published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Mathematics has always been a problem at schools, colleges and universities and to address this problem the South African government has introduced a new subject called Mathematical Literacy into schools and colleges. Since this subject places the emphasis on real-life contexts, there has been a special focus on its management at schools and colleges so that its implementation is done in an efficient way. This study therefore focuses on the experiences and interactions of managers of this new subject and how their leadership can improve performance in it. In addition to the literature review, an empirical investigation based on a qualitative approach and involving semi-structured interviews with managers of three public TVET colleges in the Western Cape was conducted to collect data. The other method used was the analysis of documents relevant to the study. The research found that managers of Mathematical Literacy have varying experiences in both their roles and the implementation of the subject. They also face varied challenges in relation to lecturers and students although there are also similarities regarding these at the different colleges in the study. The strategies of instructional leadership in intervention methods to improve performance in the subject which are encouraged by managers also differ, and some have better results than others. Various methods to empower lecturers are recommended. Recommendations are also made on what was found in this study, as are recommendations for further study. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

To develop leaders for the 21st century, schools must be able to prepare students to meet the high academic, technical and workforce challenges. Charter schools are increasingly attempting to meet these challenges by educating students through innovative means and by creating effectual educational programs that are more conducive to the needs of the student. This document provides a computer literacy curriculum, which will facilitate student learning of computer literacy skills.

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Zulu / The majority of the learners completing Grade 12 in South Africa (SA) further their studies in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETCs). This is because, among other things, colleges seem to be more affordable and accessible in most communities in all the provinces (SA). However, many of these students appear to be struggling to complete their studies owing to failure to complete the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) module, which is a prerequisite for graduating and becoming employable. The researcher was interested to know how the WIL module affects the completion of students’ studies. The researcher approached the investigation as an idealist (constructivist) using a case study design. Data was collected through the semi-structured and focus groups interviews. It was found that, among other things, the WIL module was seldom completed owing to its reliance on the availability of jobs. In addition, the lack of jobs for college students was a result of the curriculum mismatch with employers’ actual needs, in Business Studies in particular. Correspondingly, the Fourth Industrial Revolution threatens job losses, which are likely to affect those with qualifications in Business Studies, hence its selection for this investigation. To address this, the researcher proposed a model which requires the colleges, businesses, government and the communities to collaborate in the creation of projects that cater for the needs of the different communities. Such projects could also help to update the curriculum to be more responsive. In this way, more opportunities for WIL could be created for students. In addition, the researcher proposed three phases for the integration of WIL, and colleges could decide on each depending on their programme specifications. The researcher concludes that no matter how good the models, without collaboration WIL could remain a constraint and qualifications could become meaningless owing to the lack of jobs. Subsequently, the researcher suggests that more research be conducted in line with the development or growth of the business sector. The findings of this study were limited to four selected colleges in the four provinces of SA, yet are applicable and useful to all higher education in the world. / Die meerderheid van die leerders wat graad 12 in Suid-Afrika (SA) voltooi, studeer in die Tegniese en Beroepsonderwys- en Opleidingskolleges (TVETC's). Dit is omdat onder meer kolleges meer bekostigbaar en toeganklik is in die meeste gemeenskappe in al die provinsies (SA). Die meeste van hierdie studente sukkel egter om hul studies te voltooi vanweë die gebrek aan die Work Integrated Learning (WIL) -module, wat 'n voorvereiste is vir die graduering en indiensneming. Die navorser was geïnteresseerd om te weet hoe die WIL-module studente beïnvloed om hul studies te voltooi. Die navorser het die ondersoek benader as 'n idealis (konstruktivis) met behulp van 'n gevallestudie-ontwerp. Data is versamel deur middel van die semi-gestruktureerde en fokusgroeponderhoude. Daar is gevind dat die WIL-module onder andere skaars voltooi is as gevolg van die afhanklikheid van die beskikbaarheid van poste. Daarbenewens was die gebrek aan werk vir universiteitstudente die gevolg van die kurrikulumverskuiwing wat strydig was met die behoeftes van die werkgewers, veral sakestudies. Daarmee saam dreig die Vierde Industriële Revolusie oor werkverliese, wat waarskynlik persone met kwalifikasies uit die sakestudies sal beïnvloed, en daarom gekies vir hierdie ondersoek. Om dit aan te spreek, het die navorser 'n model voorgestel wat vereis dat kolleges, ondernemings, die regering en die gemeenskappe moet saamwerk, en 'n paar projekte skep om in die behoeftes van die verskillende gemeenskappe te voorsien. Sulke projekte kan ook help om die kurrikulum op te dateer vir meer respons. Op hierdie manier kan meer geleenthede vir WIL vir studente geskep word. Daarbenewens het die navorser die drie fases vir die integrasie van WIL voorgestel, en kolleges kan self besluit, afhangende van hul programspesifikasies. Die navorser kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat WIL, ongeag hoe goed die modelle sonder samewerking is, 'n beperking kan bly, en dat kwalifikasies betekenisloos sou raak van wee die gebrek aan werk. Vervolgens stel die navorser voor dat meer navorsing gedoen moet word in ooreenstemming met die ontwikkeling of groei van die sakesektor. Die bevindings van hierdie studie was beperk tot die vier geselekteerde kolleges in die vier provinsies van SA, maar tog toepaslik en nuttig vir alle hoër onderwys in die wêreld. / Iningi labafundi abaphothula iBanga le-12 eSouth Africa (SA) baqhubekisela phambili izifundo zabo emaKholeji wezobuchwepheshe nezokuqeqeshwa (i-TVETCs). Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi, phakathi kokunye, amakolishi abukeka engabizi kakhulu futhi ayatholakala emiphakathini eminingi kuzo zonke izifundazwe (SA). Kodwa-ke, iningi lalaba bafundi libonakala linenkinga yokuphothula izifundo zabo ngenxa yokwehluleka ukuqeda imodyuli ye-Work Integrated Learning (WIL), okuyimfuneko yokuqala yokuthola iziqu nokuqashwa. Umcwaningi wayethanda ukwazi ukuthi imojula ye-WIL ikuthinta kanjani ukuphothulwa kwezifundo zabafundi. Umcwaningi asondele kulolu phenyo njengento efanelekayo (i-constructivist) esebenzisa umklamo wokufunda icala. Idatha yaqoqwa ngokuxoxisana namaqembu ahlelwe ngokwedlule. Kwatholakala ukuthi, phakathi kokunye, imodyuli ye-WIL yayingavunyelwe ukuqedwa ngenxa yokuncika kwayo ekutholakaleni kwemisebenzi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuntuleka kwemisebenzi kwabafundi basekolishi bekungumphumela wokungalingani kahle kwekharikhulamu ngezidingo zangempela zabaqashi, ezifundweni zeBhizinisi. Ngokunjalo, i-Fourth Industrial Revolution isongela ukulahleka kwemisebenzi, okungenzeka ukuthi ithinte labo abaneziqu ku-Business Studies, yingakho ukukhethwa kwayo kulolu phenyo. Ukubhekana nalokhu, umcwaningi uhlongoze imodeli edinga ukuthi amakolishi, amabhizinisi, uhulumeni kanye nemiphakathi basebenzisane ekwenziweni kwamaphrojekthi anakekela izidingo zemiphakathi ehlukahlukene. Amaphrojekthi anjalo futhi angasiza ukuvuselela ikharikhyulamu ukuthi iphenduleke ngokwengeziwe. Ngale ndlela, amathuba amaningi e-WIL angakhelwa abafundi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umcwaningi uhlongoze izigaba ezintathu zokuhlanganiswa kwe-WIL, futhi amakolishi anganquma ngakunye ngokuya ngemininingwane yohlelo lwabo. Umcwaningi uphetha ngokuthi noma ngabe amamodeli amahle kangakanani, ngaphandle kokubambisana u-WIL angahlala eyisibopho futhi iziqu zingaba yizezi ngenxa yokuntuleka kwemisebenzi. Ngemuva kwalokho, umcwaningi uphakamisa ukuthi kwenziwa ucwaningo olwengeziwe ngokuhambisana nokukhula noma ukukhula komkhakha webhizinisi. Ukutholwa kwalolu cwaningo bekukhawulelwe kumakholiji amane akhethiwe ezifundazweni ezine ze-SA, kodwa asasebenza futhi alusizo kuyo yonke imfundo ephakeme emhlabeni. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Considering that Mpumalanga province has a large petrochemical plant owned by a multinational company that runs and owns mines, the province should abound with employment opportunities for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college graduates, especially those from the local Gert Sibande TVET College. However, students with TVET college qualifications struggle to attract employment. Therefore, this study explored the question, “What can TVET providers in Mpumalanga do to enhance students’ employability?” The research was conducted in a selected TVET college in the province. The study employed a qualitative approach and an interpretive paradigm. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus groups and document analysis. The identities of all respondents were protected. Upon analysis of the results, several measures that the TVET college, stakeholders and employers could employ, emerged. There was a lack of proper skills for graduates, qualifications without relevance and employers hardly acknowledging the TVET college qualifications. Some of the recommendations made include collaboration, relationship building between stakeholders and revision of the National Certificate (Vocational) [NC-(V)] curriculum. Topics for future research are also suggested. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Abstract is in English, Zulu and Afrikaans / South Africa is facing a challenge regarding the shortage of South African (SA) engineers. The National Certificate (Vocational) (NC(V)) was introduced by Department of Education (DoE) in 2007 to address this challenge. However, there has been a cry and dissatisfaction from the government, industry, community and other stakeholders that NC(V) engineering curriculum is not addressing the shortage of engineers. SA has one engineer per 2 600 people compared to international norms, where one engineer serves 40 people. It has been ten years since the introduction of NC(V) curriculum, SA should not be in this state of importing engineers if the NC(V) engineering is achieving the goals of National Development Plan 2030. Since lecturers are the implementers of the NC(V) engineering curriculum, it was necessary to investigate their experiences in search for improvement of the curriculum and to find out the challenges facing lecturers which are hindering the success of this curriculum. Lecturers, Senior Lecturers and a Head of Department (HoD) as the primary implementers of the engineering curriculum were involved in the study as participants. There were 15 participants for this study who are lecturing in one selected college but at two different campuses which is why the qualitative research approach was employed, making use of a multiple case study. They took part in semi-structured individual interviews and shared their experiences with the researcher. Their experiences revealed that lecturers are experiencing challenges with the implementation of NC(V) engineering curriculum. Their main challenge was the minimum requirement, which is a Grade 9 pass. Their concern was that no matter what they try, a learner who has not mastered Mathematics up to Grade 12 will struggle with engineering subjects. Emanating from this challenge, low attendance rate, low pass rate, low throughput rate and high drop-out rate is experienced by participants every year. One of the aims of the Transformative Learning Theory (used as one of the theories in the theoretical framework) is to allow lecturers to identify challenges and design improvement plans on their own. This study has indicated that Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges have challenges that are hindering teaching and learning. It was evident that some lecturers believe that government officials should resolve such challenges. However, on engaging with different lecturers they realised that they have the capacity to address classroom-based challenges. If this can be the case in every college, teaching and learning will improve because that will mean lecturers are focusing on teaching and learning and taking ownership of their subjects and students. The governance challenges, such as reviewing the NC(V) curriculum yearly, provide subject specific training to upskill lecturers and implementing Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in the professional development of lecturers were recommended to be addressed by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). / INingizimu Afrika ibhekene nenselelo mayelana nokusweleka konjiniyela. Uhlelo lwemfundo iNational Certificate (Vocational) (NC(V)) lwethulwa wuMnyango wezeMfundo ngonyaka ka 2007 ukuze uxazulule le nkinga. Yize-kunjalo kuye kwaba khona ukungagculiseki ngasohlangothini lukahulumeni, lwezimboni, lomphakathi kanye nakwezinye izinhlaka ezidlala indima yenkinga yokuntuleka konjiniyela. INingizimu Afrika (SA) inonjiniyela oyedwa kubantu abayi 2 600 uma iqhathaniswa nezinga lomhlaba lokuthi unjiniyela oyedwa kufanele ibhekane nabantu abayi 40. Sekudlule iminyaka eyishumi selokhu kwethulwa lezi zinhlelo, ngakho-ke, iSA akufanele izithole isesimeni sokudinga onjiniyela abavela ngaphandle uma ngabe izinhlelo ezikhona ziyanceda ekufinyeleleni izimpokophelo zoHlelo lwezokuThuthukisa iZwe National Development Plan 2030. Njengoba abafundisi bangabaqhubi bezinhlelo zobunjiniyela, phecelezi NC(V), nokho sasikhona isidingo sokuphenya lokho abahlangabezana nakho ukuze kuthuthukiswe izinhlelo futhi kuvunjululwe izinselele ezibhekene nabafundisi, okuyizinselele ezikhinyabeza impumelelo yalezi zinhlelo. Abafundisi, abafundisi abaphezulu kanye neziNhloko zoMnyango Head of Department (HoD) njengabaqhubi bokuqala bezinhlelo bebebambe iqhaza kulolu cwaningo. Abadlalindima abayi 15 bebefundisa kwikholeji ekhethiwe, kodwa emagatsheni amabili ehlukene, lokho okwenza isizathu kusetshenziswe uhlelo locwaningo oluzinze kwizingxoxo, ngokusebenzisa izinhlobonhlobo zocwaningo lotho. Kwenziwe izinhlolovo ezimbaxambili zocwaningo kanti abadlalindima bavezele umcwaningi ulwazi lwabo. Baye baveza ukuthi behlangabezene nezingqinamba uma besebenzisa izinhlelo zobunjiniyela NC(V). Inselele enkulu abahlangabezene nayo kuye kwaba yisidingo sokuphumelela uGreyidi 9. Inkinga enkulu yabo ukuthi bethi bezama ngamandla kulokho abakwenzayo, umfundi owehluleke esifundweni seMethamethiki ukufikela kuGreyidi 12 uzohlangabezana nobunzima ukuze aphumelele ezifundweni zobunjiniyela. Okubhebhethekiswa yile nselele, yizinga eliphansi labafundi abahambela lesi sifundo, izinga eliphansi labafundi abaphumelelayo kanye nezinga eliphezulu labafundi abayeka ukufunda njalo nje ngonyaka. Enye yezinhloso zethiyori yemfundo eguqulayo (used as one of the theories in the theoretical framework) ukuvumela abafundisi ukuba bakwazi ukubona izinselele futhi badizayine izinhlelo zokuzithuthukisa ngokwabo. Lolu cwaningo luye lwaveza ukuthi amakholeji. Phecelezi Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges ahlangabezene nezinselele eziphazamisa uhlelo lokufunda nokufundisa. Kuye kwacaca ukuthi abanye abafundisi babekholelwa ekutheni abasebenzi bakahulumeni kufanele baxazulule izinselele ezinjengazo lezi. Yize-kunjalo, ngemuva kokuxoxisana nabafundisi abahlukahlukene, baye bazwisisa ukuthi banamandla okuqeda izinselele ezisemagunjini okufunda. Uma ngabe lokhu kuyenzeka ngempela kuwo wonke amakholeji, ngakho-ke uhlelo lokufunda nokufundisa luzothuthuka ngoba lokho kuzochaza ukuthi abafundisi bagxile ohlelweni lokufunda nokufundisa kanti ngokunjalo baba yibo abalawula izifundo kanye nabafundi babo. Izinselele zokuphatha, ezinjengokubuyekezwa kohlelo lwemfundo, phecelezi NC(V) njalo nje ngonyaka, lunikeza ukuqeqeshwa okuthile okuthuthukisa abafundisi. Ukulandela uhlelo lwemfundo oluhlangene nomsebenzi olumayelana nokuthuthukiswa ngokomsebenzi wabafundisi kuyinto enconywe ukuba ilungiswe uMnyango weMfundo ePhakeme kanye nokuQeqeshwa (Department of Higher Education and Training). / ʼn Tekort aan ambagslui staar Suid-Afrika in die gesig. Om hierdie rede het die Departement van Onderwys in 2007 die Nasionale Sertifikaat (Beroepsgerig) (NS(B)) ingestel. Tot die ontevredenheid van die regering, die bedryf, die gemeenskap en ander belanghebbendes vul hierdie kurrikulum nie die tekort aan nie. In Suid-Afrika is daar een ambagspersoon vir elke 2 600 mense teenoor die internasionale norm van een ambagspersoon per 40 mense. Hierdie kurrikulum is meer as tien jaar gelede ingestel en SA moet tans ambagslui invoer. Die oogmerke van die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan 2030 word dus nie verwesenlik nie. Aangesien dosente die NS(B) kurrikulum vir werktuigkundiges implementeer, moes hulle belewenisse ondersoek en hulle probleme bepaal word om die kurrikulum te verbeter. Dosente, senior dosente en departementshoofde, as die implementeerders van hierdie kurrikulum, het aan die studie deelgeneem. Die 15 deelnemers is verbonde aan een kollege wat twee kampusse het. Daarom is ʼn kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering gevolg en ʼn veelvuldige gevallestudie gebruik. ʼn Halfgestruktureerde onderhoud is met elke deelnemer gevoer. Uit die onderhoude blyk dat dosente moeite met die implementering van die NS(B) kurrikulum ondervind. Die grootste struikelblok is die minimumvereiste van Graad 9. Al doen hulle ook wat, ʼn leerder wat nie Graad 12-wiskunde geslaag het nie, sal tegniese vakke nie kan bemeester nie. Afgesien hiervan is die bywonings- en slaagsyfer sowel as die omset jaar na jaar laag en die uitsaksyfer hoog. Die transformatiewe leerteorie is deel van die teoretiese raamwerk. Die oogmerk hiervan is dat dosente self probleme aantoon en met verbeteringsplanne kom. In hierdie studie is bevind dat kolleges vir tegniese beroepsgerigte onderwys en opleiding (TBOO) met probleme te kampe het wat onderrig en leer belemmer. Sommige dosente is van mening dat staatsamptenare hierdie probleme moet oplos. Ná gesprekke het talle dosente egter besef dat hulle oor die vermoë beskik om self hulle klaskamerprobleme op te los. As dit van alle kolleges waar is, sal onderrig en leer verbeter omdat dosente hulle op onderrig en leer sal toespits en vir hulle vakke en studente verantwoordelik sal wees. Vakopleiding word gegee om aan bestuursprobleme, soos die jaarlikse hersiening van die NS(B)-leerplan, die hoof te bied. Daar word aanbeveel dat die Departement van Hoër Onderwys en Opleiding toesien dat werkgeïntegreerde leer deel uitmaak van dosente se professionele ontwikkeling. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)