongoing teacher professional development. The data collected in this study determined that the handbook,Teachers Teaching Teachers: Designing Successful Teacher Professional Development on a Shoestring Budget, is a useful tool for school administrators responsible for planning teacher professional development.