This research project focuses on skillful conversation as a strategic tool for school success in the Zeerust Central Region. The project is located within the theories of school improvement. The research project set out to investigate the improvement of teaching and learning practices in secondary schools through skillful conversation. The research project is divided into five chapters. Chapter One focuses on the problems arising in schools when there is no skillful conversation. These problems demonstrate that when there is no skillful conversation in a school, it would be difficult for educators to improve their teaching strategies. Skillful conversation was then used in this research as a strategic tool to improve secondary schools. Chapter Two focuses on a literature review about skillful conversation in secondary schools. The main discussion is based on skillful conversation as a strategic tool in managing secondary schools. Reflection and inquiry, competitive advantage and skill conversation as ongoing processes are discussed. The literature review also considers the learning loop for educators and innovation for learner success. Other factors of importance in this research project are parental involvement and external and internal environments. Chapter Three concentrates largely on empirical design. A quantitative research method was used to study the opinions of the population studied. This research was conducted from schools randomly selected out of the 39 secondary schools in the Zeerust Central Region. Chapter Four deals with the analysis and interpretation of data collected from secondary schools. The main focus was on the reliability and validity of the research instrument, which was the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 40 closed-ended items. The questions were designed to obtain the perceptions of educators and principals on skillful conversation as a strategic tool in secondary schools of the Zeerust Central Region. The questionnaire was divided into three sections namely: section A biographical details, section B, whereby each question started with the header ‘how important it is for educators to discuss’ and section C whereby each question started with the header ‘how often do the educators at your school discuss?Of the 40 closed-ended questions only two factors were realised namely, factor one, conversation with everybody and factor two, conversations with the principal. Chapter Five deals with the findings, recommendations and conclusion of the whole research project. / Prof. K.C Moloi

This thesis seeks to be an answer, to the unanswered questions. The writer tries to page back, and find out that which is lost in human kind. The writer tries to find out society in which he was born and nurtured. A society characterised by good morals, virtues, good standards and culture. Something is lost in humanity. What is that? - Morality. The present society seems to contradict the latter society. The present lifestyle seemed to have no morals. If they do, they must have inherited from somewhere. They see to have lost respect for other people's property etc. South Africa's, new dispensation seemed to have eroded Ubuntu away. I am trying to recapture, revive, relive, and resuscitate morality back in the agenda of every South African. How? Moral regeneration is the vision or dream of the South African Deputy President. But I believe it has taken a wrong direction. Politicians cannot lead moral regeneration. Instead the church must lead it, because the church has the spirituality. The answer to moral decay is in the church. The church need to teach, rebuke and lead by example on morality. It shall not compromise its gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, South Africa is facing a serious crisis of sexuality, unfaithfulness in marriages, corruption, unemployment, HIV Aids etc. morality is the broad concept,and in this thesis I've confirmed myself In addressing: sexuality, marriage unfaithfulness and corruption. Moral regeneration can be realised in this country, the church can address unfaithfulness in marriages, sexuality and corruption vigorously. Parliament cannot legislate on these issues. But the church can consciously teach people responsibilities coupled with democracy. Zeerust, is the small town in the North West Province. I have chosen to write this thesis from Zeerust context. The reason being, I have pastoral oversight of Methodist people in Zeerust and surrounding villages. Zeerust shares the same problems the country is facing that of corruption, sexuality and unfaithfulness in marriages. Lastly, the church needs to take seriously the cultural factors of its indigenous people. Before we became Christians, we were Africans. The church must be ready to learn from people's cultures, and the way they kept moral uprightness. Dialogue and consultations is a dire need between the church and the culture, between theologians and African healers. This thesis says the church is the answer to moral regeneration. / Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / lk2013 / Practical Theology / MA(Theol)

D. Tech. Public Management / The aim of this study is to assess the potential for knowledge management and strategic management in improving the low level of community development in Uitvalgrond. It also looks at strategies that can be used to improve the lives of the community members of Uitvalgrond.