M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The Constitution of South Africa and its Bill of Rights places a lot of emphasis and importance on the Rights of children. This is further emphasized by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that every child has the inherent right to life, and the State shall ensure, to the maximum, child survival and development. Beside the State, the parents also have the primary responsibility for a child's upbringing (UN Convention, 1998). The South African constitution is regarded as one of the best in the world. The process was consultative and the constitution is the supreme law of the country. Among other things, the constitution ensures that all citizens are equally entitled to the rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship. This includes the children who are protected by the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom (Act 108 of 1996: chapter 2).

A country’s competitive advantage is linked to its educational outcomes. South Africa, as a developing country wants to shift from being a resource based economy to being a knowledge based economy. To enable such a shift, schools must be able to graduate learners who are adequately prepared for the demands of institutions of higher learning. Schools, therefore, must become centres of excellence and a culture of performance must be prevalent in schools. The National Development Plan as outlined by the National Planning Commission (2011) identified education as one of the pillars from which South Africa’s economy will be driven. However, recent studies have rated South Africa’s education system as one of the worst among middle income economies and sometimes even worse than many low-income African economies. To bridge that gap, there is a need to drive schools to be centres of excellence. This study sought to identify factors that influence a performance culture in schools. In order to achieve this objective, literature was scanned and five factors that influence a performance culture were identified (organisational school climate, teacher attitude, school managerial processes, organisational school value and organisational school structure). These factors were initially identified and used by Marcoulides and Heck (1993) in a corporate organisation and later adopted for testing in a school setting by Gomez, Marcoulides and Heck (2012). A school in Johannesburg East district was sampled through convenience sampling and data was collected through a questionnaire which was administered to the principal, teachers and staff, school governing board members, parents and alumni of the school. The total sample was 120 and a total of 94 questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 78 percent. Descriptive statistical techniques were performed to establish the mean and standard deviation of perceptions among the respondents. Inferential statistical techniques were used to measure and ascertain reliability through Cronbach’s alpha, comparisons of responses through t-testing and ANOVA, association through correlation and hypotheses were tested through multiple regression analysis. All the variables were found to be valid and reliable. Furthermore, statistical results revealed that in the sampled school, even though all the five factors had an association among each other, only organisational school culture and organisational school value had an association to the dependent variable, performance culture. Organisational school value, however, was found to be the only variable of great influence to performance culture at the sampled school. The ideologies and activities that represent the values, therefore, influence the performance culture of a school.

In order to continue their contribution to the profession of psychology in South Africa the selection committees of psychology departments of higher education institutions are faced with the difficult task of selecting the most suitable candidates to fill their Clinical, Counselling, Educational and Industrial Psychology masters coursework programmes. Selection committees have traditionally made use of several admission criteria and procedures ranging from academic performance to personality assessment to a combination of methods. Admission criteria vary greatly across Higher Education Institutions. The selection committee at the selected participating institution of higher education takes into account the prospective students' academic performance, relevant work or practical experience, research experience, active participation in the classroom, active involvement outside of the classroom (participation in and engagement with community activities), and personality. Currently the institution of higher education that provided the sample for the current study employs the NEO PI-R as well as the MMPI-2 to assess masters applicants’ personality traits. A study by Britz (1994) recommended that the MBTI® be included in the assessment battery for psychology masters students. The primary aim of the proposed study is to identify, explore and describe the personality preferences of a group of prospective psychology masters applicants and a group of successfully selected psychology masters students at a South African Higher Education Institution utilising the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®). The study was exploratory descriptive in nature and was based on the quantitative research approach. Non-probability convenience sampling and the survey method was utilised to identify and approach prospective participants. Participants were requested to complete the MBTI® questionnaire. The MBTI® protocols were hand-scored and the findings analysed utilising frequency distributions and inferential statistics, that is, means and standard deviations. The MBTI® was found to be valid and reliable in a variety of populations and contexts. xi Results indicated that the ISTJ (15 percent), INTP (15 percent) and ESFJ (15 percent) personality types were the three most common personality types amongst participants from the group of prospective psychology masters applicants. The ENFP (13 percent), INTP (13 percent) and ISFJ (13 percent) personality types were the three most common personality types amongst participants from the group of successfully selected masters students. The majority (14 percent) of participants from the total sample displayed a preference for the INTP personality type. An examination of the dichotomous personality types of the participants revealed that the majority of participants preferred the Extraversion attitude, Sensing and Thinking functions, and Judgement attitude.

Student success rates in South African higher education institutions are unacceptable. There are many contextual challenges facing these institutions, some as a result of the legacy of the apartheid educational system and some related to the challenges surrounding increased access to higher education. The impact in terms of the costs associated with re-educating students and the added pressure of readmitting failed students into continually growing classes, are substantial. In addition, there is a growing contention that the level of preparedness of students is declining. All of these challenges place immense pressure on academics to support students and ensure acceptable pass rates. There are numerous factors, both academic and non-academic, which have an influence on academic success including prior academic achievement, the academic experience, institutional expectations and commitment, finances, family support and university support services. Many factors are beyond the control of higher education. Student engagement, however, appears to be one factor over which educators have some control. Student engagement may be defined as student involvement in educationally purposive activities. For the purposes of this study two main factors contributing to student engagement were explored. Firstly, the amount of time and effort that the student spends on academic and other activities that lead to experiences and outcomes that constitute academic success. This factor was termed “student behaviours”. Secondly, the ways in which the institution allocates resources and organises learning opportunities and services in such a way as to induce the student to participate in and benefit from these activities. This factor was termed “institutional conditions”. The main research problem of this study was to determine the influence of student engagement on the academic success of first-year Human Resource Management (HRM) students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The main research problem had five sub-problems which were addressed through the following actions: A literature study was conducted, highlighting the challenges faced in higher education, building a case for student engagement and identifying the factors that contribute towards student engagement, more specifically the student behaviours and institutional conditions. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with staff members lecturing first-year HRM diploma students at NMMU, with students registered as second- and third-year HRM diploma students, and with a staff member of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Media (CTLM) at NMMU, to obtain their views on the nature of student engagement and its impact on academic success, as well as the student behaviours and institutional conditions that contribute towards student engagement. The insights gained from the literature survey and the interviews were incorporated into a survey questionnaire which was developed for use in the empirical study to identify the existence and levels of the student behaviours and perceived institutional conditions that contributed towards student engagement among HRM diploma students who were in their first year of study at NMMU in 2012. The final year marks achieved by these HRM diploma students in their first year of study were obtained and correlated with the levels of engagement identified as part of the empirical study. The results of the study revealed that the respondents demonstrated a fair range of the student behaviours which are conducive to promoting student engagement. Their perception of the existence of institutional conditions conducive to promoting student engagement was good. The results also revealed a significant positive correlation between the average final year mark and “student-staff interaction” for both student behaviours and institutional conditions. A significant relationship was revealed between student behaviours and institutional conditions related to “academic focus”, “student-staff interaction” and “social integration”. In exploring the relationship between selected demographic variables and academic success, living arrangements emerged as an important consideration in promoting academic success as all the respondents who failed, lived far from the university. First generation learners were found not to achieve the levels of success of their peers who have had exposure to family members and significant others with tertiary experience. Overall the importance of good relationships between students and staff in promoting engagement and ensuring academic success emerged as an important factor. The importance of improving student success rates should be of paramount importance to all educators. The factors contributing towards student success are numerous and vast. Educators who understand the nature of student engagement and are aware of the student behaviours and institutional conditions that can be promoted in the higher education setting to improve engagement could become more effective in improving student success rates. Their efforts could be further enhanced if students are made aware of how their behaviour, understanding and utilisation of the resources, learning opportunities and services provided by the institution, can positively influence their academic success.

This study assessed the personal, career and learning skills needs of 196 psychology students (M= 56, F= 103). The preferred means of counselling assistance, preferred experience of counselling and preferred counselling provider were also assessed. The most highly endorsed needs were time management skills (83.5 percent, n=162), learning test-taking strategies (82 percent, n=159), job search strategies (73.6 percent, n=142), increasing self-confidence (70.3 percent, n=135), increasing motivation (72.4 percent, n=134), controlling anxiety and nervousness (68.7 percent, n=134), public speaking anxiety (68.4percent, n=134), understanding career interests and abilities (67.5 percent, n=131), fear of failure (68.1 percent, n=130), and improving study skills (66.5 percent, n=129). Significant sex differences were found for the following, finding a greater purpose in life, controlling weight, job search strategies, concerns about career choice, understanding career interests and abilities in the selection of major subjects and improving study skills. Males highly endorsed the need for finding a greater purpose in life, job search strategies, and concern about career choice, understanding career interest and abilities, selection of major subjects and to improve study skills, whereas females endorsed the need for controlling weight. Respondents indicated individual counselling as being their preferred means of counselling assistance, but lectures were the most prevalent means of assistance previously received by respondents. Most respondents (78.1 percent) found the assistance they had received to be helpful.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Linking access with success in South African higher education has become vital. There is a clear necessity to identify and rigorously research factors contributing to student success that are within the institutions sphere of influence so that institutional policies and practices can be intentionally aligned and designed to create conducive conditions for student success This study documents the key indicators of student success based on a sample of BComm Accounting students enrolled at CTI Education group (MGI)/Durban Campus from 2009 to 2011. Using data collected from 54 students enrolled in the three groups, this study investigates whether or not matriculation aggregate scores as well as selected individual matric subject scores (including Mathematics proficiency, English language proficiency and Accounting) and demographic information (such as gender, race, socio-economic status, and first-generational status) are key indicators of success for students enrolled in BComm Accounting at CTI Education group/Durban Campus from 2009 to 2011. Qualitative and quantitative data have been collected and incorporated into the econometric model. Qualitative data such as gender, ethnicity and parent level of education have been used as dummy variables and were analysed using either Pearson or Spearman’s correlation tests. Due to the disparity in performance of students, the researcher sought to use the descriptive econometric model. The data (qualitative and quantitative) have been analysed using mostly descriptive methods and to a less extent the Ordinary Least Squares through Stata software. The findings of this study show that: • In all three samples average matric score proved to be a significant indicator of student academic success at the end of the first-year; • In all three samples, the first step of the model (Gender, ethnicity and first generational of students) did not explain a significant amount of the percentage of student academic success at the end of the first-year for the three cohorts; • From 2009 to 2011, the overall results suggested a significant difference between students who lived close to campus and those who travelled a long distance to campus; • In all three samples the Age variable did not explain a significant correlation between the variable Age and student academic success at the end of the first-year. / M

The poor matric results currently in the Soweto Township Secondary Schools are a cause for concern. This study aims to explore and understand the role of the principal on learner achievement. It transpired from the reviewed literature that the instructional leadership theory was helpful in providing insights into understanding issues of principals leading or supporting learner achievement efforts within the school context. This study relied on in-depth taped interviews with school principals, curriculum deputy principals and focus group discussions with the Representative Council of Learners (RCL), together with the documentary analysis to answer the research question and sub–questions. The sample schools were selected purely on the previous, “academic excellence.” This study also investigated what students, teachers and deputy principals perceive principals to do to influence learner achievement. The study discovered that the scope of principals‟ influence on learner achievement varies from one school to the next. The influence was both direct and at times mediated. The findings were that instructional leadership was a dominant style of leadership in the schools studied, as students identified direct and highly influential instructional leadership behaviours. It also transpired that the critical role of the principal to influence and enhance learner achievement was to manage teaching and learning, which is the core business of the school.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship that exists between academic self-concept, motivation and academic achievement at the University of the Free State. The primary aim of this study was to determine if academic self-concept and motivation of quantity surveying students at the University of the Free State could predict their level of academic achievement. The sample was selected by means of convenience sampling. Relevant literature indicated that there are contrasting findings about whether a relationship exists between students’ academic self-concepts and motivation, and academic achievement. The empirical investigation revealed that there are only significant correlations between academic self-concept, motivation and academic achievement in some of the study year levels and not in all of them. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Adult education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship that exists between academic self-concept, motivation and academic achievement at the University of the Free State. The primary aim of this study was to determine if academic self-concept and motivation of quantity surveying students at the University of the Free State could predict their level of academic achievement. The sample was selected by means of convenience sampling. Relevant literature indicated that there are contrasting findings about whether a relationship exists between students’ academic self-concepts and motivation, and academic achievement. The empirical investigation revealed that there are only significant correlations between academic self-concept, motivation and academic achievement in some of the study year levels and not in all of them. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Adult education)

This research has as its objective to discover the extent to which Grade 12 learners receive the appropriate support required in conducting their studies efficiently and effectively. The main aim of the study is to help to improve the quality of the results and the pass rate of Grade 12 learners in the Mankweng Area, Limpopo Province. The aim of the investigation is to gather information about the learner support structures in use in sampled schools. There is a need for a Learner Support System to assist learners to perform well at schools. A literature study is conducted to explore and to identify gaps in the literature. The study will assist the researcher to emerge with ways and means of improving the quality of effective use of Learner Support Systems in schools. It is anticipated that the findings and recommendations of the study will enhance the plans of the Limpopo Department of Education strategies of improving the quality of teaching and learning support in the province. / Educational Studies / M. Ed (Education Management)