Submitted in fuliillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in the Department of Comparative and Science Education ofthe Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2004. / The case study explored the knowledge and understanding of nutritional issues by Mohlabetsi Senior Secondary School grade 12 learners. The information was collected through a test that was administered to the learners under test conditions. The test consisted of multiple choice type questions, short answer questions and definition of terms. Analysis of the results were limited to multiple choices questions because they cover a wide portion of the syllabus, and the definition of terms because they could help the researcher determine whether the learners are learning with understanding or not. The second tool used in the research was a hands on-activity where the subjects determined their Body Metabolic Indices to deterrnine their nutritional status. The results of the study showed that the learners harbour misconceptions about nutrition issues. For instance, the subjects had problems in defining a list of given terms relating to types of nutrition. The terms referred to different options of feeding. In defining terms the subjects combined words they had heard or used phrases which did not respond to the question asked or did not make sense. Language problems were prominent in the answers the subjects gave. One example was for a subject to define malnutrition as "the impairment of the diet from the body". Only 35% of the students obtained marks above 50 in the multiple choice questions. The low scores could also be attributed to poor comprehension of the language of instructions that is not their mother tongue. In terms of the nutritional status of the subjects, weight problems already exist in some of them. Because of the highly active lives of teenagers one does not anticipate weight problems among youth. There were 14.54% students with BMI above 30, that is, subjects that were overmass. Other subjects (9.10%) were obese. If these students do not loose mass and carry their present mass to adulthood, they are at risk. These subjects are an insurance liability and likely candidates for diabetes, hypertension and strokes. That is why nutrition education should be a lite learning process. A few subjects (10.90%) were underweight as a result of inadequate food security in their families. It was good that 65.45% of the subjects had normal weight which they were advised to maintain, particularly because obesity is becoming an epidemic among Black Africans. Recommendation from the study are to the effect that teachers at Mohiabetsi Senior Secondary school need to encourage learners to speak English The poor English language expression of the subjects in answering questions showed very poor competence in using the medium of instruction to communicate. It was also difficult to determine whether subjects got poor marks out of ignorance or from an inability to express, what they know, in a foreign language. A second recommendation was that it is important to teach learners how to answer questions in complete sentences that makes sense. The third and last recommendation was that all learners need to be empowered with skills to assess their nutritional status in order to stay healthy and avoid future pain.

Abstracts in English, Sotho and Shona / Environmental Education (EE) in formal education was introduced because of environmental degradation globally, with the aim of developing an environmentally literate citizenry. However, the ultimate goal of EE, that of developing an environmentally literate citizenry, remains a dream while the planet continues to deteriorate. This study explored the environmental literacy level of both teachers and leaners, with a focus on rural primary schools. The study examined the effectiveness of the components of knowledge, attitude and skills in developing environmental literacy in schools. The study further explored how these components promote practices and lifestyle changes towards sustainable behaviour. A qualitative multiple case study design, guided by the interpretivist paradigm, was employed to conveniently sample three cases consisting of 3 teachers and 18 learners. Data was generated through observations, document analysis, as well as face to face and focus group interviews from purposefully sampled Grade 7 educators and learners. The findings revealed both nominal and functional environmental literacy levels amongst teachers and learners. These findings are attributed to a lack of teacher’s expertise in teaching EE content for the development of environmental literacy, the content integration approach of EE in the Department of Basic Education’s Continuous Assessment Policy System (CAPS) curriculum, the focus of the CAPS curriculum on mostly, the knowledge component of EE and a lack of a framework on how EE content should be taught. Lastly, the findings can also be attributed to the rural context in which the study took place, which poses challenges to sustainability lifestyles and practices. The study recommends reorientation of the curriculum to include environmental science as a subject in an integrated curriculum. The findings also recommend the inclusion of environmental policy in schools to guide lifestyle and practices towards sustainable behaviour. / Thutotikologo lefapheng la thuto e hlamilwe ka lebaka la go tlhagala ga tikologo lefaseng ka bophara ka maikemišetšo a go aga setšhaba seo se rutegilego mabapi le tša tikologo. Efeela maikemišetšo a magolo a thutotikologo e sa ntše e le toro mola seemo sa tikologo lefaseng ka bophara se tšwela pele le go hlagala. Maikemišetšo a sengwalwa se ke go nyakišiša maemo a thutotikologo ya barutiši le barutwana, go lebeletšwe kudu dikolo tša fasana tša dinaga magaeng. Sengwalwa se nyakišiša dikarolo tše tharo tša maemo a thutotikologo, e lego tsebo, maikutlo le bokgoni, le gore di hlohleletša bjang thutotikologo, ga mmogo le netefatšo ya maitshwaro le bophelo bjoo bo hlohleletšago tlhokomelo ya tikologo. Qualitative multiple case study design yeo e hlahlilwego ke intepretive paradigm e somišitswe go kgetha dikheisi tše tharo, moo barutiši ba bararo le barutwana ba lesome seswai ba tšerego dinyakišišong tše. Dintlha tša dinyakišišo di kgobokeditšwe ka go tšea temogo ya tikologo le diphaphoši tša dikolo, tshekatsheko ya melaotheo le dipoledišano magareng ga barutiši le barutwana ba mphato wa bo šupa. Dinyakišišo di humana seemo sa fase le sa magareng dithutong tša maemo a tikologo dikolong. Seemo se sa thuto ya tikologo se fegwa godimo ga tlhokego ya bokgoni le tsebo ya barutiši go ruta dithuto tša tikologo, molaotheo wa dithuto sekolong o lebeletše feela lefapha la tsebo, mola o sa bontšhe gore tsebo yeo e swanetše e rutwe bjang. Gape go humanega gore maemo a bophelo dinaga magaeng a fa mathata netefatšatšong ya bophelo le maitshwaro ao a hloleletšago tlhokomelo ya tikologo. Thuto ye e šišinya mpshafatšo ya lenaneothuto le kelo ka go tsenya thuto ya mahlale a tikologo go lenaneothuto le kelo yeo e kopanego. Dinyakišišo di šišinya gape go akaretša leano la tikologo dikolong go hlahla mokgwa wa bophelo le setlwaedi go mekgwa ya tsheketšo. / Pfundo ya zwa mupo kha pfunzo dzi funzwaho zwikoloni yo vha hone nga murahu ha u vhona uri mupo u khou tshinyala nga zwivhuhulu u mona na Ḭifhasi Ḭothe, tshipikwa hu u bveledza vhadzulapo vho funzeaho kha zwa mupo. Fhedzi ha, zwi kha ḓi tou vha muḬoro musi Ḭifhasi Ḭi tshi khou bvelaphanda na u tshinyala. Ngudo/pfunzo iyi yo kona u bveledza vhadzulapo vho funzeaho siani Ḭa zwa mupo kha vhoṱhe, vhadededzi na vhagudiswa. Ngudo iyi yosedzesa kha zwikolo zwa murole wa fhasi kha vhupoha mahayani. Ngudo iyi yo ṱolisisa zwiitisi zwihulwane zwo ṱu ṱuwedzaho vhuvha iyi tevhelaho savhuvha na vhukoni ha u bveledzisa pfuzo ya mupo zwikoloni. Maitele mandzhi a ṱhoḓisiso o rangelwaphanḓa nga vhasedzulusi vhane vha ṱoḓou ḓivhesa shango samusi Ḭo ḓisendeka kana u ṱuṱuwendzwa nga vhupfiwa ha muthu ene muṋe, vho vha hone u itela u sumbhedza milandu miraru ine ya khou kwana vhadededzi vhararu na vhagudiswa vha fumalo. Ngudo iyi yo bvelaphanda na u ṱoḓisisa uri zwiitisi izwi zwi ṱuṱuwendza hani zwithu zwine zwa tshinyadza mupo na u shandukisa matshilele na u tikedza vhudifari. Ngudo i sengulusahao mafhungo o fhambanaho nga vhunzhi, yo rangwa phanḓa nga vhaṱo ḓisisi vhane vha na divhithela Ḭa u pfesesa zwine zwa khou itea dzangoni nga vhuphara, vho vha vho runwa u leludza kha u tia ṱhoḓisiso ya tsedzuluso tharu. Mafhungo o kuvhanganywaho o wanuluswa nga u tou sedza fhedzi, nga u sengulusa manwalwa, u vhudzisa vhathu vho tou livhana navho zwifhaṱuwo, na nga u fara nyambedzano thwi na vhadededzi vha murole wa gireidi ya sumbe na vhagudiswa vhahone. Tsedzuluso dzo wana zwauri ngudo/pfunzo ya zwa mupo a i khou tou dzhieleswa nṱha na u vhonala zwavhu ḓikha vhadededzi na vhagudiswa. Mawanwa a tsedzuluso a khou tou ombedzela uri vhagudisi a vha na vhukoni ha u funza vhana divhamupo kha silabasi ya CAPS. Zwi tou vha khagala u ri zwikolo zwa mahayani zwi na thaidzo nnzhi dza u londota mupo na vhudifari. Ngudo I khou themendela u shandukiswa ha kufunzele na u katelwa ha ngudo ya mufhe sat hero ine ya vha na u ṱumekanya vhupo hoṱhe ha ngudo ya bwa mufhe. Mawanwa a khou ita na u themendela uri hu une na u fatelwa ha ndayotelwa ya mufhe zwikoloni u itela u eletshedza kutshilele na maitele uri hu vhe na vhuḓifani bavhuḓi kha mufhe. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Environmental Education)

This study was undertaken to identify the biographical characteristics, attitudes and perceptions of informal family care-givers caring for patients with mental illness in Dennilton. Data were gathered from 48 care-givers by using a cross-sectional survey approach in which structured questionnaires were completed. The results revealed that a sizeable proportion of the care-givers were 60 years and older. Only 10% were employed and a quarter married, suggesting that the care burden influenced their life choices. Many care-givers were mothers or female family members. Half of the patients cared for suffered from depression. Violent, aggressive behaviour was reported as a symptom that care-givers found difficult to deal with. Less than half of the care-givers reported that the patients accepted their health situation. / Sociology / M.A. Soc.

This study was undertaken to identify the biographical characteristics, attitudes and perceptions of informal family care-givers caring for patients with mental illness in Dennilton. Data were gathered from 48 care-givers by using a cross-sectional survey approach in which structured questionnaires were completed. The results revealed that a sizeable proportion of the care-givers were 60 years and older. Only 10% were employed and a quarter married, suggesting that the care burden influenced their life choices. Many care-givers were mothers or female family members. Half of the patients cared for suffered from depression. Violent, aggressive behaviour was reported as a symptom that care-givers found difficult to deal with. Less than half of the care-givers reported that the patients accepted their health situation. / Sociology / M.A. Soc.