This study explores children's valuations of their experiences at an environmental education field centre in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Patterns and tendencies in these valuations are described and discussed in relation to theoretical issues, the results of studies in other contexts and contextual factors which may have influenced valuations. The primary aim is to inform programme development at the field centre studied, but findings could also be useful for field centres in general and could contribute to the debate about environmental education at field centres. The open-ended worksheet, a regular programme activity, used as a data source is discussed and recommendations made regarding its potential use in evaluation and research. Examples are described to illustrate ways in which some preliminary findings of the study had been implemented at the field centre. The need for further research at the field centre is stressed.

M.Ed. (Educational Management) / The veld school is one of the most recent developments in the educational provision of the Transvaal Education Department. The effectiveness of the veld school is determined by the quality of education and the enthusiasm manifested by the veld-school teacher as the pursuer of a profession. The professional development and in-service training of the veld-school teacher, therefore, deserves the attention of the Transvaal Education Department, as well as the active measures of the veld-school principal. The rapid technological development of today has caused change and innovation to become an indissoluble part of the daily structure of life. The two most important educational bodies, namely the family and the school, are experiencing problems in keeping pace with this constant change and innovation. The problem of keeping pace with change and innovation may lead to voids in the most important educational situations. It, therefore, concerns the family as well as the school as educational bodies. These voids manifest themselves especially when it comes to the commitment of values and norms to the child. In this study the attempts made by the Transvaal Education Department to overcome these voids in the education of the child have been probed. Initially the subject Youth Preparedness was introduced in an attempt to achieve this goal. The ambitions set for the subject could not be realized within this framework.

M.Ed. (School Guidance) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Ed. (Educational Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. / Wildlife areas are considered by many to be "wilderness" islands, which do not have anything to do with the local communities surrounding them. These areas are seen as elitist. The Kruger National Park is no exception to these thoughts. Due to its immense size, many neighbours of the park have over the years been ignored. A questionnaire was given to 127 of the neighbours along the southern boundary of the park to determine the environmental literacy of these neighbours. The neighbours sampled were from informal and formal settlements and tourist destinations such as lodges and hotels. From the results it was found that there was very little difference between these neighbours in terms of their environmental literacy. An environmental education model was proposed in order to address the lack of knowledge or misconceptions that the neighbours held about the environment.