In recognition that every child matters, inclusive education has become a practice that has been adopted by many schools across the globe and most usually in first world countries. As a whole-school system it occurs less frequently in developing countries including South Africa which, unlike many developing countries, has a sound infrastructure and many excellent schools in both the state and the independent sectors. ‘Education White Paper 6: Special education: Building an inclusive education and training system’ was published in 2001 with the express intention of developing an inclusive education system in South Africa. Some independent schools have successfully implemented exemplary forms of inclusion in their schools and this is the phenomenon that has been studied by focusing on the understandings and experiences of the principals. As the researcher I interviewed eight principals who are practicing inclusive education as the norm in their schools. This study reveals various aspects of the inclusive process including the pivotal role that principals play in the transformation process of which inclusive education is the harbinger. It also analyses why principals choose to embrace a paradigm that on the surface is uncomfortable and not an easy option. I used biographical narrative research as methodology for this qualitative research and crystallisation as quality strategy in order to study the phenomenon that is the understandings of principals of independent schools of inclusive education. The basic tenet was that inclusion leads to belonging and excellence in education. The major findings and implications for action are of interest not only to principals, but to anyone who is seriously interested in innovative and more humane forms of anti-oppressive education. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

Technology has allowed for the ability to create online platforms for sources ofreliable and unreliable news media. It is therefore important to understand the roleand relevance of alternative news media today and how disinformation is spreadonline. In this paper, we will examine the role of alternative news media websites inSweden and how it compares to the mainstream media websites spread of informationduring the coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic. We will also explore what thedifference is in their portrayal of events during the coronavirus, and what makes thisdifference appealing to certain readers. Using Google, we searched the top ten articlesfrom four online media news sources. Two of which sources were mainstream mediasources and the other two sources as alternative media. These articles were searchedfor during a specific timeframe and with the keywords such as “Corona” and “Covid19”. The dates for the timeframe of this experiment come from when the coronavirusbroke out in Sweden to one year after the event occurred. The top ten search resultsfrom each news source, as provided to us by Google’s algorithm, were placedthrough a text analysis tool called Voyant. The data findings are presented in threeformats: a Word Cloud, TermsBerry and Distinctive Words Comparison. The resultsof the experiment show a stark contrast in the difference in reporting on thecoronavirus topic between different online newspaper media, specifically alternativemedia news sources. Further research is recommended on a larger scale within thetopic of online alternative media.

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The researcher sought to understand the differences in framing used by alternative media outlets and traditional or mainstream media outlets. A sampling of articles about the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was used from alternative and traditional media publications to conduct this study. These articles were analyzed by a software program to determine themes and concepts within both data sets. The analysis revealed traditional media was less varied in themes than was alternative media, with the latter clearly showing an effort to be. Traditional media was found to provide routine coverage of commemorative services and very little critical analysis. Further highlighting the differences in the 2 media paradigms was the use of profanity in alternative media, which was discovered by using the "find" function available with word processing software.

Research was performed at a pilot-scale wastewater treatment plant operating an adsorption/bio-oxidation (A/B) process at 20C. The study compared B-Stage performance under DO Control, Ammonia Based Aeration Control (ABAC), and Ammonia vs. NOx (AvN) control. AvN in 1) fully-intermittent and 2) intermittently-aerated MLE configurations was compared to DO Control and ABAC, each with continuous aeration, in an MLE configuration. The study also examined operation of each aeration strategy with two different feed types: A-Stage effluent (ASE) and primary clarifier effluent (PCE). Operating modes were compared on the basis of nitrogen removal performance, COD utilization efficiency for denitrification, and alkalinity consumption. AvN was found to provide comparable nitrogen removal performance to DO Control and ABAC. The highest nitrogen removal performance was seen when operating DO Control (81.4 ± 1.2%) and ABAC (81.1 ± 1.2%) with PCE. High nitrogen removal efficiency (77.5 ± 6.1%) was seen when fully-intermittent AvN operation was fed ASE containing a high particulate COD fraction. A high effluent nitrite accumulation ratio (NAR = NO2-/(NO2-+NO3-)) was seen during this period (46 ± 15%) accompanied by the out-selection of Nitrospira. Feeding effluent from AvN control to an Anammox MBBR improved removal efficiency. Increased soluble COD loading resulted in greater nitrogen removal with strategies operating in an MLE configuration while particulate COD was found to be important for processes where removal was designed to occur in downstream reactors. Efficiency of COD for denitrification was found to vary based on the amount and type of influent COD; however AvN in an MLE configuration was found to use COD more efficiently than fully-intermittent AvN. In either configuration, AvN required less alkalinity addition than DO Control or ABAC. High sCOD concentrations in PCE led to increased nutrient removal as compared to ASE but increased heterotrophic growth and mixed liquor concentrations in the B-Stage making the A-Stage an attractive option for its ability to control the C/N ratio fed to BNR processes. / Master of Science

Deammonification is a widely used technology for side stream treatment with rich ammonium streams at relatively high temperatures, such as, the reject water coming from dewatering units in treatment of digested sludge and industrial wastewaters. The deammonification process has lower operational costs than conventional systems, consumes less energy, enables the increase of biogas production and it is easy to implement. However, this technology has not yet been applied in full- scale mainstream treatment due to its restrictions in coping with high C/N ratios, low temperatures, and the need for post-treatment processes. These conditions are allegedly negative to the growth and performance of anammox bacteria affecting the bacterial groups’ behavior in the process. This master thesis project aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using deammonification to remove nitrogen from mainstream wastewater, which was studied by monitoring the bacterial activity in a pilot scale reactor. The different bacterial groups involved (AOB, NOB, heterotrophs, and denitrifiers) were monitored by weekly measuring their activity in batch activity tests. The results allowed the evaluation of different operational scenarios and their impact by following up on the changes in the bacterial competition. The study was conducted for six months in a single-stage IFAS (integrated fixed-film activated sludge) pilot-scale reactor located in Stockholm and fed with pretreated (with a UASB) municipal wastewater. The different operational scenarios involved changes in temperature, aeration patterns, DO concentration, SRT, and HRT. The adjustment of these features was done in the interest of promoting AOB and anammox bacterial growth, leading to an improvement of the deammonification efficiency in future studies. However, the chosen operational conditions were to enhance bacterial competition and facilitate its visualization, not to maximize nitrogen removal. Thus, the most suitable scenario found during this study included DO concentration of 1.5 mg/L with 10 aeration-20 non-aeration pattern and ensured nitrogen removal rates within normal values while allowing the monitoring of all the bacterial groups. TN removal reached a value above 50% and NH4-N above 95%, whereas nitrogen Removal Rate (NRR) increased to 30g/N/m3-d and the system had an overall nitrogen removal efficiency of 75%. Nevertheless, it was proven that in the right environment, the necessary bacterial groups can be selectively accumulated and successfully perform deammonification and reduce nitrogen levels in mainstream wastewater. / Deammonifikation är en välanvänd teknik för rening av sidoströmmar med höga ammoniumkoncentrationer vid relativt hög temperatur, som till exempel rejektvatten från avvattning av rötslam eller industriellt avloppsvatten. Deammonifikationsprocessen har lägre driftkostnad än konventionella reningsprocesser, förbrukar mindre energi samt möjliggör högre biogasproduktion samtidigt som processen är enkel att implementera. Reningstekniken har dock ännu inte tillämpats i fullskala för rening av huvudströmmen på grund av den höga C/N-kvoten och de låga vattentemperaturerna i kommunalt avloppsvatten samt behovet av efterbehandling. Detta anses ha en negativ inverkan på anammoxbakteriernas tillväxthastighet och funktion vilket påverkar bakteriegruppens beteende i processen. Syftet med detta examensarbete var att utvärdera om det är praktiskt genomförbart att använda deammonifikation för att rena kväve från kommunalt avloppsvatten, vilket följdes upp genom att studera bakterieaktiviteten i en pilotskalereaktor. De involverade bakteriegrupperna (AOB, NOB, heterotrofer och denitrifierare) övervakades genom att mäta den mikrobiella aktiviteten varje vecka med hjälp av batch-tester. Resultaten användes till att utvärdera olika driftstrategier och deras effekt genom att följa förändringarna i mikrobiell aktivitet hos de konkurrerande bakteriegrupperna. Studien genomfördes i Stockholm under sex månader i en enstegs-IFAS-pilotskalereaktor (integrerad process med biofilm på fast bärarmaterial och aktivslam) som matades med kommunalt avloppsvatten som förbehandlats i en UASB-reaktor. De olika driftstrategierna omfattade olika temperaturer, luftningsstrategier, syrekoncentrationer, slamåldrar och hydrauliska uppehållstider. Syftet med driftstrategierna var att främja AOB- och anammoxbakteriers tillväxt för att i framtida studier kunna erhålla en förbättrad deammonifikationsprocess. Syftet i denna studie var dock i första hand att förbättra den bakteriella konkurrensen och göra den lättare att mäta, inte att uppnå bästa möjliga kväverening. Den driftstrategi som gav bäst resultat i denna studie innebar att hålla en syrehalt på 1,5 mg/l med 10 minuter luftning följt av 20 minuter utan luftning vilket säkerställde en normal kväveavskiljning och samtidigt möjliggjorde övervakning av samtliga fyra bakteriegrupper. Totalkväveavskiljningen var över 50 % och ammoniumavskiljningen över 95 % medan kvävereningsaktiviteten ökade till 30 g N/m3-d och systemet hade en övergripande effektivitet på 75 %. Studien visade att under rätt förutsättningar kan de nödvändiga bakteriegrupperna selekteras fram och deammonifikation av kommunalt avloppsvatten kan utföras på ett framgångsrikt sätt.

In this study, the attitude of foundation phase teachers to the inclusion of learners who experience barriers to learning in the education system was explored. The following were discussed about the problem: Clarification of the concepts, a profile of learners who experience barriers to learning and development, the research design, analysis of the research results and recommendations were made. From this core problem, four underlining sub-problems were identified, namely: - Learners who experience barriers to learning are a heterogeneous group of learners. - Teachers' knowledge of barriers to learning and development is inadequate. - Teachers' attitude towards collaborative teaching and cooperative learning need to be addressed. - An outcomes-based-education approach influences inclusive education. It was found that teacher training in inclusive classrooms, barriers to learning, cooperative learning and collaborative teaching could enhance the attitude of teachers in inclusive education. When well planned for and maximizing the available resources, inclusive education can be a reality. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Special Needs Education)

Inclusive Education has gained significant currency nationally and internationally. It demands that the teacher be able to meet the needs of learners with impairments in ordinary classrooms. The success of inclusive education rests on quality teacher preparation geared towards inclusive education. The focus of this investigation is on preparedness of mainstream primary school teachers in implementing inclusive education policy in the Nongoma circuit. The lack of teachers prepared to provide quality inclusive teaching to learners and the limitations of existing support structures both impact on inclusion. Through a questionnaire an effort was made to ascertain teachers’ preparedness for inclusive education in the Nongoma circuit. This measure was utilized to determine the extent to which teachers are prepared for the implementation of inclusive education in the classroom. It was also used to describe the nature of training provided by District Based Support Team in an advancement of inclusive education practices in the classroom. The researcher also identified enabling strategies required for teachers in an inclusive classroom environment. Finally, recommendations on strategies for the successful implementation of inclusive education in the classroom were made. The data was collected through a questionnaire. The researcher selected three wards Nongoma circuit as research sites with all teachers in the selected schools participating. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive education)

Inclusive education within the United Arab Emirates has started to gain momentum and the roles of teachers have become more challenging. This study investigated teacher views surrounding the inclusion of SEN students into mainstream schools. A qualitative exploratory research design was employed and the social constructivist theory was used as a framework for the research. Purposive sampling was employed, and a total of seven teachers and four parents participated in the study. Thematic analysis was used and findings suggested that UAE teachers experienced various challenges due to the inclusion of SEN students into their schools. Some of the challenges included: lack of professional development, lack of managerial support, parental demands, cultural barriers and the lack of collaborative opportunities. The study recommended varied professional development workshops aimed at developing an understanding of SEN and inclusion within the UAE context. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

為什麼今天我們仍然需要《資本論》？應該如何讀它？台灣是個左翼思想長期受到壓抑的社會，思考這兩個問題的人並不多，但筆者認為要瞭解世界和台灣資本主義的發展，卡爾•馬克思（Karl Marx）始終是個無法迴避的思想者。此篇論文是筆者在回答這兩個問題的基礎上，試著重訪《資本論》對資本主義的洞見、駁斥被當作意識形態工具的主流經濟學理論，前者和後者互為彼此的手段和目的，只有藉由將主流理論的缺陷呈現出來，才能讓人認知到對《資本論》的需要，只有透過《資本論》這套不同的理論框架，才能襯托出主流經濟學整體世界觀上的偏誤。主流經濟學對勞動市場的想像，不但壟斷了學術話語權，更矇蔽了一般人的認知，最糟糕的是，這套理論強烈傾向維持市場自律的保守立場，禁錮了勞動者的思想、馴服了勞工運動的反抗力量。筆者將在此篇論文裡，隨著《資本論》經濟範疇的展開，亦步亦趨地解構主流經濟學理論的哲學基礎、分析方法和結論，將這套理論的錯誤和意識形態幽靈赤裸裸地呈現出來，最後，試著建立一套以馬克思主義為基礎的替代性分析框架，以理解諸如提高工資運動等現實議題的意義，在理論上重新找回勞動階級自我解放的前途。