published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

The study identifies the challenges in the implementation of Inclusive Education in the Umgungundlovu District of Education and establishes the possible solutions. The basis for this investigation is the Education White Paper 6, Special Needs Education: Building an Inclusive Education and Training System (Department of Education, 2001). The study was conducted in the Umgungundlovu District of Education in the area of Pietermaritzburg. A qualitative research method was used. Data collection strategies that were used are structured interviews, observation and a questionnaire. The study reveals the following challenges that hamper theimplementation;Negative attitudes of some educators and parents towards inclusion, lack of Skills Development Programmes for educators, minimal involvement of parents as well as lack of infrastructural development. These challenges could be dealt with by appointing a Manager within the District to ensure that advocacy on Inclusive Education, training of educators and infrastructural improvement in all schools are done. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The purpose of this study was to explore solution strategies that can enhance the achievement of low-performing Grade 12 learners in the following mathematical aspects: finding the general term of a quadratic sequence, factorising third degree polynomials, determining the centre and radius of a circle, and calculating the angle between two lines. A convenience sample of twenty-five low-performing Grade 12 learners from a secondary school in Capricorn District of Limpopo Province participated in the study which adopted a repeated-measures research design. Learners were exposed to multiple solution strategies and data were collected using achievement tests. Findings indicated significant differences in learners‟ average scores due to the solution strategies used. In determining the general term of a quadratic sequence, learners‟ scores were significantly higher when they used formula and the table method than with the method of residues and solving simultaneous equations. Synthetic division made learners to achieve better scores than long division and equating coefficients in factorising third degree polynomials. The use of formulae to find the centre and radius of a circle made learners to have better achievement scores than completing the square. In calculating the angle between two lines learners‟ scores were better using formula and the cosine rule than using theorems. It was concluded that exposing low-performing Grade 12 learners to multiple solution strategies would enhance their achievement in the mathematical aspects explored in the study. Some of the solution strategies that made learners to achieve better results were not in the prescribed mathematics textbooks. The study therefore recommends that mathematics teaching should not be textbook-driven and that low-performing Grade 12 learners should not be regarded as beyond redemption. / Mathematics Education / M.Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Notre thèse propose une réflexion sur une stratégie de mise au travail d’élèves à risque de décrochage. Elle s’attache à étudier la mise en place d’un dispositif d’éducation artistique et culturelle en cycles 2 et 3.L’analyse de ce dernier, aboutissant à la création de quatre albums, tente de mettre en exergue les résultats de notre médiation pédagogique. Plus particulièrement, notre étude se propose d’observer, comprendre et accompagner la mise au travail des élèves sous-réalisateurs, au sein d’ateliers d’écriture et d’arts visuels, pour apprendre en agissant et en créant. Nous avons donc envisagé de les mettre au travail grâce à une activité de créativité permettant de les impliquer afin qu’ils retrouvent un intérêt pour les apprentissages fondamentaux. Ainsi, lors d’activités animées par un auteur-illustrateur, il a été question de repérer l’engagement de ces élèves. Notre cadre théorique et méthodologique d’analyse des données du «cours d’expérience» s’appuie sur les traces de leur activité.Les données de cette étude longitudinale ont été recueillies au cours d’observations directes dans une classe faisant l’objet d’un suivi de cohorte d’élèves, du CE1 au CM2. Les hypothèses sont celles de la mise au travail par la créativité définissant le processus émergeant de ce dispositif de création d’albums favorisant l’accès au monde de l’imaginaire. Il apparaît clairement que l’adaptation au milieu a aidé ces élèves à mieux s'intégrer et devenir des acteurs en s’inspirant de leurs champs d’intérêt. Ils ont su mobiliser la référence picturale pour construire leurs histoires et s’inspirer de leur propre vécu pour en faire de la fiction. Cette recherche démontre combien les élèves sous-réalisateurs ont pu être encouragés à se remobiliser sur les savoirs à l’aide de ce processus de créativité. Toutefois, d’autres recherches s’imposent pour approfondir nos propres résultats en ce qui concerne le ré-engagement scolaire et l’intégration des élèves sous réalisateurs, à l’aide de processus de créativité, dans d'autres dispositifs. / In our thesis consideration could be given to a strategy in order to re-engage « early school leaving » pupils. It focuses on a mediation in an experimental class of arts and cultural education, in cycles 2 and 3, developed as a tool for school mobilization. The analysis of this device, leading to the creation of four albums in children's literature, tries to highlight the results of our educational mediation. Specifically, our study sets out to observe, understand and support underachieving pupils (from 7 to 11 years old) in a school within a socio-economically disadvantaged area. We were able to identify, within writing and visual arts workshops, how pupils became engaged in activities, in order to learn by doing and creating.Pupils actively participated in classwork comprising an activity of creativity allowing them to become motivated to learn. So, the study focused on whether this increased engagement was due to taking part in activities with an author-illustrator.Our theoretical and methodological framework for analysis of data from the "process of experience" is based on activity tracks (what is emerging from the pre-reflexive consciousness). The data in thislongitudinal study were collected during direct observations in a classroom (from the 2nd year to the 5th year of primary school).. The study hypothesis argues that increased pupil engagement was as a result of the creative process involved in the creation of albums promoting access to the world of imagination. In addition these pupils became more integrated into the life of the school. They became actors by being inspired by their own fields of interest. They learned how to articulate the required pictorial reference needed for their stories. The pupils were inspired to see their own real-life experience being used as the basis of a work of fiction.This study demonstrates how underachieving pupils could be encouraged to re-engage with school through participation in this creative process. Further research is required to find out whether this creative approach could be adopted in other areas of the curriculum to support the integration of underachieving pupils in school.

The study identifies the challenges in the implementation of Inclusive Education in the Umgungundlovu District of Education and establishes the possible solutions. The basis for this investigation is the Education White Paper 6, Special Needs Education: Building an Inclusive Education and Training System (Department of Education, 2001). The study was conducted in the Umgungundlovu District of Education in the area of Pietermaritzburg. A qualitative research method was used. Data collection strategies that were used are structured interviews, observation and a questionnaire. The study reveals the following challenges that hamper theimplementation;Negative attitudes of some educators and parents towards inclusion, lack of Skills Development Programmes for educators, minimal involvement of parents as well as lack of infrastructural development. These challenges could be dealt with by appointing a Manager within the District to ensure that advocacy on Inclusive Education, training of educators and infrastructural improvement in all schools are done. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The purpose of this study was to explore solution strategies that can enhance the achievement of low-performing Grade 12 learners in the following mathematical aspects: finding the general term of a quadratic sequence, factorising third degree polynomials, determining the centre and radius of a circle, and calculating the angle between two lines. A convenience sample of twenty-five low-performing Grade 12 learners from a secondary school in Capricorn District of Limpopo Province participated in the study which adopted a repeated-measures research design. Learners were exposed to multiple solution strategies and data were collected using achievement tests. Findings indicated significant differences in learners‟ average scores due to the solution strategies used. In determining the general term of a quadratic sequence, learners‟ scores were significantly higher when they used formula and the table method than with the method of residues and solving simultaneous equations. Synthetic division made learners to achieve better scores than long division and equating coefficients in factorising third degree polynomials. The use of formulae to find the centre and radius of a circle made learners to have better achievement scores than completing the square. In calculating the angle between two lines learners‟ scores were better using formula and the cosine rule than using theorems. It was concluded that exposing low-performing Grade 12 learners to multiple solution strategies would enhance their achievement in the mathematical aspects explored in the study. Some of the solution strategies that made learners to achieve better results were not in the prescribed mathematics textbooks. The study therefore recommends that mathematics teaching should not be textbook-driven and that low-performing Grade 12 learners should not be regarded as beyond redemption. / Mathematics Education / M.Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

Despite educational legislation and school reforms to promote improved performance and quality education, underperformance among secondary school learners is still the norm in the rural schools of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This dissertation investigates the problem of learner underachievement by means of a literature study and an empirical inquiry. The former provides an overview of the provisions for and problems of rural schooling in both an international and local context and it is followed by a discussion of learner assessment and learner achievement in the South African education system, with specific reference to KZN's schooling system and the problem of learner underachievement. The empirical inquiry investigates the experience of learner achievement in four rural schools in KZN and makes use of qualitative data gathered during individual and focus group interviews conducted with a small sample of underachieving learners and their parents, educators and school managers. Based on these findings, recommendations for improvement are made. / Comparative Education / M.A. (Comparative Education)

A literature and an empirical study were undertaken to investigate home factors affecting the academic performance of a group of learners in three primary schools in the Brits district. From the literature it became evident that the early years of an individual's life are critical for development, especially cognitive development. Parents, as a child's primary educators have an important role to play in their child's cognitive development. By establishing a challenging and stimulating environment in which the child is exposed to a variety of experiences, the parents can enhance their child's cognitive development and by implication his/her later academic performance. Various other factors such as parental involvement, expectations, parenting style and home background were found to affect a child's academic performance. In the empirical study a group of academic achievers and underachievers were compared with regards to early cognitive stimulation received, degree of parental involvement and the quality of their homes. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om die ekstrinsieke en intrinsieke oorsake van leermislukking met spesifieke verwysing na skole in die Windhoek stadsgebied te bepaal en om aanbevelings te doen hoe om leermislukking teen te werk. Leermislukking en druiping is onrusbarend hoog in skole in die Windhoek stadsgebied. Nadat die Ministerie van Onderwys die semi-outomatiese promoveringstelsel ingestel het, het druiping afgeneem maar leermislukking het toegeneem omdat leerders gepromoveer word sander dat hulle sukses in die vorige graad behaal het. Volgens die literatuurstudie lê die oorsake van leermislukking by die ouerhuis, die skool, die omgewing en in die leerder self. Die empiriese ondersoek toon ooreenkomste met die literatuurstudie wat betref die oorsake van leermislukking. Om die oorsake teen te werk • moet onderwysers beter opgelei word • moet die ouers meer bewus gemaak word van hulle rot in die leersukses van hulle kinders. • is meer skoolgeboue en onderwysers nodig om kleiner klasse te bewerkstellig. / The purpose of this research is to establish the extrinsic and intrinsic causes of learning failure with specific reference to schools in the Windhoek municipal area and to make recommendations to counteract learning failure. Learning failure and grade failing are disconcertingly high in schools in the Windhoek municipal area. After the Ministry of Education implemented the semi-automatic promotion system, grade failing decreased, but learning failure increased because learners are promoted without achieving success in a prior grade. According to the literature study, the causes of learning failure are to be found in the home, the school, the environment, and the learner. Similarities regarding the causes of learning failure were found in the empirical investigation and the literature study. To counteract these causes • teachers should be better trained • parents should become more aware of their role in the learning success of their children • more school buildings and teachers are needed to limit class sizes. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Spesiale Behoeftes Onderwys)