BURP / Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Department of Curriculum Studies / MEd

Department of Public Health / MPH

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

MRDV / Institute for Rural Development

DEd (Curriculum Studies) / Department of Curriculum Studies / Poor learner academic performance is a major problem in South African public schools today. A considerable number of schools in the Vhembe District are dysfunctional. While the Department of Basic Education (DoBE) is attempting to intervene in these schools to address this problem, the interventions and turnaround strategies have not been sustainable. In schools where interventions and turn around strategies are being provided, such interventions have been short lived and were not sustainable. The aim of the study was to investigate the issues affecting teachers in dysfunctional secondary schools in order to develop a model for creating a sustainable teaching and learning environment. This study used both quantitative and qualitative research designs in which questionnaires, interview and observation schedules were used, for data collection processes. Purposive sampling procedure was used to select participants. Quantitative data was analysed using IBM Statistical package for Social Sciences Version 23 (IBM SPSS statistics), and Atlas.ti Version 6 programme for qualitative data. Results showed that conditions in the schools were not conducive to the promotion of quality teaching and learning. Teachers were demotivated resulting in poor performance in all school activities which contributed to rendering the schools dysfunctional. Some teachers even left the profession. A model was developed for the creation of a sustainable teaching and learning environment in dysfunctional secondary schools in the Mutale area.

MSCAGR / Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness / Poverty and unemployment are the main problems facing many people in the Vhembe District Municipality. Due to these main problems, most people turn into farming as a tool to reduce poverty, ensure food security and create employment in their rural communities. Because of high production and marketing costs, farmers often find it difficult to pool their resources together in order to raise farm income and substantially improve their living conditions. In order to deal with this problem, farmers form cooperatives to pool their resources for increased agricultural productivity, employment creation and poverty reduction. The study assessed the role of agricultural cooperatives in poverty reduction within the rural communities of the Vhembe District Municipality. The research study was a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research method. There are 70 agricultural cooperatives producing field crops and vegetables in Vhembe District. A clustered random sample of the 4 Local Municipalities within Vhembe District Municipality was employed. It involved the selection of 9 cooperatives from Thulamela, 3 cooperatives each from Makhado and Mutale respectively and 1 cooperative from Musina. Relevant data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Descriptive and Binary logistic regression modelling was used to analyse data. The study revealed that socio-economic characteristics of respondents have an impact on the role agricultural cooperatives play in reducing poverty. The study further showed that agricultural cooperatives play a significant role in reducing poverty and ensuring food security to members’ households. The respondents showed a positive response in the effectiveness of cooperatives in poverty reduction. The study also showed that cooperatives have a significant role in creating employment opportunities. Cooperatives were also faced with various challenges which hinder their success in poverty reduction. Some of the challenges include; market access, lack of funding, conflicts within cooperatives and high electricity costs. The study concludes by recommending different strategies which will enhance the success of cooperatives in poverty reduction. Further studies concentrating on poverty reduction, food security and employment creation need to be carried-out which will help cooperatives respondents to eradicate poverty in their households and communities.

MPH / Department of Public Health / The phenomenon of grandparents raising their grandchildren is not new in different parts of the world. It has been noted that taking up a parental role has become the norm for grandparents, especially the grandmothers. This study aimed to explore the experiences of grandmothers in raising their grandchildren in Thohoyandou. Specifically, it aimed to establish the reasons why grandmothers in Thohoyandou are involved in raising their grandchildren, to identify and describe the challenges experienced by grandmothers in raising their grandchildren in Thohoyandou and finally, to establish the coping mechanism being used by these grandmothers to address the challenges being experienced by them. The study was conducted in Thohoyandou Block J which is situated in Thulamela municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative method using an interpretative phenomenological approach was used. Ten grandmothers who were raising their grandchildren were selected through snowball sampling method. The researcher sought the help of a home-base care worker at Muledane clinic to have access to the first grandmother after which the remaining grandmothers were referred by the known participant. Individual in-depth interviews were used to get information from them, using an interview guide. Each grandmother signed a consent form and then gave permission for the interview to be audio-recorded. Pseudo name were used in order to protect the participants. Data were transcribed verbatim, coded into themes and sub-themes using inductive thematic analysis. Themes that emerged include, changes in grandmothers’ role, feeling towards the role change, socio-economic factors that affect care-giving grandmothers, health of grandmothers, strategies for better living. Findings revealed that different reasons exist which made grandmothers to take up the responsibility of raising their grandchildren, grandmothers are affected negatively in their caregiving role and their main source of income are the child-support and pension grant (for those that are eligible).

MPH / Department of Public Health / The sanitary state of an area is largely influenced by waste handling practices of the residents and measures in place for safe waste evacuation and disposal. Despite strategies that the municipality and local communities have put in place; namely, collection of wastes in one central spot in some villages, littering of all types of wastes is still on the increase in many rural areas. The focus of this study was on common refuse generated at Khakhanwa Village, different waste management practices and the knowledge of villagers on the impact of poor refuse management. The study was carried out using the quantitative, descriptive methodology. A total population of 312 households participated. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and ethical aspects were taken into consideration. Data was analysed descriptively using SPSS version 22.0. It is presented using graphs, tables and pie chart. The findings show that the respondents satisfactorily showed understanding of waste management and the impact of poor waste management. Due to lack of waste services, the majority of the residents resort to storing wastes within their homes, burning it and disposing of it in open dumping sites as major waste management practices. The most familiar wastes in Khakhanwa village are decomposable wastes, napkins and plastics. These findings call for strengthened waste services in rural areas and more waste education amongst all villagers. Policies on waste management need to be put in motion. Communities need to be equipped with the knowledge of reducing, reusing and recycling for the purpose of limiting wastes. Finally school curricula should be adjusted such that they inform learners about waste management from early ages.

MEd / Department of Curriculum Studies and Educational Management / The study aims to investigate the impact of intervention strategies in addressing bullying among secondary school students. A literature study was conducted, in order to understand the views of different authors and other researchers on effective intervention strategies. An empirical study utilising the quantitative research approach was used. A questionnaire was employed to gather data. It was distributed among all secondary schools in Motupa circuit. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 was used to analyse data from the questionnaire using the maxim for statistical significance. Findings from the empirical study were discussed. The implication is that intervention and preventive strategies need to be based on personal and contextual factors, in order to effect change.