Many colleges and training institutions have shifted to Competency-Based Education/Learning (CBE/L) after using the traditional time-credits approach. Students’ achievements and progress are accumulated, not only by credit hours for theoretical knowledge but also, through demonstrating their practical competences. In CBE/L, students are assessed based on their ability to perform specific tasks using the knowledge and skills (competencies) required for each task in their academic course, regardless of how long such progression might take. The traditional method of learning was time-based on course credits, which last for a specific period of time, and through which students are learning more theoretical knowledge than practical or applied knowledge and skills. This quantitative study was designed to establish whether CBE/L had a significant impact on students’ achievements in knowledge and skills based on their college and marketplace assessments. It has also explored whether the CBE/L approach had a significant impact on employers’ decisions to recruit CBE/L graduates in comparison with traditional credit-based graduates. A survey targeting Kuwait major workplaces has been conducted online and 442 replies was received in addition to the utilization and analysis of archiving data from Kuwait College for Technological Studies (CTS), Kuwait Civil Services Commission (KCSC), and Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). CTS has also provided the researcher with a large number of documents that show their planning, implementation, and follow-up processes, as well as their agreements with various workplace sectors and government entities. After conducting the analysis for the survey’s and archival data, the researcher concluded that CBE/L implementation at CTS had a significant impact in improving student’s competencies that enables them to perform their entry-level job tasks and duties. Such improvements in CTS graduated competencies have increased major workplaces satisfaction, trust, and confidence in CTS graduates which have reflected in their shorter waiting for employment periods compared to graduates from CTS before CBE/L implementation.

Staff training, education and development has come to the forefront in most organizations. Managers and employers have realized the benefits of training and developing their staff and various government initiatives have been introduced that highlight this. Library and Information Services took some time to realize the importance of training and developing their staff, more specifically continuing professional development. The study investigates staff training, education and development at the Durban Metropolitan Library (DML) and establishes the perceptions of staff about current training and development offered. The need for, and appreciation of the training and development offered, was evident. No structured program for staff training and development exist in DML. It is recommended that DML implement the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, previously known as the Library Association, Framework for Continuing Professional Development if it intends to survive in the competitive, changing environment. This will ensure that the organization functions according to the promulgated government regulations and has skilled, competent staff. / Information Science / (M.A. (Information Science))

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In terms of the latest education legislation, there is a shift of emphasis in the approach to teaching. In particular, there is a move from contents-based learning to outcomes-based learning. It has been shown that technical education is becoming more and more expensive. Manual skills and the teaching of these at school is therefore still of cardinal importance. In the technical school the learner receives specialised training. Following the successful completion of the Senior Certificate examinations, the learner receives a matric certificate. This certificate does not give an indication of specific skills, however. If the learner could receive some accreditation for the skills which he/she has already mastered, it would count in his/her favour. The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree to which the learner can transfer his/her acquired technical knowledge and skills to other training institutions or employers in the form of credits. In the first chapter, the historical background of an outcomes-based learning approach in South Africa, as well as the implications of legislation for technical high schools is researched. A number of necessary concepts are also explained in this chapter. In chapter two, the structure of a modular approach in technical education is looked at in more detail. Different types of modules, the advantages and disadvantages of a modular system, as well as different models for modular curriculum design is discussed. The already tested competence-based modular approach, as well as the newly proposed outcomes-based learning approach is discussed in detail in chapter three. Since it is the competence-based modular approach which is largely used in technical education, it is important to investiqate the shift to an outcomesbased approach in technical education. In the fourth chapter, specific modular points of intersection between the training of apprentices and secondary school education are looked at. The feasibility of acquiring credits in the technical high school is discussed on the basis of an empirical study in chapter five. The possible applications of the implementation of an outcomes-based learning approach in technical high schools are set out in chapter six and the findings of this research are summarised in chapter seven. The subject of this research is currently very topical and if the findings contained therein are applied in practice, many of the modern challenges faced by the education system could be addressed. Learners should receive education and training which prepare them practically for their roles as citizens, while also enabling them to enter the job market or create work for themselves. The importance of an education system which continually determines the needs of both the national and international markets, investigates technological and other relevant tendencies and develops current curriculums in such a way that learners will always be competitive cannot be emphasised enough. An outcomes-based approach places much less emphasis on content-based syllabuses and merely exposes learners to balanced learning programmes in which the acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes and values carries equal weight. Because of the changes in education and training, the teaching approach in the technical high school is extremely important. To some degree, technical education is already specialised education. Although learning takes place at school, the acquired knowledge is not currently transferable to other training institutions in the form of credits. This situation is contradictory to the National Qualifications Framework, in which an outcomes-based approach to education is proposed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volgens die nuutste onderwyswetgewing is daar in die onderwys 'n klemverskuiwing ten opsigte van onderrigbenadering. Daar word vanaf 'n inhoudsgerigte na 'n uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigbenadering beweeg. Afdoende bewyse bestaan dat tegniese opleiding al hoe duurder raak. Die noodsaaklikheid van die ontwikkeling van handvaardighede daarin op skool is daarom steeds van kardinale belang. In die tegniese skoolontvang die leerder bepaalde gespesialiseerde opleiding. Na die suksesvolle aflegging van die Senior Sertifikaateksamen, ontvang die leerder 'n matrieksertifikaat. Hierdie sertifikaat dui egter nie spesifieke bevoegdhede aan nie. Indien die leerder krediet sou kon ontvang vir die bevoegdhede wat hy/sy reeds suksesvol bemeester het, sou dit in sy/haar guns tel. Die doel van hierdie studie is 'n ondersoek na die mate waarin die leerder sy/haar verworwe tegniese kennis en vaardighede na ander opleidingsinstansies of werkverskaffers kan oordra in die vorm van krediete. In die eerste hoofstuk word die historiese agtergrond van 'n uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigbenadering in Suid-Afrika nagevors, asook die implikasies van wetgewing vir tegniese hoërskole nagegaan. Bepaalde tersaaklike begrippe word ook in hierdie hoofstuk verduidelik. In hoofstuk twee word die struktuur van 'n modulêre benadering binne tegniese onderwys van nader beskou. Verskillende soorte modules, die voor- en nadele van 'n modulêre stelsel, asook verskeie modelle vir 'n modulêre kurrikulumontwerp, word bespreek. Die reeds beproefde bevoegdheidsgebaseerde modulêre benadering asook die nuutvoorgestelde uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigbenadering, word breedvoerig in hoofstuk drie bespreek. Aangesien hoofsaaklik die bevoegdheidsgebaseerde modulêre benadering in tegniese onderwys toegepas word, is dit belangrik om die noodsaaklikheid van 'n klemverskuiwing na 'n uitkomsgebaseerde benadering in tegniese onderwys te ondersoek. In die vierde hoofstuk word daar spesifiek gekyk na bepaalde modulêre raakpunte tussen vakleerlingopleiding en sekondêreskoolopleiding. Die haalbaarheid van kredietverwerwing in die tegniese hoërskool word in hoofstuk vyf na aanleiding van 'n empiriese ondersoek bespreek. Die toepassingsmoontlikhede vir die implementering van 'n uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigbenadering in die tegniese hoërskool word daarna in hoofstuk ses uiteengesit en die bevindinge van die navorsing in hoofstuk sewe saamgevat. Die onderwerp van hierdie navorsing is tans baie aktueel en indien die bevindinge daarin vervat in die praktyk toegepas sou word, sal heelwat van die moderne uitdagings wat aan die onderwys gestel word, aangespreek word. Leerders behoort onderwys en opleiding te ontvang wat hulle prakties op hul rolle as landsburgers voorberei en hulle ook bekwaam maak om tot die arbeidsmark toe te tree of vir hulleself werk te skep. Die belangrikheid van 'n onderrigstelsel wat voortdurend behoeftes in nasionale en internasionale markte bepaal, tegnologiese en ander relevante tendense naspeur en huidige kurrikulums só ontwikkel dat leerders altyd kompeterend is, kan nie genoeg beklemtoon word nie. 'n Uitkomsgebaseerde benadering plaas minder klem op inhoudsgebaseerde sillabusse en stel leerders bloot aan gebalanseerde leerprogramme waarin die verwerwing van relevante kennis, vaardighede, houdings en waardes ewe veel gewig dra. As gevolg van die klemverskuiwings in onderwys en opleiding is die leerbenadering wat in die tegniese hoërskool gevolg word van kardinale belang. Tegniese onderrig is in 'n sekere mate reeds gespesialiseerde onderrig. Alhoewel leer op skool plaasgevind het, is die verworwe kennis tans nie oordraagbaar na ander opleidingsinstansies in die vorm van krediete vir die leerders nie. Hierdie situasie is in stryd met die bedoeling van die Nasionale Kwalifikasieraamwerk wat 'n uitkomsgebaseerde onderwysbenadering voorstaan

Staff training, education and development has come to the forefront in most organizations. Managers and employers have realized the benefits of training and developing their staff and various government initiatives have been introduced that highlight this. Library and Information Services took some time to realize the importance of training and developing their staff, more specifically continuing professional development. The study investigates staff training, education and development at the Durban Metropolitan Library (DML) and establishes the perceptions of staff about current training and development offered. The need for, and appreciation of the training and development offered, was evident. No structured program for staff training and development exist in DML. It is recommended that DML implement the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, previously known as the Library Association, Framework for Continuing Professional Development if it intends to survive in the competitive, changing environment. This will ensure that the organization functions according to the promulgated government regulations and has skilled, competent staff. / Information Science / (M.A. (Information Science))

DEd (Educational Management) / Department of Educational Management / The study examined challenges in the implementation of performance appraisal on educators in Shiluvana Circuit in Mopani District, Limpopo Province. The study focused on 5 principals, 5 deputy principals, 18 teachers, 1 IQMS circuit coordinator and 1 IQMS District coordinator who were selected purposively, as they were directly involved in teacher appraisal. The study is qualitative which used interpretive paradigm research and case study research design. Qualitative data was generated through face–to-face interviews, with the 5 principals, 5 deputy principals, 1 IQMS circuit coordinator and 1 IQMS district coordinator, focus group interviews with 18 teachers and documentary analysis. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse narrative data for the study. It was established that principals, deputy principals, teachers, IQMS circuit coordinator and IQMS district coordinator experienced challenges with teacher appraisal, challenges like inadequate commitment by teachers, inadequate trained principals, inadequate monitoring, lack of interest and backlog in teachers’ remuneration. The study recommends that principals, deputy principals and teachers be trained thoroughly for the effective implementation of the programme at schools, an expect official in IQMS to be permanently employed at circuit office for the successful implementation of the programme. Finally, informed by the conceptual framework of the study, it is recommended that the Accountability and Professional Development models for teacher appraisal be implemented in the circuit in order for all stakeholders to understand and effectively play their roles on teacher appraisal. To improve the current situation, cyclical stakeholders teacher appraisal model is suggested which suggests that IQMS structures to be set at national, provincial, district, circuit and school levels as substantive offices. IQMS structures to be trained by circuit on IQMS policy and implementation strategies using cascading approach. / NRF

<p>This research proposes a model for equitable and accessible competency-based regulatory sciences education in sub-Saharan Africa. Access to safe, quality, and effective medical products in sub-Saharan Africa is contingent on strong National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRA) and a strong, highly skilled workforce of regulatory scientists. The literature acknowledges that sub-Saharan Africa has a critical skilled workforce gap in regulatory scientists and an immediate need to develop strategies for sustained human capacity development in regulatory sciences. This need is significantly heightened because of rapidly evolving advances in health and medical product technologies. And as the continent moves towards regulatory harmonization and the deployment of the African Medicines Agency, the continent needs to have a skilled and portable workforce. First, using the framework synthesis type of systematic review of the literature and the survey of experts in regulatory sciences, the research developed a comprehensive competency framework (CF) to serve as the bedrock for developing a competency-based curriculum and training. Next, an online, fully asynchronous proof-of-concept (POC) competency-based regulatory sciences education (CBRSE) module was designed and deployed based on the learning sciences theories. The purposive sampling technique recruited seventeen (n = 17) participants from the Purdue Masters’ Biotechnology Innovation and Regulatory Sciences (BIRS) African cohort to engage in the POC module. The module was evaluated using an end-of-module survey (a modified Student Assessment of Learning Gains (SALG) instrument), indices of students’ engagement, and performance assessments. The CF has eighty-eight (n = 88) competence statements in five clusters, eighty-six (n = 86) of which were ranked as mandatory and two as supplementary competencies. Fourteen (n = 14) students completed the POC module. The triangulation of results from the end-of-module survey, indices of students’ engagement, and performance assessments show that the POC module assisted students in achieving the desired competencies. The research also shows that the dialectics component of the module was not a great enabler of students’ learning. Future researchers, developmental partners, and NMRA could use the competency framework and the CBRSE module’s model to develop education and continuous professional development training in sub-Saharan Africa. </p>

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research work has put into practice the theoretical framework of text construction advanced by Grabe and Kaplan (1996) for the analysis of South African female celebrities' texts in Xhosa. Theoretical elements employed in this study includes linguistic elements and the elements that are applicable to the structure of narrative texts. This framework can be included in teaching methods and approaches for the development of the learners' analytic skills in analyzing the discourse structure of written texts. These skills are to be acquired by learners, are part of the Curriculum 2005 and are meant specifically for the teaching and learning of languages. This study has employed a range of textlinguistic strategies for analyzing written genre texts on issues relating to female music artists and actresses. It is imperatively recommended that language teachers with the incorporation of Curriculum 2005 methodology can use these strategies in order to produce learners that are able to analyze texts successfully and who have an awareness about how language is used in text construction as a reflection of social activities. For the purpose of analysis in this thesis, texts from the Xhosa Bona magazine with contents ranging from acting careers and music artists has been collected. This study demonstrates that text analysis involves to a larger extent, an investigation of generic factors such as the communicative purpose, the culture and the community, and as well as the traumatic and exciting human experiences encountered by people in the society in which the text is produced. A broad definition of a narrative and a text will be established in the discussion of the generic features of texts. The text-linguistic construction, the analysis of linguistic structures, and the elements of the overall structure of narratives will be demonstrated in the analysis of Xhosa texts with emphasis on the discussion of the parameters of the ethnography of writing as proposed by Grabe and Kaplan (1996). The following questions are addressed by these parameters of the ethnography of writing: "Who writes what to whom. for what purpose. why. when and how?" In addition to these parameters the study addresses the elements of narratives based from the overall structure of narrative texts as proposed by Labov (1972). In Labov's framework the following elements are addressed: "the orientation section. the complication. the evaluation. the resolution and the coda". In addition to these elements examined the move structures will be explored as a way of summarising the facts and the message carried by the content of each Xhosa text written for the purpose of analysis. This study explores the implications and rationale for the incorporation of text analysis in language teaching and learning, as well as to explore the relationship between the theoretical underpinning of this study with the learning outcomes of Curriculum 2005 which have to be applied in language pedagogy. Finally, this study has proved that the theoretical framework of Grabe and Kaplan (1996) and the elements of the overall structure of narrative texts of Labov (1972) as employed in the written text construction, will introduce language teachers and learners into an effective language learning and teaching. This implies that the strategies acquired in this study can be employed in any analysis of written text in any language study as it has been explored in the analysis of Xhosa genre texts of South African female celebrities from a Xhosa Bona magazine. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing doen 'n praktiese toepassing van die teoretiese raamwerk van tekskontruksie soos voorgestaan deur Grabe en Kaplan (1996) in die analise van Xhosa tekste oor vroulike bekendes. Teoretiese elemente wat aangewend word in die navorsing sluit in tekslinguistiese elemente en die elemente wat toepaslik is tot die struktuur van narratiewe tekste. Hierdie raamwerk kan gebruik word in taalonderrigmetodes en benaderings gerig op die ontwikkeling van leerders se analitiese vaardighede in die analise van die diskoersstruktuur van skriftelike tekste. Hierdie vaardighede wat verwerf moet word deur leerders, is gespesifiseer in Kurrikulum 2005 vir die leerarea tale. Die studie wend 'n verskeidenheid tekslinguistiese strategieë aan in die analise van geskrewe genre-tekste oor vraagstukke rakende vroulike musiekkunstenaars en aktrises. Daar word aanbeveel in die studie dat taalonderwysers, deur die toepaslike metodologie in Kurrikulum 2005, hierdie strategieë aanwend ten einde leerders te lewer wat in staat is om tekste suksesvol te analiseer, en wat 'n bewussyn het van hoe taal gebruik word in tekskonstruksie as 'n refleksie van sosiale en kommunikatiewe doelstelling. Vir die doel van die analises in hierdie studie, is 'n verskeidenheid Xhsoa tekste oor bekende vroulike musici en aktrises gekies uit die BONA tydskrif. Hierdie studie demonstreer dat teksanalise 'n ondersoek behels na die teks-generiese faktore, die kommunikatiewe doelstelling, en die sosiale en kulturele konteks en die traumatiese en opwindende ervarings ervaar deur mense in die gemeenskap waarin die teks geproduseer word. 'n Breë definisie van narratief en teks sal gegee word in die bespreking van die generiese kenmerke van tekste. Die tekslinguistiese konstruksie, die analise van linguistiese strukture, en die elemente van die geheelstruktuur van narratiewe, sal gedemonstreer word in die analise van die Xhosa-tekste met klem op die parameters in die etnografie van skryf soos voorgestel deur Grabe en Kaplan (1996): Wie skryf wat aan wie vir watter doel, waarom, wanneer. Bykomend tot hierdie parameters, ondersoek hierdie studie die globale elemente van narratiewe gebaseer op Labov (1972), die orientasie, die komplikasie, die evaluasie, die resolusie, en die koda. Bykomend sal die kognitiewe of retoriese skuifstrukture ook ondersoek word.

Thesis (M.A.)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores how the theoretical framework pertaining to reading as advanced by Davies (1995) can be employed to develop reading skills in Xhosa and to assist learners to see reading as a process. Teaching reading to language learners has many problems. The critical thinking relevant to reading and analysis of the text in teaching reading are examined. The study explores the current genre approach in the analysis of Xhosa Bona Magazine with its articles. The research of certain scholars like Davies, Wallace, Swales, and Cope and Kalantzis will be explored, in particular, the hierarchy of five levels of text, as advanced by Davies. Reading is an integral part of the school curriculum, and to use reading texts depends on the purpose for which the educator wants to use it, i.e. to develop reading comprehension skills, to present new vocabulary and structures, or as a basis for language practice. This study examines reading in Outcomes-base Education (O.B.E.) as a current issue in South African education, to determine how the specified outcomes relate to the framework for the development of reading skills. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe die teoretiese raamwerk vir die analise van tekste vir leesbegrip soos voorgestel deur Davies (1995) aangewend kan word in die ontwikkeling van leesvaardigheid in Xhosa en in die hulp aan leerders om lees as 'n proses te verstaan. Die onderrig van leesvaardigheid word gekenmerk deur talle probleme. Hierdie studie ondersoek die kritiese denke wat relevant is vir leesbegrip en die analise van tekste in Xhosa ter sprake in die onderrig van leesvaardigheid. Die studie aanvaar die huidige perspektiewe van die genre-benadering vir die analise van die Xhosa BONA tydskrifartikels. Die werk van bepaalde navorsers soos Davies, Cope en Kalantzis, Swales en Wallace salondersoek word en, in die besonder, Davies se raamwerk van hierargiese vlakke vir die beskrywing en analise van tekste. Lees is 'n integrale deel van die skoolkurrikulum, en die gebruik van tekste vir die doeleindes van leesonderrig hou verband met die meer spesifieke doelstelling waarvoor die onderwyser die tekste wil gebruik, bv. om leesbegripvaardighede te ontwikkel, om nuwe woordeskat en strukture te ontwikkel, of as basis vir taalgebruikoefening. Hierdie studie salook leesonderrig in uitkomsgebaseerde onderrig onder die loep neem, as 'n huidige vraagstuk in taalonderrig, ten einde te bepaal hoe die spesifieke uitkomste verband hou met die raamwerk vir die ontwikkeling van leesvaardighede.

In-depth analysis of genre-texts of political articles in newspapers. / In-depth analysis of genre-texts of political articles in newspapers. / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to do an in-depth analysis of genre-texts of political articles in newspapers. The genre theoretical approach is employed as framework for analysing the linguistic, rhetorical and discourse properties of isiZulu texts, giving a demonstration of a more general theory of genre analysis in writing, advanced by different writers. The genrebased approach to literacy and language teachingwas explored. A general overview was given of genre in folklore, genre in linguistics, genre in rhetoric and general description of genres was provided. The parameters of writing, that is the "who writes, what, to whom, where, when, why and how", were utilised in each text under investigation. These parameters were used to assess the communicative writing competence of the author of each text. Aspects of the text analysis such as information structuring, topic structuring, coherence and cohesion, cognitive move structure and structural description have been employed. This study presents the findings of the analysis of the lIanga newspaper texts by describing the critical analysis of textlinguistic aspects through the examination of genre text and outcomes-based language teaching in Curriculum 2005. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n in-diepte analise te maak van genre tekste van koerantartikels in isiZulu wat handeloor politieke aangeleenthede. Die genre-teoretiese benadering is gebruik as raamwerk vir die analise van die taalkundige, retoriese en diskoerseienskappe van isiZulu tekste, en te demonstreer hoe, vir die doeleindes van teksanalise, 'n meer algemene teorie van genre analise in skryfwerk gebruik kan word. Die genre-benadering tot geletterdheid en taalonderrig is eerstens ondersoek. 'n Algemene oorsig is gegee van genre in folklore, genre in die taalkunde, genre in retoriek en 'n beskrywing van die kenmerke van genres is gedoen. Die parameters van skryf, naamlik wie skryf wat aan wie, waar, waarom, en hoe, is gebruik om elke koerantartikel te ondersoek. Hierdie parameters is aangewend om die kommunikatiewe skryfvaardigheid van die skrywer van elke teks te assesseer. Aspekte van teksanalise, naamlik inligtingstrukturering, onderwerpstrukturering, koherensie en kohesie, kognitiewe skuifstruktuur en strukturele beskrywing is aangewend in die analise van die tekste. Die studie bied die bevindinge van die analise van die lIanga koerantartikels in isiZulu deur die kritiese analise te beskryf van tekslinguistiese aspekte met verwysing na genre-tekste en uitkoms-gebaseerde taalonderrig in Kurrikulum 2005.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The focus of this study is on the utilisation of the learner portfolio for the Social Sciences learning area as an alternative, authentic assessment instrument to record the achievements, progress and growth of the learner as required by the expected learning outcomes. As such the learner portfolio is a more qualitative and valid alternative to traditional “pen-and-paper” testing, because the learner portfolio should present a more comprehensive picture of learners’ achievement, progress and growth. It has been endeavoured to explore and describe not only the learner portfolio as an authentic assessment instrument, but to establish the current perceptions, comprehension and experience of teachers in the Social Sciences learning area (Intermediate Phase) regarding its application. To answer the research question, and to make a logical link to the purpose of this study, the researcher executed a qualitative research study from an interpretative research paradigm. The researcher implemented multiple sources (interviews, document analysis and questionnaires) to generate data. In the course of the study a number of steps were taken to ensure the validity and reliability of the data, and to pay attention to the ethical aspects that surfaced during the research. In the literature study, extending over two chapters, the theoretical foundation of the study, consisting of assessment as a broad concept in outcomes-based education (OBE) and the learner portfolio as an authentic assessment instrument, is described. The study concludes that at present teachers are not equipped with an extensive knowledge of assessment, and have only a superficial knowledge of the structure, purpose and management of the learner portfolio and the benefits offered. It appear that teachers have relatively limited experience of utilising the learner portfolio as an assessment instrument, and the results of the study indicate that learner portfolios are not optimally utilised. Learner portfolios merely contain the best and final results of learners’ activities. They do not indicate development and growth over a given period, so that the expected learning outcomes are not realised. It is clear that the utilisation of the learner portfolio as an alternative assessment instrument is imperative in the South African education system, but that it do not achieve its purpose in the context of this specific study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op die benutting van die leerderportefeulje in die leerarea Sosiale Wetenskappe as ‘n alternatiewe, outentieke assesseringsinstrument om die prestasies, vordering en groei van leerders in verhouding tot die verwagte leeruitkomste te demonstreer. Die leerderportefeulje is ‘n meer kwalitatiewe en geldige alternatief tot tradisionele ‘pen-enpapier’- toetsing, omdat die portefeulje ‘n meer omvattende beeld van leerders se prestasies, vordering en groei verskaf. Die leerderportefeulje as ‘n outentieke assesseringsinstrument word verken en beskryf, en die persepsies, begrip en ervaring rondom die benutting daarvan deur onderwysers wat by die onderrig van die leerarea Sosiale Wetenskappe in die Intermediêre Fase betrokke is, word ondersoek. Om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord en logies by die doel van die studie in te skakel, het die navorser ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie uit die interpretatiewe navorsingsparadigma onderneem. Daar is gebruik gemaak van veelvuldige bronne (onderhoude, dokument-analise en vraelyste) om data te genereer. Verskillende stappe is gedoen om die geldigheid en betroubaarheid van die data te verseker en aandag te gee aan etiese aspekte wat tydens die ondersoek na vore gekom het. In die literatuurstudie, wat oor twee hoofstukke strek, word assessering as breë konsep binne uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys (UGO) beskryf, en die leerderportefeulje as ‘n outentieke assesseringsinstrument ondersoek. Daar is bevind dat onderwysers tans nie oor voldoende kennis van assessering beskik nie, en ‘n oppervlakkige kennis van die struktuur, doel en bestuur, asook van die voordele verbonde aan die leerderportefeulje openbaar. Dit blyk ook dat onderwysers relatief min ervaring het in die aanwending van die leerderportefeulje as ‘n assesseringsinstrument. Uit die beskrywing van die resultate is dit duidelik dat die leerderportefeulje as ‘n assesseringsinstrument nie tot sy reg kom nie. Leerderportefeuljes vertoon bloot die beste, finale werkprodukte van die leerders se leer. Dit demonstreer nie die leerders se ontwikkeling en groei oor ‘n gegewe tydperk nie, en die verwagte leeruitkomste word dus nie gerealiseer nie. Uit die studie is dit duidelik dat die benutting van leerderportefeuljes as ‘n alternatiewe assesseringsinstrument in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysstelsel noodsaaklik is om leerdergroei en -ontwikkeling te monitor, maar dat dit binne die konteks van hierdie spesifieke studie, nie sy doel bereik nie.