Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An outcomes-based education (OBE) approach was introduced into South African schools in 1998 in order to align education with the democratic values of the new government. The transition to OBE has not been an easy process for many stakeholders. Teachers, in particular, have had to review their own philosophies and practices of teaching and learning. This paradigm shift required by OBE was, however, underestimated in teacher training. The recent addition of an inclusive education approach may arguably be seen as a natural, anticipated extension of the transformation of South African education. This is stated because the principles and practices of inclusion are endorsed and actualised by OBE and the Constitution of South Africa. Based on this inference, this research study explores how assessment, an integral part of the teaching and learning process, can contribute towards the promotion of inclusive education. The research was conducted at two rural mainstream primary schools near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. The research methodology was based on the principles and beliefs of the qualitative paradigm as this study explored the teachers' constructed realities and experiences of assessment in OBE and inclusive education. A case study research method was employed in order to produce 'thick' descriptions and contextualised interpretations of their constructions. Following Creswell's (1994) dominant-less dominant design model, the data in the study was produced via both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A selfadministered questionnaire consisting of closed-ended and open-ended questions was given to all of the teachers at both schools to enable an initial inquiry into the area of research interest. The responses to the closed-ended statements produced the quantitative data in the research study and the responses to the open-ended questions formed part of the qualitative data. Following an analysis of the data produced, two volunteer teachers at each school were then interviewed to gain further insight and clarification. The qualitative and quantitative data produced in each case study were first analysed separately (within case analysis) and then compared and combined in a cross-case 'study analysis. This approach enabled a thorough understanding of the research question and the production of quality research. The findings of the research indicate that, although the teachers in the case studies do not see a connection between assessment and inclusion, their assessment practices and principles do contribute towards the promotion of inclusive education. The research found that assessment in OBE has encouraged these teachers to view their learners as individuals with different abilities and needs. Consequently, some of the teachers have adjusted and modified their assessment methods to accommodate these factors. It was also found that not all of the teachers seem to have made a paradigm shift required by OBE. This lack of internalised understanding might contribute towards the confusion, insecurity and skepticism reported by some teachers with regards to assessment and inclusive education. Due to the importance of a paradigm shift in OBE and inclusive education, it is strongly recommended that teachers receive the necessary assistance and training that engenders this transition. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys (UGO) benadering is in 1998 in Suid-Afrikaanse skole bekendgestel ten einde onderwys in lyn te bring met die demokratiese waardes van die nuwe regering. Die oorgang na UGO was vir menige rolspelers nie 'n maklike proses nie. Veral onderwysers moes hulle filosofie en praktyke rondom onderrig en leer hersien. Hierdie paradigmaskuif, wat 'n vereiste vir UGO is, word in onderwyseropleidingsprograrnme onderskat. Die onlangse toevoeging van 'n inklusiewe onderwys benadering mag moontlik gesien word as 'n natuurlike, geantisipeerde verlenging van die verandering in Suid- Afrikaanse onderwys. Dit word genoem omdat die beginsels en praktyke van inklusiewe onderwys deur UGO en die konstitusie van Suid-Afrika onderskryf en geaktualiseer word. Op grond van hierdie aanname, ondersoek hierdie navorsingsprojek hoe assessering as 'n integrale deel van die onderring en die leerproses kan bydra tot die bevordering van inklusiewe onderwys. Die navorsing is by twee landelike, hoofstroom primêre skole naby Stellenbosch in die Wes- Kaap geloods. Die navorsingsmetodologie is gebaseer op die beginsels en praktyke van kwalitatiewe navorsing, aangesien die studie onderwysers se vertolking van die werklikheid en ervarings van assessering in UGO en inklusiewe onderwys ondersoek. 'n Gevallestudie as navorsingsmetode is gebruik om gedetailleerde, presiese beskrywings en gekontekstualiseerde interpretasies van die betrokke onderwysers se belewenisse te lewer. Deur Creswell (1994) se 'dominant-less dominant design model' as riglyn te gebruik is data van hierdie studie op beide 'n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode geproduseer. 'n Vraelys wat geslote- en oop-einde vrae bevat het en self deur alle onderwysers van beide skole voltooi is, is gebruik om die aanvanklike narvorsingsbelange te identifiseer. Kwalitatiewe narvorsingsdata is verkry deur die response wat gelewer is op oop-einde vrae en kwantitatiewe data is geproduseer deur middle van die geslote-einde vrae. Na 'n analise van die data is onderhoude met twee vrywillige onderwysers van beide skole gevoer om meer inligting en duidelikheid te verkry. Die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data wat geproduseer is, is eers afsonderlik geïnterpreteer en daarna in 'n kruis-gevallestudie analise vergelyk en gekombineer. Hierdie benadering het tot deeglik, deurdagte insigte rakende die navorsingsvraag en die daarstel van kwaliteit navorsing, gelei. Die narvorsingsbevindinge het getoon dat, alhoewel die onderwysers wat betrokke was by die gevallestudies nie 'n verband kon sien tussen assessering en inklusiewe onderwys nie, het hulle assesseringspraktyke en -beginsels wel 'n bydrae gelewer tot die bevordering van inklusiewe onderwys. Die navorsing het bevind dat assessering in UGO die onderwysers aangemoedig het om hulle leerders as individue met unieke vermoëns en behoeftes te sien. Gevolglik het sommige onderwysers aanpassings en veranderings In hulle assesseringsmetodes gemaak om hierdie faktore te akkommodeer. Daar is ook bevind dat nie al die onderwysers die paradigmaskuif wat UGO vereis, gemaak het nie. 'n Onvermoë om die beginsels van UGO te internaliseer mag moontlik bydra tot die verwarring, onsekerheid en skeptisisme oor assessering en inklusiewe onderwys wat deur sommige van die onderwysers gerapporteer is. Weens die belangrikheid van 'n paradigmaskuif in UGO en inklusiewe onderwys, word daar ten sterkste aanbeveel dat onderwysers die nodige ondersteuning en opleiding ontvang om hierdie oorgang te bewerkstellig.

Thesis (Med) -- Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A problem facing many educators in inclusive classrooms is the process of assessment. This study explores the assessment process in an inclusive classroom (that is, classroom-based assessment) and the learners' experience of it. A qualitative research study was done at a private (community) primary school, using a case study approach. A combination of data collection and analysis methods was used. The qualitative nature and context of the study prohibit generalisations and confine findings largely to this study. Assessment is a broad subject touching almost all aspects of education. There have been many influences on assessment practice and the background to assessment was examined to identify these influences and the debates around assessment practice. What emerged was that assessment has many purposes linked mainly to the motivation for doing assessment and assumptions about learning. Essentially the debate centres on the purpose of assessment in education and the need to change the way it is viewed and used. Traditional assessment practice was influenced enormously by intelligence testing and historically its main role has been evaluating learning outcomes for the purpose of certification and selection. This purpose has obscured the role of assessment in facilitating learning. Recent research has indicated its importance in this respect. As our views of learning change, so the need to change our approach to assessment arises. Inclusion also challenges our education practices and the assumptions we make about the learning process. Learning is a complex process that is influenced by many factors including context. Assessment should thus be used in support of learning, rather than just indicating current or past achievement. Many learners especially those experiencing barriers to learning are frustrated with the assessment process, which often discriminates against them. Research shows that assessment is not just about grading and evaluation but also about understanding the individual and the process. Planning an effective education programme should thus include planning effective assessment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Assessering in die inklusiewe klaskamer is 'n bron van bekommernis vir baie opvoeders. Die assesseringsproses in 'n inklusiewe klas en leerders se belewenis daarvan word in hierdie werkstuk ondersoek. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie is in 'n privaat (gemeenskap) primêreskool deur middel van 'n gevallestudie gedoen om die assesseringsproses in 'n inklusiewe klas te verken. 'n Saamgestelde aantal dataversamelings- en ontledingsmetodes is gebruik. Die konteks en kwalitatiewe aard van die studie beperk die bevindinge en verhoed dus veralgemenings. Assessering dek 'n breë vakgebied wat heelwat aspekte van opvoeding aanraak. Daar was baie invloede op die assesseringspraktyk, en die agtergrond daarvan, asook die debatte hieromtrent is ondersoek. Wat voorgekom het, is dat daar heelwat redes aangevoer word om assessering te doen, wat meestal gekoppel is aan die motivering vir assessering, en/of vooropgestelde idees rondom die leerproses. Hoofsaaklik draai die debatte om die doel van assessering in opvoeding en die noodsaaklikheid daarvan om die sienswyse en gebruik daarvan te verander. Tradisionele assesseringspraktyke is heelwat deur intelligensietoetsing beïnvloed en was histories behep met evaluering van leeruitkomstes met die hoofdoelop sertifisering en keuring. Dié manier van assessering het die leerproses oorskadu en verduister. Onlangse navorsing dui op die belangrikheid hiervan. Soos ons sienswyse van leer verander, so ook moet ons benadering tot assessering verander. Insluiting bied 'n uitdaging aan ons onderwyspraktyk en ons voorveronderstellinge aangaande die leerproses. Leer is 'n ingewikkelde proses wat deur baie faktore, insluitend konteksverband, beïnvloed word. Assessering moet as ondersteuning vir die leerproses gebruik word en nie net om huidige en vorige prestasie aan te dui nie. Baie leerders, veral dié wat leerhindernisse ondervind, vind die assesseringsproses frustrerend en bevooroordeeld. Navorsing toon dat assessering nie net oor gradering en evaluering gaan nie, maar ook oor 'n begrip van die persoon en proses. Doeltreffende onderrigprogrambeplanning noodsaak dus ook effektiewe assesseringsbeplanning.

Thesis (MEd)--Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since 1994 the South African government has been committed to the transformation of the educational system driven by the process of democratisation. Inclusive education, as a recent initiative in education, finds its philosophical position within the niche created by the democratic ideal of freedom. equality and justice. Both the teacher and teacher training are key elements within the process of educational transformation. Successful transformation in the schools and classrooms depends upon a change of heart on the part of every teacher in the school. The establishment of a democratic way of life in learners and the successful implementation of inclusive education require that the whole school community, including the teachers, undergo a paradigm shift. The primary purpose of the study was to obtain a clear picture of the teachers' democratic values and their attitude to inclusive education as well as the relationship between their democratic/autocratic orientations and their attitude to inclusive education. The study was done using mainly qualitative research, but it also had a small quantitative component, which was limited to the data collection and data analysis phases. The research findings may be described as follows: • The participating teachers are still in a transitional phase on the road to the transformation of school and classroom practice and are resisting the renewal in education. • Although they find the philosophic underpinnings of inclusive education acceptable, they do not see themselves as ready for the implementation phase. • There is a significant correlation between the teachers' democratic/ autocratic orientations and their attitude to inclusive education. The findings of this study have critical implications for teacher training within a process of transformation, such as we are in at present. During an in-service training programme teachers should be brought to the point where they can place their own values, and attitudes under the microscope and to change them. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert 1994 is die Suid-Afrikaanse regering verbind tot die transformering van die onderwyssisteem soos gestuur deur In proses van demokratisering. Inklusiewe onderwys as In onlangse inisiatief in die onderwys vind 'n filosofiese staanplek binne die nis soos deur die demokratiese ideaal van vryheid, gelykheid en regverdigheid geskep. Beide die onderwyser en onderwyseropleiding is sleutelelemente binne 'n proses van transformasie in die onderwys. Suksesvolle transformasie in skole en klaskamers is afhanklik van In persoonlike harts- en wilsverandering van elke onderwyser in die skool. Die vestiging van In demokratiese lewenswyse by leerders en die suksesvolle implementering van inklusiewe onderwys vra dus In paradigmaskuif van die hele skoolgemeenskap, insluitende die onderwyser. Die doel van hierdie studie was eerstens om In duidelike beeld te verkry van onderwysers se demokratiese waardes, hulle houding teenoor inklusiewe onderwys en ook die verband tussen hulle demokraties/outokratiese orientasies en hulle houding teenoor inklusiewe onderwys. Die ondersoek is gedoen aan hand van In oorwegend kwalitatiewe studie, maar met In klein kwantitatiewe komponent wat net in die data-insamelings- en -analisefases gefigureer het. Die navorsingsbevindinge kan as volg aangedui word: • Die deelnemende onderwysers bevind hulle nog in In oorgangsfase na die transformering van die skool- en klaskamerpraktyk en bied weerstand teen die vernuwing in die onderwys. • Alhoewel die filosofiese begronding van inklusiewe onderwys vir hulle aanvaarbaar is, beskou hulle hulleself nie as gereed vir die implementeringsfase nie. • In Beduidende verband is bevind tussen onderwysers se demokraties/outokratiese orientasles en hulle houding teenoor inklusiewe onderwys. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie hou krities-belangrike implikasies in vir onderwyseropleiding binne In proses van transformasie van die onderwyssisteem soos tans die geval. Onderwysers behoort binne In indiens-opleidingsprogram begelei te word om eie waardes, oortuigings en houdings onder loep te neem en te verander.

<p>Kalmar Municipality has in 2008-2010 made an effort to educate managers on gender, with the goal of mainstreaming gender into public activities so that all citizens should feel safe in that treatment and services are designed and resources are distributed equally to both sexes living conditions and needs. The overall aim of this study was to examine whether the training effort has paid off, and how gender mainstreaming has been implemented in the different activities. We have used a qualitative approach, which we examined through interviews managers' approach to gender equality.</p><p>Gender was generally described as an important issue of all respondents, and all were working to mainstream gender into their activities and workplaces. The results show that the operational and management needed clearer directives and strategies in their efforts to promote gender equality. Education was necessary because personal definition of gender may differ from the control contents of the documents. We found that many respondents saw the barrier of time, but also difficulties in changing attitudes and preferences of employees. As a result, we realized that the problem was bigger than that, when society is ruled by norms and values. After analysis of empirical data, we concluded that gender mainstreaming is a difficult subject, and it demands hard work, efforts and resources.</p>

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes among elementary principals and regular education teachers in Tucson, Arizona schools regarding perceptions of (1) what principals and teachers perceive as requirements for successful classroom integration of special education students; and (2) principals' and teachers' perception about the potential for student success in integrated, partially integrated, and non-integrated classroom settings. The study elicited responses from 117 principals and teachers during the 1992 school year. A survey instrument was used to obtain information from principals and teachers regarding their opinions on 18 items that have implications for integrating special education students into the regular classroom. Principals and teachers were also asked to indicate their level of support for integrating special education students into the regular classroom. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among principals and teachers regarding their support of integrating special education students into the regular classroom setting; integration would not be in the best interest of all students; integration requires a change in the attitudes of principals and regular education personnel; and that educational programs should be delivered to handicapped students primarily by special educators outside the regular classroom. Most principals indicated that the majority of regular classroom teachers in their school are able to provide an appropriate education for any student without the assistance of a special educator. While principals and teachers support the inclusion of most students with handicapping conditions in general education classes, some respondents questioned the appropriateness of extending the regular class placement option to students with severe disabilities. Significant differences were found with regard to additional background and training associated with how principals and teachers view their success in educating special education students in the regular classroom. Results of this study hold implications for policy makers, researchers, regular and special education teachers, and administrators.

‘Gender and Development’ (GAD) is currently seen as the dominant theoretical model within international development for promoting social justice and equality for women. As a consequence, many development organisations are undertaking gender mainstreaming. The most interesting fact about the vast number of analyses about gender mainstreaming is the consistency with which they tell of GAD influenced policies failing to implement GAD approaches in practice. This should raise suspicion rather than simple condemnation. It is time to ask: ‘How are, often very progressive, gender policies and strategies consistently silenced across the range of organisational contexts?’ This thesis focuses upon the contemporary process of gender mainstreaming in development organisations – a term that specifically refers to a ‘process of organisational change’ that aims to explicitly develop the ‘use of GAD approaches within all projects and programmes’ of development institutions in order to achieve ‘a vision of development that creates gender equitable social change’ in society. Moreover, it takes an approach that specifically details the ‘organisational process’ element of change inferred in the term. As such, this thesis uses the literature of organisational culture as a lens to make previously unnoticed and submerged sites of conflict and acts of resistance visible, allowing an understanding to be gained of how gender mainstreaming has so consistently faced a policy-practice impasse. It develops this analysis using an in-depth case study of Oxfam GB and demonstrates that the process of gender mainstreaming in the organisation has resulted in the removal of ‘responsibility for’ implementing GAD approaches among staff in the organisation. It goes on to highlight that the unwillingness of development organisations and practitioners to recognise gender mainstreaming as an explicitly feminist and political process of change directly couched at the level of the organisation and not just at the level of the actual development project (or society more widely) has resulted in the ‘process of organisational change’ becoming rationalised and technical rather than personal and politically charged. In reaching this understanding of gender mainstreaming, the thesis develops an awareness of organisational change processes and highlights that ‘norms’ and ‘values’ in organisations are often confused. This confusion has led to an ineffective process of change in institutions as well as a poor conceptualisation and practice of gender mainstreaming in international development.

Jämställdhetsintegrering är den huvudsakliga strategin för att uppnå Sveriges jämställdhetspolitiska mål. Strategin etablerades 1994 ur propositionen Delad makt – delat ansvar och ska sedan dess genomsyra all politisk beslutsfattning och alla politiska processer för att främja ett jämställdhetsperspektiv, och se till att inte existerande ojämlikhet reproduceras. Strategin dras dock med ett antal problem och fallgropar. Att istället faktiskt visst reproducera befintlig könsordning, att förhöja kvinnor just för att de är kvinnor, och att inte se djupet, roten, i problemet – strukturerna. Det finns en risk för att denna rädsla, eller okunskap, att rikta fokus på strukturerna förgås av diskrepans mellan den politiska ambitionen och genomförandet, vilket istället resulterar att bli en teknikalitet – en bock i en checklista. I denna studie utgår jag från två tolkningar som finns av jämställdhetsintegrering, anpassnings- och omvandlingstolkning, där förstnämnda ser jämställdhetsperspektivet som något som läggs ovanpå existerande verksamhet och samhälleliga ramar och där etablera kvinnor; den andra som söker att etablera jämställdhetsperspektivet i verksamheter och i grunden förändra dem för att främja jämställdhet på ett fundamentalt och strukturellt vis. Jag vill mena att dessa tolkningar går att härledas till olika feminismer. För att söka svaret på detta så använder jag mig av Judith Squires olika tillämpningar av jämställdhetsintegrering, vilket hjälper mig att klassificera materialet och i slutändan ge mig svaret på frågan om Regeringskansliet kan uppfattas som jämställdhetsintegrerat. Resultatet indikerar på att jämställdhetsintegrering har blivit ett mål i sig och inte det verktyg för att nå de utsatta jämställdhetspolitiska målen. Arbetet har blivit fokus på resultat och till något tekniskt och kvantitativt framför politiskt och kvalitativt. Även vikten av tydliga politiska signaler för ett fungerande kvalitativt arbete belyses.

The purpose of this study was to explore regular education student perceptions of the effects of implementing behavioral interventions for seriously emotionally disturbed students (SED) in the regular classroom. Student perceptions of classroom friction or disruptiveness, apathy, and general enjoyment or satisfaction were evaluated. It was predicted that regular education students would report more classroom friction, increased apathy, and less satisfaction when interventions were implemented in the regular classroom for a target SED student.

The Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale for Children, the Florida Key: A Scale to Inter Learner Self-Concept, and the Walker Problem Behavior Identification Checklist were used to assess the self-concepts of 18 ambulatory physically handicapped children between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Data were analysed via one-sample t-tests. The hypothesis that mainstreamed handicapped children would exhibit somewhat lower self-concept than their nonhandicapped peers was not supported. In fact, some mainstreamed physically handicapped children may indeed exhibit higher frequencies of relating to peers and teachers, less acting-out behavior (among males), and better overall self-concept than the nonhandicapped populations from which the normative data were obtained (p < .05). These results were discussed in terms of the children's experiences within the hospital environment from which they were selected.

M.Ed. / Few prospective parents expect to have a child with a disability and, even if they are aware of the possibility, very few voice their fears or are prepared for the actual experience. Usually parents have to provide care for the children. However, in a Primary School, in Osizweni, the Newcastle area of Kwa-Zulu Natal, learners come from families in which grandparents are primary the only adult caretakers of young children and also those with disabilities. In 2002 the school started to admit learners with diverse needs, including severe behavioural problems, hearing and visual impairments, severe physical, intellectual and learning disabilities. These learners had not been admitted anywhere else previously, because of their disability. In Osizweni, as indicated above, most learners are no longer in the care of their biological parents but are being looked after by their grandparents. There are a number of reasons for this, some specific to the area and situation, others related to a general transference of responsibility common to the wider context of the extended family in African society. This study is aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of grandparents with grandchildren with disabilities and the inclusion of these learners in a school for the first time. This exploration and description could lead to better understanding of the grandparents and how to assist them to support their grandchildren at school The research was conducted in a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive manner. In-depth interviews were the main source of data collection with observation and field notes as added tools. Discursive, constructionist orientated interviews were used. Four grandparents of learners with disability were interviewed as a target population in the study. The recorded data from interviews and observation provided the information needed. The interviews were conducted in Zulu and the transcribed interviews translated in English. The transcripts were read and the themes observed. Themes and categories were identified, analyzed and discussed according to the data, which were collected and discussed to explore grandparents’ experiences of inclusive education. In analysing the data, seven themes were identified in describing the experiences of grandparents with grandchildren with disabilities and the inclusion of these learners in a school for the first time. These themes were use as a basis to better understanding of the grandparents and how to assist them to support their grandchildren at school. From the interviews it became evident that most grandparents experienced stress and uncertainty when attempting to secure help or specialty services related to the children’s disability and needs. They reported to be low users of existing services but in high need of services and benefits. This indicates discrimination, access, and difficulty in finding placement, knowledge and other barriers with which support services may be of assistance in resolving the problem. The participating grandparents also expressed financial needs and are being haunted by their own health issues and do not have finances for their needs and the needs of their grandchildren. The study also found that grandparents experience many losses as well as deep grief that comes with them and the grandchild being the constant reminder of the situation. Furthermore, the research findings exposed the fact that grandparents regard themselves as parents and have the great support from the community. In the final chapter, recommendations, as well as suggestions for supporting grandparents and the community at large were made. / Mrs. H. Krige