This study investigates the ways in which healthy school initiatives shape teachers’ identities on both a professional and personal level. Using social constructionism as a research lens, and drawing on the research literature pertaining to health promotion, critical obesity and fatness discourses, body pedagogy, and the embodiment of health, teachers’ experiences working within the healthy school environments are explored. This study seeks to better understand how teachers navigate the dominant discourses of biopedagogies and how these discourses shape their professional and personal lives. Discourses of health and identity are explored through individual interviews with generalist early-years teachers in one school division in Manitoba to get a sense of how health is understood both inside and outside the classroom for today’s practicing teachers. / May 2016

The World Health Organisation has developed a concept of ecological health- a notion that health, using a broad definition, is a product of the societies and environments in which we live. It is the aim of the WHO to achieve "Health for All by the Year 2000." This reform agenda incorporates education as a tool for social change. This study investigates the role of education in social change, with local and global health as an objective. The background to the development of this concept is outlined, as are the social issues that make this such an important perspective. Theories of social formation and the role of the school in relation to society are discussed, and the research that confirms that schools do "make a difference" reported. Definitions of change, factors affecting social change and models of change are described. Factors relating specifically to educational change are outlined and related to examples of educational change, designed to promote social change, in Australia. Case studies, composed of descriptions of schools written by staff members to illustrate the process of working towards becoming "Healthy School Communities" and transcripts of interviews, are analysed to determine the extent and type of change that is taking place within each school, and how the changes are happening. Schools reported changes to attitude, understanding, policies and practice. The analysis is then discussed, and the conclusion reached that this construct of education has some useful conceptual frameworks, for the cultural changes that are occurring in Australia and other Western cultures.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of school management in promoting healthy school environments for Grade R learners in the Sedibeng West District. A literature review revealed that there are two types of health programmes: those that support the curriculum and those that are part of the curriculum. School managers have to focus on both in their efforts to promote health in schools. South African schools adapted a Whole School Approach in creating and sustaining healthy environments. Whole School Approach includes the development of health policies, health education, community, learner, teacher involvement, nutrition and prevention of communicable diseases. A qualitative research approach was used and data was generated by means of interviews, documents, photographs and narratives. Four research sites were purposefully selected and four principals, three Heads of Departments for Foundation Phase, four health coordinators and four Grade R practitioners participated in this research. Only one of the research sites had a School Based Health Centre. The study revealed that curriculum-based health programmes including physical education, physical activities and health education were effectively implemented although they were not effectively monitored and evaluated. Health programmes supporting the curriculum include nutrition, first aid and health services. Both health services and nutrition were effectively implemented and monitored whilst there were serious problems with first aid. Practitioners were not trained for first aid, in the three schools where first aid kits were available were not checked therefore not replenished. In one school there was no first aid kit, thus, there was not much focus on precautionary measures in the participating school. There was therefore, no strategies in place for the management of health programmes that support the curriculum. / MEd (Education Management), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of school management in promoting healthy school environments for Grade R learners in the Sedibeng West District. A literature review revealed that there are two types of health programmes: those that support the curriculum and those that are part of the curriculum. School managers have to focus on both in their efforts to promote health in schools. South African schools adapted a Whole School Approach in creating and sustaining healthy environments. Whole School Approach includes the development of health policies, health education, community, learner, teacher involvement, nutrition and prevention of communicable diseases. A qualitative research approach was used and data was generated by means of interviews, documents, photographs and narratives. Four research sites were purposefully selected and four principals, three Heads of Departments for Foundation Phase, four health coordinators and four Grade R practitioners participated in this research. Only one of the research sites had a School Based Health Centre. The study revealed that curriculum-based health programmes including physical education, physical activities and health education were effectively implemented although they were not effectively monitored and evaluated. Health programmes supporting the curriculum include nutrition, first aid and health services. Both health services and nutrition were effectively implemented and monitored whilst there were serious problems with first aid. Practitioners were not trained for first aid, in the three schools where first aid kits were available were not checked therefore not replenished. In one school there was no first aid kit, thus, there was not much focus on precautionary measures in the participating school. There was therefore, no strategies in place for the management of health programmes that support the curriculum. / MEd (Education Management), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The educational landscape in South Africa is unique and has also seen many changes since the dawn of democracy more than 20 years ago. The apartheid education system was marred by severe inequalities between schools and, for this reason, the democratic government post 1994 established a number of policies and interventions in an attempt to improve access, equity and quality between schools. The country has made significant advances in improving access to education. This is reflected in the Millennium Development Goals progress indicators showing that, as of 2013, almost all learners between the ages of 7 and 15 were enrolled in schools. While great strides have also been made with regard to equity, evidence shows that many schools in South Africa are still largely inequitable. Education quality, however, is an area that is still of grave concern and the matter requires much attention from educational stakeholders. International studies, such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), use learner performance to measure the quality of the system. Such studies consistently report that South Africa is performing poorly and that large inequalities still exist between schools in the country. Improved quality is associated with effective schools and, in South Africa, only 20% of schools have been found to be functional or effective. Much of research focussed on school effectiveness, both nationally and internationally, however has been explained by factors in the school, including the appropriateness of curriculum content, infrastructure, resources in the school and teacher content knowledge. These factors have been found to be strongly correlated with effective schools.

This article focuses on the relationship between education and health, and the relevance of the school in a comprehensive teaching. Specifically, the article develops different conceptions about the health, education, health promotion and healthy lifestyles taking into account the contributions of authoritative sources. In addition to the theoretical approach, the author introduces a reflection about the health education in the Peruvian context. / El presente artículo establece una estrecha relación entre salud y educación y la relevancia del ámbito escolar en la formación integral de la persona. Específicamente recoge las diferentes concepciones de salud, educación, promoción de la salud, estilos de vida saludables, transversalidad y educación para la salud. Además de la aproximación conceptual, el artículo integra una reflexión sobre la educación para la salud en el caso peruano.

The main aim of this study was to investigate how effective School Management Teams were in the management of healthy school environments in the Gert Sibande District. This was a qualitative study which employed two data collection strategies: face to face interviews and photographs. A literature review on this study revealed vital aspects, that a healthy school environment: can directly improve children’s health and effective learning; the school is strategically positioned to reach large numbers of the population to teach them to understand the importance of investing in health. Literature indicated collaboration and synergy as essential aspects, and policies as cornerstones that underpin the health promotion initiatives. Selection of sites was purposefully done as three of the four schools in this study were part of the Eco Schools programme. The study revealed that there was disconnect between the SMTs and committees that were involved in health promotion: in coordinating plans; and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of programmes. This therefore, means that there was no support for the committees from the SMT. It was also found that there were committees that: did not have plans; did not sit for meetings and the reluctance of the SMT to address these challenges compounded the situation and contributed to some committees being dysfunctional. The failure of the SMT to guide and provide leadership in their engagement with community members who provided assistance in terms of basic needs to learners indicated a need for the development of a cadre of leaders that are capable of working beyond the borders of schools. In all the committees that were interviewed, the Environmental Committee came up to be more effective and organized than others in three schools. The health committee was lacking in the area of training especially in the prevention of communicable diseases. The study provided recommendations to assist the SMT in their endeavors to promote healthy environments in their schools. / MEd, Education Management, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

The main aim of this study was to investigate how effective School Management Teams were in the management of healthy school environments in the Gert Sibande District. This was a qualitative study which employed two data collection strategies: face to face interviews and photographs. A literature review on this study revealed vital aspects, that a healthy school environment: can directly improve children’s health and effective learning; the school is strategically positioned to reach large numbers of the population to teach them to understand the importance of investing in health. Literature indicated collaboration and synergy as essential aspects, and policies as cornerstones that underpin the health promotion initiatives. Selection of sites was purposefully done as three of the four schools in this study were part of the Eco Schools programme. The study revealed that there was disconnect between the SMTs and committees that were involved in health promotion: in coordinating plans; and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of programmes. This therefore, means that there was no support for the committees from the SMT. It was also found that there were committees that: did not have plans; did not sit for meetings and the reluctance of the SMT to address these challenges compounded the situation and contributed to some committees being dysfunctional. The failure of the SMT to guide and provide leadership in their engagement with community members who provided assistance in terms of basic needs to learners indicated a need for the development of a cadre of leaders that are capable of working beyond the borders of schools. In all the committees that were interviewed, the Environmental Committee came up to be more effective and organized than others in three schools. The health committee was lacking in the area of training especially in the prevention of communicable diseases. The study provided recommendations to assist the SMT in their endeavors to promote healthy environments in their schools. / MEd, Education Management, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

The people in the organisation are the key to quality and effective change and improvement in schools. A new paradigm in school leadership, namely teacher leadership, grounded in distributed leadership theory and supported by enabling policies, provides a platform for school wide capacity building where more and more people recognise the potential of other team members, promote it and thus give stimulus for significant change. The purpose of the research was to determine the perspectives, perceptions and readiness of educators in the Eden and Central Karoo Education District for teacher leadership, as well as educators’ perceptions regarding the school culture required for teacher leadership to be nurtured and sustained. A total number of 283 educators participated in this study, including principals, members of school management teams, veteran, middle, novice educators and district officials. A series of instruments were used to determine educators’ perspectives, perceptions and readiness for teacher leadership, including the Teacher Leadership Readiness Instrument (TLRI) and the Teacher Leadership School Survey (TLSS). Data revealed that educators held positive assumptions about teacher leadership; that educators were collectively ready for teacher leadership; and that they perceived their school cultures as healthy for teacher leadership practices. Educators used language of leadership which can be associated with the organisational and transformational leadership theory; indicated that they experienced barriers to teacher leadership; and that there is a need for professional development in relation to teacher leadership. A significant difference was found between the preliminary leadership and barriers to teacher leadership perceptions held by district officials and other educators (principal, member of school management team, veteran, middle and novice). A significant difference was also found between members of school management teams and other educators (middle and novice) in relation to their readiness for teacher leadership. Significant relationships were found between educators’ preliminary leadership and readiness for teacher leadership perceptions, as well as between their readiness for teacher leadership and their perceptions about a healthy school culture for teacher leadership. These findings have significant implications for leadership practices, collaboration, capacity-building and improvement in schools, educators’ self-esteem, motivation and productivity, as well as student outcomes. / Educational Studies / Thesis (D. Ed. Education Management))

L'objectiu principal de la investigació present és l'estudi dels danys no intencionats a l'escola, que es constitueixen com un problema per a la salut i la seguretat de l'alumnat.Aquest estudi s'aborda amb una orientació que contempla la complementarietat de les metodologies qualitativa i quantitativa.La investigació s'inicia a partir del disseny d'una sèrie de categories per descriure i analitzar els factors més rellevants d'aquest fenomen. En segon lloc, s'ha construït i validat un instrument per enregistrar les dades més importants dels danys no intencionats.En tercer lloc, s'ha aplicat aquest instrument al llarg d'un curs acadèmic, en 22 centres escolars i sobre una població total de 17494 alumnes. Finalment, els resultats obtinguts han permès identificar les característiques principals dels danys no intencionats a l'escola i fer una proposta per a la seva prevenció. / El principal objetivo de la presente investigación es el estudio de los daños no intencionados en la escuela, que se constituyen como un problema para la salud y la seguridad del alumnado. Este estudio se aborda con una orientación que contempla la complementariedad de las metodologías cualitativa y cuantitativa. La investigación se inicia a partir del diseño de una serie de categorías para describir y analizar los factores más relevantes de este fenómeno.En segundo lugar, se ha construido y validado un instrumento para registrar los datos más importantes de los daños no intencionados.En tercer lugar, se ha aplicado este instrumento durante un curso académico, en 22 centros escolares y sobre una población de 17494 alumnos.Finalmente, los resultados obtenidos han permitido identificar las características principales de los daños no intencionados en la escuela y hacer una propuesta para su prevención. / The main aim of this research is the study of unintentional injuries at school, which are set up as a problem for the health and the security of the student body. This study is dealt with a methodological orientation that relies on the qualitative and quantitative methods.The starting point of the investigation is a series of categories design, in order to describe and to analyze the most relevant factors of this phenomenon. Second, an instrument to register the most significant data of unintentional injuries has been built and validated.Third, this instrument has been applied during a school year in 22 schools and on a total population of 17494 students.Finally, the obtained results have allowed to identify the main characteristics of unintentional injuries at school, and to do a proposal for their prevention.