The purpose of this study was to evaluate a programme aimed at equipping adult mine workers in the North-West Province in computer-based skills. The study describes how the use of computers for learning has transformed some of the mine workers in an Own-Time learning environment, where computers were integrated in their learning activities, compared to the Full-Time adult learning environment, which did not present a similar opportunity. The perspective of using a combination of two teaching methodologies in the Adult Education and Training (AET) curriculum provided at this mine sought to minimise the conventional didactic instructional approaches, whereby the facilitator does most of the talking while learners become passive listeners. Activity theory (AT), in tandem with the reviewed literature, was well suited as a theoretical framework for this study, since it takes a developmental view of minds and technological interaction in context. The activity system was used to map how existing work-related practices fitted into each component, which includes the subject, object, rule, community and division of labour. A case study was applied as a guiding design in the study in which seventeen mine workers participated. The computer activity was illustrated from multiple perspectives, using a qualitative approach and associated epistemologies and beliefs regarding the engagement with mediational tools. Boundary crossings, the zone of proximal development, and the eight-step-model from activity theory were used to scrutinise the learners’ beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, practices and contradictions. These important aspects assisted in obtaining data through participant observation, interviews and field notes. To discover patterns, concepts, themes and meanings from the notes and transcripts, data analysis was blended with these aspects. This study demonstrated the use of the above-mentioned methods at appropriate times. Without ideal and effective research methods, the quality of evidence of this study would have suffered and elucidations of connections would have been inadequate. The findings revealed that the AET programme made an impact on the company and on the individual participants, in their homes, their place of work, and their communities. Change in the workers’ performance after attending AET computer-based programmes was noticeable especially regarding their literate and numerate knowledge and skills. Contradictions and disturbances in the AET programme were also identified, and an intervention was proposed to facilitate a computer programme that includes the curriculum components such as mouse skills, keyboarding, data manipulation and desktop publishing. The study proposes that the AET policy needs to cover Own-Time learners, even though their learning is not obligatory, in the same way as it covers the Full-Time learners. A modified activity theory, contextualised for a situation such as that in the mine in question, was contributed in the study. Furthermore, some limitations and recommendations for future research were identified from the findings. The proposed AT for adult learners suggests a new way of exploring the practices of mind and technology interaction for adult learners, incorporating cultural backgrounds, age, language, values and beliefs as well as reflective decision making. / Science and Technology Education / D. Ed. (Comparative Education)

This study presents a quantitative investigation of the influence of various social factors – including finances, secondary school attended, resources available, culture, and family support – on the perceptions of success (in terms of academic performance and skills gained) of adult learners who are using online learning as the primary educational medium. The research was conducted with 100 students of The International Hotel School in South Africa. A quantitative research methodology was followed and a survey questionnaire was used as the data collection method. The data from closed-ended questions was analysed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS), with the data from open-ended questions being used to aid in the interpretation of the information organised quantitatively. Findings suggest that certain social factor constructs namely: finances, secondary school preparation for tertiary education, and internet accessibility, significantly impact the perceptions the students have on being successful in online learning. Some recommendations that spring from the study are to provide more funding to students, better access to more suitable resources and providing students with unlimited access to the internet for longer periods of time. It is also recommended that a follow-up study with a larger and more varied sample (possibly including public sector tertiary education students), and more questionnaire items per social factor is necessary to cast further light on the impact of social factors on adult students’ online learning experiences. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (With specialisation in Adult Education)

This exploration investigates lecturers’ experiences of the role of professional development on TVET lecturers. Lecturers’ professional development is often viewed as the source to effective learning developments. Lecturer effectiveness at TVET Colleges depends on the constant professional development to avoid encounters that they face due to endless differences taking place in technology and national curriculum. The result of proper professional development of lecturers is that both students and the organisation benefit from it. Hence, lecturers are likely to be subjected to continuous professional development to be well informed with the constant adjustments taking place in the education system. This occurs as the lecturers are pressurised to participate in a variety of regular professional development programmes that are not designed to suit their specific requirements. This leads to, professional development becoming ineffective in assisting the lecturer developing their training in their specific areas of knowledge. A literature review was used to determine what other writers say about the concept of professional development. A qualitative study was employed and two research instruments were used: semi-structured interview sessions and document analysis.Information was collected through the interviews, centred on pre-planned interview questions. Purposive sampling was used and nine experienced participants were selected for this study. Lecturers’ were questioned about their experiences of professional development at a TVET College in the Kwazulu Natal district. The conversations were recorded, translated and scrutinised to discover lecturers’ opinions about professional development in their college. This investigation was guided by three important questions: How effective are staff development programmes managed for lecturers in their areas of specialisation? Secondly, How effective are the policies regarding staff development in TVET Colleges? Finally, what role does senior management play in CPD in Majuba TVET College? Findings indicate that the principals of the colleges are not managing the continuous professional development of lectures. It is left upon the lecturers themselves to manage their professional development. It is expected that this investigation and the literature review will influence the management of professional development for the advantage of lecturers and the college. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The primary objective of this study was to explore the effect of financial management training on task performance of selected School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in the JS Skenjana Circuit, Dutywa District in the Eastern Cape Province. The study looked at the extent to which financial management training assisted the SGBs in performing their roles and responsibilities effectively. A qualitative research was employed to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of the members of the SGBs regarding the effects of financial management training on their task performance. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and secondary documents. Respondents were members of the finance committee of the SGBs. The findings of the study show that training offered by the Department of Education (DoE) was inadequate and did not equip the SGBs adequately to manage school funds efficiently and effectively. Members of the SGB did not clearly understand their roles and responsibilities, including the legal framework regulating the management of school finances. This study recommends that the content of training offered to the SGBs should be reviewed to ensure its alignment with the context, roles and responsibilities of this important body. The DoE should use qualified trainers/facilitators and should also provide constant monitoring and support to SGBs. Further, the DoE should provide schools with mentors to support them on the management of finances. The DoE should develop a procurement management system that is evaluated at the level of a circuit and further ensure that all schools have functional procurement committees. Twinning of schools should also be considered to promote partnership and collaboration among schools. This should be done to increase financial prudence and overall school performance. The DoE should develop a financial assessment plan and remedial programmes, to assist schools that are not performing well in the management of finances. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

The purpose of this interpretive qualitative study was to determine the extent of conceptual and procedural difficulties that NCV Level 4 students encountered when factorising and solving problems involving factorisation. This study is based on Kilpatrick, Swafford and Findel’s (2001) ideas on mathematical proficiency, focusing on conceptual knowledge, procedural knowledge and the flexibility of integrating both appropriately to solve algebra problems involving factorisation. This study also explored reasons why NCV Level 4 students demonstrated such difficulties and suggested possible ways that could assist them to understand and flexibly use factorisation to solve problems. A purposive sample consisting of 30 NCV Level 4 students and 5 Subject Matter Experts participated in this study, which adopted a phenomenological case study research design. Triangulation of method was adopted for consistent gathering of information. Data was collected through a written assessment on factorisation under controlled test conditions, and semi-structured interviews. The researcher reduced and analysed data by utilising an integration of constant comparison analysis and classical content analysis. The findings and relevant recommendations concluded this research. / Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematical Education)

Text in Afrikaans / Die uitsluitlike doel van die studie was om die navorsingsprobleem, naamlik om vas te stel op watter wyse die leierskapstyl van opleidingsbestuurders die werksbevrediging van opleidingskonsultante beïnvloed wat volwassene-onderwys binne ʼn bepaalde bankgroep in Suid-Afrika verskaf, aan te spreek. Die navorser het bepaalde leierskapstyle (naamlik die demokratiese-, outokratiese- en laissez-faire leierskapstyle) en werksbevredigingskomponente geselekteer (naamlik ondersteuning, verhoudings en bemagtiging) ten einde dié ondersoek te doen. ʼn Vraelys is ontwerp wat as kwantitatiewe navorsingsinstrument gebruik is om navorsingsdata elektronies te versamel oor respondente se biografiese besonderhede, hulle bestuurder se leierskapstyl en respondente se persepsies van hul eie werksbevrediging. Een-en-negentig (91) uit eenhonderd sewe-en-dertig (137) respondente het die vraelys per e-pos voltooi, wat ʼn responskoers van 66.42% verteenwoordig. Uit die navorsingsresultate en -analise het dit geblyk dat leierskapstyl wél die persepsies van respondente oor elk van die werksbevredigingskomponente statisties beduidend beïnvloed het. / The sole aim of this study was to address the research problem, namely to determine the way in which the leadership style of training managers influences the work satisfaction of training consultants that provide adult education within a specific bank group in South Africa. The researcher selected specific leadership styles for the purpose of thís study (namely the democratic, outocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles) and work satisfaction components (namely support, relationships and empowerment) to carry out thís investigation. A questionnaire was designed which was used as quantitive research instrument to gather research data electronically about respondents’ biographical details, their manager’s leadership style and the perceptions of respondents regarding their own work satisfaction. Ninety-one (91) out of one-hundred-and-thirty-seven (137) respondents completed the questionnaire by email, which represents a response rate of 66.42%. Out of the research and analysis results it became evident that leadership style indeed influenced the perceptions of respondents over each of the work satisfaction components in a statistically significant way. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Volwassene-onderwys)

This research is predicated in the firm conviction that the quality of education is dependent upon the quality of teachers. Teachers as the bedrock of education must participate actively and conscientiously in their intellectual growth through various forms of INSET discussed in the research. From an international comparative perspective DE as a strategy of INSET is deemed as the most functional, if not prudent and efficacious educational experience for the upgrading and improvement of the qualifications of teachers. In this research the origin of DE in terms of its antecedents and evolution, the raison d'etre and the advantages and limitations of DE are adumbrated in order to focus on the complexity and diversity of DE. As part of the conceptual and theoretical framework various terms used synonymously with DE are considered. A syntagma of principles providing a utilitarian and pragmatic connotation for DE is then postulated. Selected theories relevant to DE provide the synthesis for theoretical perspectives. The typology of DE institutions comprising autonomous, dedicated providers of DE and those that are mixed or hybrid or dual mode systems is analyzed. In koeping with the theme of educational borrowing fundamental to comparative education studies provision of DE by the UKOU and AU for developed countries, IGNOU and the ZINTEC model for developing countries is discussed. National examples are UNISA, Vista University and SACTE. The provincial institutions discussed are the former SCE, NCE, UCFE and the newly formed SACOL. General and specific recommendations for the provision of DE programmes for the upgrading and improvement of the qualifications of teachers in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal are adumbrated. By way of conclusion, it is iterated that the provision of DE for the upgrading and improvement of the qualifications of teachers is irrefragably xxvii the quintessential factor in the new generation of teacher education and a pivotal element for INSET. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Comparative Education)

In this study, the transfer of learning criteria that can be implemented before, during and after a learning programme was investigated. The transfer of learning criteria was identified, after which the Station Management Learning Programme was evaluated to see whether transfer of learning criteria was used during the facilitation of the programme. The study population for the research was comprised of facilitators and station commanders, who facilitated and attended the Station Management Learning Programme in Gauteng as part of their development as Station Commanders. The study methodology involved qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection, with questionnaires and one-on-one interviews. Descriptive statistics were produced and literature, questionnaires and interviews were examined to establish whether transfer of learning took place. The findings of the study reflect that various learning transfer strategies exist and that these can be used to transfer learning from the classroom to the work environment. The study concludes that a significant number of transfer of learning strategies are already implemented in the South African Police Service, in the presentation of the Station Management Learning Programme. / Adult Basic Education (ABET) / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

This study investigated how lesson study, a Japanese intervention tool, may be used as a management strategy to improve performance in space, shape and orientation in Mathematical Literacy at Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges. In this study a qualitative approach was followed in both the pilot and the main study. Prior to the main study, a small-scale pilot study was conducted which consisted of two participant lecturers and lasted for about two months culminating in one complete lesson study cycle and a second partially completed cycle. Four lecturers participated in the main study which lasted about seven months from the last week of February 2019 to the last week of August 2019 at a campus of a TVET college where Mathematical Literacy is a subject in the NCV program. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with lecturers and students, observations of students’ performance and behaviour while delivering the research lessons, including researchers’ journals and participant lecturers’ journals, students’ work and meeting notes which included debriefing notes. The LS - Participative Management model proposed in this study has shown to achieve the broad teaching and learning outcomes, personal and professional outcomes and managerial outcomes. Hence, it is possible that the model proposed in this study is an appropriate model which can be successfully implemented at TVET colleges in South Africa. With the application of the LS Participative Management model, findings revealed from this study showed that participant lecturers improved their teaching and learning by reflecting and engaging with the content of space, shape and orientation in Mathematical Literacy by highlighting the misconceptions students have around this topic. Participant lecturers were also brought out of isolation, giving them the opportunity to collaborate with other lecturers and the manager. Collaboration and participation in lesson study also brought about organisational effectiveness which was revealed through vigorous discussions, openness, trust and respect, positive relationships and sharing ideas. Lesson study also provided an enabling environment for lecturers to become personally and professionally empowered by increased confidence and motivation as they gained more experience in lesson study. The involvement of the manager as a participant observer showed that it can impact on curriculum management, sharing experience and expertise, influence the organisational culture and provide guidance and support. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Educational Management)

The purpose of this study was to determine how a specific group of lecturers identified and supported students experiencing language barriers. The study aimed to make a contribution by adding to literature on how language barriers affect teaching and learning at TVET level. The study was guided by the theory of Lev Vygotsky, known as the Sociocultural and Cognitive Perspective on Language and Communication Barriers in Learning. The study was conducted within a qualitative, constructive paradigm. Interview schedules were used for data collection. The researcher used semi-structured interviews and open-ended questions for data collection. Six National Certificate (Vocational) programme lecturers for NC (V) level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) from the selected TVET College in Bojanala District, North West (NW) province were interviewed. The interviewees were purposively selected from three campuses in the district. Findings revealed that lecturers are affected by lack of support, lack of resources and lack of staff development when addressing language barriers experienced by students The study recommended that the Department of Higher Education and Training should provide a budget to provide professional development to lecturers teaching students experiencing language barriers. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)