The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles that members of SMTs play in their efforts to manage the present educational changes in schools. Members of SMTs are leaders and managers who hold authoritative positions in schools. They are regarded as the key personnel who are supposed to manage schools successfully. Since the present education system in South Africa is characterized by a variety of changes, school managers are not only expected to understand these changes but also to be able to manage them effectively. The study commenced by outlining the concept change and its nature. The intention was to lay a foundation for understanding what change entails. Some of the common changes that are experienced in schools were also discussed. These included curricular and non-curricular changes that pose challenges to school managers. Focus was primarily placed on the educational changes and the way they impact on the managerial roles of school managers. These included the changes such as the implementation of OBE, NCS and IQMS. Reference was also made to the application of some of the educational policies that contribute towards the increasing managerial responsibilities of school managers. These include the application of the present policy on norms and standards for school funding, admission policy and the abolition of corporal punishment that pose managerial challenges to school managers. Empirical research was conducted in four randomly selected schools in Mogodumo region in Limpopo Province. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with members of SMTs in these four schools. The research findings revealed that the present school managers find it difficult to meet the new managerial expectations that are brought about by the transforming educational environment. It became evident from the research that insufficient professional development for school managers contributed towards their failure to execute their expected managerial roles. / (M. Ed. (Eduction Management))

The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of nurse educators in Limpopo Province regarding their empowerment. The researcher conducted a quantitative descriptive-correlative research design to describe the perceptions of nurse educators in Limpopo Province regarding their empowerment. Laschinger's Integrated Model of Nurse/Patient Empowerment deduced from Kanter's Theory of Structural Power in organisations and Spreitzer's Psychological Empowerment Theory guided the construction of the data collection instrument. Data collection was carried out using a self-designed structured questionnaire. The population comprised all nurse educators in Nursing Education Institutions in Limpopo Province. The Ethics Committee of the Department of Health in Limpopo Province granted permission to conduct the research in the Limpopo Province. Non-probability convenience sampling was applied to obtain the participant sample for the study. The study shed light on important aspects of nurse educators' perception of their empowerment. The findings demonstrated that nurse educators perceived the concept of empowerment differently. The most incorrect perception of empowerment was that empowerment entailed paternalism rather than democratic (n=73; f=43;58.9%) and that it involved alienation rather than being inclusive, also at 58.9%. The total average scores were of concern to the researcher. The results of respondents' experience of structural empowerment varied as only 0.9%(f=1) did not indicate whether they agreed or disagreed that structural empowerment existed at the NEIs. 40.4% (f=44) indicated/agreed to have experienced psychological empowerment while 57.8% (f=63) have not experienced psychological empowerment. The findings related to association amongst the constructs indicated that gender was not associated with structural empowerment as well as psychological empowerment (p-value less than 0.05). There was no association between the highest qualification and structural empowerment (50.5% (f=55). However, 57% (f=63) agreed that there was an association between the highest qualification and psychological empowerment of respondents. The respondents disagreed that years of teaching experience (50.5% (f=55) was associated with structural empowerment, while 48.6% (f=53) believed it existed. The respondents indicated that no association existed between the campus they were placed at and structural empowerment (50.9% (f=55) while 57.8% (f=62) agreed that the campus placement was associated with structural empowerment as well as being associated with psychological empowerment at 56.5% (f=61). The discipline in which the nurse educators were teaching was not associated with either their structural empowerment (p=843 more than p=0.05) or their psychological empowerment at p=0.955 more than p=0.005). The respondents agreed that the discipline they taught was associated with their psychological empowerment at 55.9% (f=57); however, no statistically significant association existed at p-value 0.665 more than p-value 0.005. As the results indicated, the concept of empowerment yielded various perceptions of nurse educators. The results demonstrated the necessity to develop empowerment programmes for nurse educators at the NEIs. / Maikemišetso a dinyakišiso tše e be e le go hlalosa maikutlo a bafahluši ba baoki mo Profentshing ya Limpopo mabapi le ka fao ba boning matlafatšo ya bona. Go šomišitšwe motheo was hlaloso-kamano go hwetša maikutlo a mafahluši ba baoki. Dinyakišišo di be di ithekgilwe ka kgopolo-kgolo ya Laschinger ya matlafatšo ya balwetši, a e tsere go tšwa kgopolong-kgolo ya Kanter ya matlafatšo mo mešomong le matlafatšo ya megopolo ya go ngwalwa ke Spreitzer. Dikgopolo-kgolo tše di šomišitšwe go aga/dira gore monyakišiši a kgone go hwetša maikutlo a mafahloši ba baoki mo kholetšheng ya baoki. Dinyakišišo tše di itheilwe godimo ga mafahloši ba baoki ka moka mo kholetšheng ya baoki ya profense ya Limpopo. Komiti ya maitshwaro a mabotse mo Lefapheng la Maphelo e file monyakišiši tumelelo ya go dira porotšeke ye. Porotšeke ye e laiditše seemo sa matlafatšo ya mafahluši ba baoki mo porofentsheng ya Limpopo. Dipoelo tša dinyakišišo tše di bontšhitše gore mafahluši ba baoki ma na le maikutlo a a fapaneng mabapi le matlafatšo ya bona. Seo se sa kgotsofatšeng ke gore bafahlušhi ba baoki ba (n=73; f=43;58.9%) ga ba laetša maikutlo a a nyakegang ka gore ba bontšhitše gore matlafatšo mo kholetšeng ya baoki ke kgateleo go na le gore ke temokerasi. Mafahluši ba 58.9% ba rile matlafatšo ke go bea motho thoko bakeng sa go dumela polelo ya maikutlo a lokologilego. Taba ye ke yona e tshwentsego monyakisisi. Dipoelo di bontšhitse gore palo ya bafahlušhi ba baoki e lego 0.9% (f=1) ga se e dumele goba go gana gore go na le matlafatšo mo ba šomago. Mafahluši ba 40.4% (f=44) ba bontshitše gore ba bone gore go na le matlafatšo ba mogopolo mola ba 57.8% (f=63) ba bontšhitše gore gab a ikwa ba matlafaditšwe mogopolong. Dipoelo di bontšha gape gore ga go na kamano magareng ga bong le matlafatšo ya mo mošomong. Gape, ga gona matlafatšo magareng ga go rutega le matlafatšo mo mošomong (50.5% (f=55). Ka go le lengwe, mafahluši ba baoki ba 57% (f=63) ba dumetše gore gona le kamano magareng ga go rutega le mafatšo ya mogopolo. Palo ba bona e lego (50.5% (f=55) e bontšhitše gore gona kamano ya matlafatšo le maitemogelo mola ba (48.6% (f=53) bas a kwane le kgopolo ya gore gona le kamano / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

MEd (Educational Management) / Department of Educational Mamagement / See the attached abstract below

MPH / Department of Public Health / Introduction: It has been noted that stress is considered a major global health challenge. This is because it affects the well-being of service providers, especially those working in the human service sector, such as educators. The sources of stress are attributed to social factors, discipline of students, occupational pressures and workload. Studies have shown that stress is a silent killer that affects the health and productivity of educators, leading to mental, physical, emotional and behavioral illnesses. Educators in the Malamulele North East Circuit are confronted with work challenges and continue experiencing stress. Purpose: The study aimed at finding out the experienced stressors by educators in public high schools of Malamulele North East circuit, Vhembe District. Method: The study was conducted in Malamulele North East public high schools. Malamulele North East is situated in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative approach using explorative and descriptive design was adopted for the study. A sample of twelve educators was chosen from the target population by means of convenience sampling and data was collected through a face to face individual in-depth interview. Interviews and discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed and coded into larger themes, categories and sub-categories. Results: The following themes were derived from data analysis: factors considered to be sources of stress, perceived effects of stress among high school educators, strategies that educators use to cope with stress and strategies to manage the experiences of stress for educators. The study showed that different factors at schools have a great impact on educators. All the educators were affected by stressors in their work daily and adopted some coping strategies. However, these educators required continued intervention to manage the stress. Conclusions: The findings showed that all educators were experiencing stress in their work environment and were affected personally as well as professionally. Hence, the DOE needs to design strategies for continues support in order to manage the stress.

MEd / Department of Curriculum Studies / See the attached abstract below

MPM / O. R. Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / The study is based on challenges facing schools as a result of experienced educators exiting the education system. Retaining effective experienced teachers is a particular challenge. Statistics shows that from year 2015 to date (2018), 111 educators have exited the education system at Soutpansberg East circuit. There are number of factors that cause teachers to exit the education system, amongst others are, old age, sickness, failure to cope with new changes, career dissatisfaction, low salaries, lack of discipline amongst learners, overcrowded classrooms. As a result of these, schools suffer from lack of experienced educators; the Department of Education, communities and learners pay a price. Department of Education hence must find ways to keep their highly-skilled and experienced educators. The researcher used a mixed method approach, that is, both qualitative and quantitative research method to carry out the study. The population of the study was obtained using non - probability sampling and data was gathered from the defined population. Two data collection instruments were used, namely, interviews and questionnaires while analyses were through thematic analysis and using the statistical package for social analysis. Data collected through questionnaires was analyzed using statistical analysis while the interviews data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Ethical considerations were observed when conducting the study. The researcher found that the following are the key challenges faced by schools at Soutpansberg East regarding educators exiting the system earlier. Experienced educators are difficult to replace and the process of replacing an educator takes too long. Process of teaching and learning is compromised. Scarce skills for specific subjects are difficult to replace. New educators are not able to deal with disciplinary problems in the classrooms and the school at large. The schools are always experiencing problems of allocation of work and time tabling . The following factors were found to be the causes that induce teachers to abandon their calling. Educators are not getting enough salaries and benefits in relation to their work. The introduction of qualified conditional pass in schools is causing v frustration. Some educators are exiting because they are concerned about their safety at schools. Some educators are failing to maintain discipline since the removal of corporal punishment. Most of them are in debts. The researcher proposed the following recommendation to lessen experienced educators from exiting the education system. Pay teachers accordingly so that the experienced educators can be encouraged to stay in the profession. Measures to deal with disciplinary problems in the classrooms and the school at large should be put in place. Learners should be given counseling regarding the new system of conditional pass, its advantages and disadvantages to lessen the frustration it causes to educators .Security at school should be strengthened as it is clear from the findings that some educators are exiting the system early because they are concerned about their safety at schools Educators should be given education regarding their finances as soon as they get employed. Wellness education should be prompted to assist the educators who are in debts. Educators who are in debts can be given access to their pension funds to pay off their debts as long as the process is monitored. / NRF