The aim of this study was to evaluate the problem solving proficiency of Physical Science learners in Highveld Ridge East circuits in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between proficiency in conceptual and algorithmic problem solving, to compare the percentage of algorithmic and conceptual problems that were correctly and incorrectly answered, problems not attempted at all and finally to categorize Physical Science learners according to their stoichiometry problem solving proficiencies. The target population for this study was Grade 12 Physical Science learners in Highveld Ridge East and West circuit in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. To achieve the aim of this study and its subsequent objectives random sampling was used to select the three schools and the sample after a stoichiometry achievement test was administered by Physical Science teachers, who were teaching the participants at their respective schools. The researcher scored the tests using a memorandum. The results of this study indicated that learners’ proficiency in both algorithmic and conceptual problem solving was low, there was a weak positive correlation between algorithmic and conceptual problem solving proficiency, the percentage of solutions that were correctly solved was the lowest compared to the percentage of incorrect solutions and problems not attempted. The other result of this study was that there were no grade 12 Physical Science learners with high algorithmic and high conceptual abilities, a few learners had high algorithmic and low conceptual abilities and the majority of the learners had low algorithmic and low conceptual problem solving abilities. This implies that Physical Science teachers in these circuits should focus on developing both algorithmic and conceptual problem solving strategies when teaching stoichiometry. / Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

D. Tech. Chemistry / The increase in industrialisation in South Africa has led to an increase in coal mining and coal utilisation in Mpumalanga. This has resulted in the deterioration in the quality of water upstream of Loskop Dam. Little or no information is available on the occurrence or fractionation of trace metals in sediments, which are reservoirs for pollutants. Furthermore, no information is available concerning the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known for their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects, in rivers in the area. The possible impact of leaching of elements and organic compounds from South African coals has not been exhaustively researched. The general objectives of the study were to: 1) assess the impact of potentially toxic metals and organic compounds leaching from coal, on the quality of surface waters via simulated leaching experiments; 2) determine the extent of pollution by trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of the Olifants, Klein Olifants and Wilge rivers, at selected points in the upper catchment area; and 3) identify and apportion sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediment samples from the study area.

Thesis (MTech. degree in Education) -- Tshwane University of Technology, 2010. / This study was aimed at examining factors that influence ICT integration in education at high schools in the Nkomazi sub-region of Mpumalanga Province with a view to provide efforts towards its implementation.

Tourism is one of the key industries that drive the global economy, playing a key role in regional development. However, constant change, trends and tourist behaviour compel drive destinations to keep track of these changes in order to grow tourism and stimulate economic growth. Mpumalanga is one of the provinces in South Africa known for its flora and fauna, beautiful landscape, and game reserves together with wildlife; therefore, having the potential to draw tourists to the province. Mpumalanga province aim to position itself as a destination of choice. A process of segmenting should however first take place as positioning is the end result. The purpose of the present study was to segment and profile tourists based on benefits sought in order to develop a benefit segmentation framework for Mpumalanga. The data collection procedure was based on a self-administered survey applied to a sample of 400 tourists visiting Mpumalanga, and two segments were identified. Binary logistic regression indicated that benefits sought (all nine) were statistically significant predictors of the attractions tourists visited and the activities within which they participated during their stay in Mpumalanga. A benefit segmentation framework was developed as a recommendation, which may be useful in developing promotional and packaging activities for identified segments by incorporating activities and attractions obtained from the binary logistic regression results and by matching them within the identified segment while using benefits as guidelines. / Business Management / M. Com. (Tourism Management)

Foodborne diseases are a major challenge to school feeding programmes because inadequate food safety knowledge and skills of staff can result in unsafe food handling practices and cross-contamination, thus causing foodborne disease outbreaks. The aim of this study was to investigate the food safety and quality assurance measures of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The research design was cross-sectional quantitative in nature. A total of 300 NSNP food service managers/coordinators and 440 food handlers were selected to participate in the study. Data collection was by means of a selfadministered structured questionnaire and 192 food contact surface swap samples from 32 primary and secondary public schools.The majority of schools offering NSNP meals were located in informal settlements and most were found to lack basic resources such as electricity and potable tap water in their kitchens. 93% of food handlers did not know about Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). The NSNP food service managers in some schools, especially in schools located in rural settlements, were found to have little knowledge or awareness of HACCP. No school was found to have implemented the HACCP, and only a few staff had received food safety training. Inadequate food safety knowledge was worst in schools located in informal settlements due to a lack of training. Up to 60% of food handlers did not know the correct procedure for washing a cutting board after it had been used. In addition, just over 95% of the food handlers did not know how to sanitise utensils and cutting surfaces after cutting up raw meat. The lack of hygiene was confirmed by the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli 015:H7, Salmonella and Shigella species on food contact surfaces. A total of 22 different bacteria genera were identified. It is essential to monitor NSNP kitchen hygiene practice to ensure the minimal contamination of food products and newly recruited food handlers should be trained on food handling practice and principles to ensure the safety of prepared food for school children. / Health Studies / D. Phil. (Consumer Science)

The study was on the perceived effects of climate change on agricultural production among smallholder crop farmers in the Lowveld areas of Mpumalanga province, South Africa. A total of 351 farmers were randomly selected and well-structured interviews were scheduled that contained both close-ended and open-ended questions. Data collected was analysed with descriptive statistical tools while logit regression model was used to analyse the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and their level of awareness of climate change The findings revealed that majority 33.9% of the respondents were 56 years and above and most (72.1%) of the respondents were male. Likewise, 68.4% were married while their major occupation was farming. It was discovered that most (66.4%) of the farmers were not aware of the changes in climate in the study area. Only 52.7% stated that there was information on climate change. The impacts of climate change on crop production from the view of the farmers included (1) Reduced crop production levels and (2) No production, which have been affecting their livelihood diversely such as increase in socio-economic problems, reduction in income and increase in unemployment. The result of the logit model analysis revealed a significant relationship between the age of the farmers (0.019), land tenure system (0.062), the manager of the farm (0.036) and the farm ownership (0.072) and their level of climate change awareness. The study recommends that government as well as stakeholders’ programmes designed to improve farmers’ awareness of climate change and its impact on production should consider the aforementioned explanatory variables / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Tuberculosis (TB) has re-emerged as a major worldwide public health challenge in the last decade with an increasing incidence amongst children. The diagnosis of TB in children is difficult as the presentation is not always classical and available diagnostic modalities are imperfect. Diagnosis is, especially complex in developing countries where resources and access to sophisticated diagnostic facilities are limited. Thus practical score charts combining a number of complementary clinical characteristics with affordable special investigations have been developed to aid diagnosis. The new South African primary health care (PHC) nurse-driven system demands that first line nurses be equipped to suspect, diagnose, confirm the diagnosis and treat children with TB. Very little is known about the ability of PHC nurses to diagnose TB in children. In Mpumalanga province relatively low rates of notified paediatric TB prompted an investigation to determine the ability of local PHC nurses to diagnose TB in children and explore whether the PHC setting allowed this. Within method triangulation was used in this quantitative descriptive study by combining a self-completed knowledge survey with clinic visits to audit records and assess access to diagnostic aids and tests. Important deficiencies in knowledge and limited access to certain diagnostic modalities found in this study must be addressed if appropriate management of TB in children is to be assured. / Health Studies / M. A. (Public Health)

Text in Afrikaans / Children in children’s homes often make use of specific behaviour - defined as contact boundary disturbances in Gestalt theory - as a result of their intense emotional needs, but also to protect themselves or to be assertive in their current environment. This qualitative, applied study aimed to determine and describe the way the child care workers of a rural child and youth care centre manage and experience the contact boundary disturbances of children in the children’s home. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight child care workers. In conducting the study, the researcher found that the child care workers had inadequate knowledge and insight regarding contact boundary disturbances and how to handle it. It was concluded that the management of children’s homes must ensure that training and support are provided to child care workers so that their needs are addressed in order to prevent burnout. Recommendations that will be valuable with respect to the handling skills and emotional experiences of child care workers were made. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Spelterapie)

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MA / Unrestricted

The aim of this study was to evaluate the problem solving proficiency of Physical Science learners in Highveld Ridge East circuits in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between proficiency in conceptual and algorithmic problem solving, to compare the percentage of algorithmic and conceptual problems that were correctly and incorrectly answered, problems not attempted at all and finally to categorize Physical Science learners according to their stoichiometry problem solving proficiencies. The target population for this study was Grade 12 Physical Science learners in Highveld Ridge East and West circuit in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. To achieve the aim of this study and its subsequent objectives random sampling was used to select the three schools and the sample after a stoichiometry achievement test was administered by Physical Science teachers, who were teaching the participants at their respective schools. The researcher scored the tests using a memorandum. The results of this study indicated that learners’ proficiency in both algorithmic and conceptual problem solving was low, there was a weak positive correlation between algorithmic and conceptual problem solving proficiency, the percentage of solutions that were correctly solved was the lowest compared to the percentage of incorrect solutions and problems not attempted. The other result of this study was that there were no grade 12 Physical Science learners with high algorithmic and high conceptual abilities, a few learners had high algorithmic and low conceptual abilities and the majority of the learners had low algorithmic and low conceptual problem solving abilities. This implies that Physical Science teachers in these circuits should focus on developing both algorithmic and conceptual problem solving strategies when teaching stoichiometry. / Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)