M.Ed.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF EDUCATION in the Department of Foundations of Education of the Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, 2002. / The issue of involving parents in education has been explored by several studies in the past with all pointing towards greater success than failures amongst learners whose parents work in partnership with educators. Parental involvement not only ensures maximum development of learner-motivation, but it also has an impact on the smooth running of the school. However, a gap still exists between parents and educators in black secondary schools in South Africa. This results in poor performance among matriculants in particular, and lack of commitment and responsibility among learners in general. The aim of this study was to explore the extent to which parents and educators in black secondary schools work as partners in developing the culture of learning in learners. The results showed that most parents felt that they have a role to play in the education of their children. Yet they realized that they were not fully involved either due to inadequate financial and knowledge resources or trie schools did not fully involve them in their activities- This study is an ongoing attempt at making parents and educators realize the importance of partnership in the education of the child.

Prof. J.C. Kok

Thesis (M.Ed. (Educational Management)) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / Refere to document

D.Ed. / South African Education has been in a crisis, especially in the secondary schools where the majority of learners are blacks and where the academic performance of the grade 12 learners is poor. It is a challenge for all educational stakeholders to determine what contributed to the high failure rate in secondary schools where the majority of learners are blacks especially in grade 12. When learners fail grade 12 they experience many problems such as they may become negative about life and experience feelings of hopelessness, demotivation and guilt. It often seems as if nobody cares about these learners. However, educators, parents, learners, educational officials as well as the South African Government all blame each other for factors which contributed to the high failure rate of learners in grade 12. The main aim of this research was to develop, implement and evaluate a psycho-educational programme to assist the parents and educators of the learners who failed grade 12. This was done so that parents and educators would be able to assist those learners who failed in order to accomplish the goal of becoming educationally well trained persons. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, evaluative contextual study was done to develop a programme. Four steps were utilised to develop, implement and evaluate a psycho-educational programme to assist parents and educators of the learners who failed grade 12. The first step dealt with situation analysis. Phenomenological individual interviews were conducted with the learners who failed grade 12 and their parents and educators. The interviews were conducted in order to explore and describe the phenomenon. A literature control was utilised in order to support the findings that were obtained from the interviews. The second step involved the development of the psycho-educational programme. The results from the interviews and the survey list of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1968:423) were utilised in order to develop a conceptual framework of the psycho-educational programme to assist parents and educators of the learners who failed grade 12. The third step involved the implementation of the psycho-educational programme to assist parents and educators. The fourth step involved a single case study to evaluate the psycho-educational programme to assist parents and educators of the learners who failed grade 12. Through this programme parents and educators are empowered with the necessary knowledge, which will assist them to help learners who failed grade 12 change their behaviour, and to assist them to be positive about life and to accomplish their goal.

M.Ed. / This qualitative phenomenological study focuses on school choice as challenge to principals of Sharpeville public primary schools. Different aspects of these choices are explored. School choice is an important component of parental involvement in the education of their children. Parents and learners tend to be open about their right through the support of the Schools Act 84 of 1996. You may not discriminate on the basis of race trough the language policy at your school. This means that you may not use language as a cover or smoke screen to keep learners out of your school on the basis of their race. The Constitution (Act 108 of 1996) stipulates that no unfair discrimination may take place against anyone on any of the following grounds: race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic of social origin, colour, sexual orientation, (for example homosexuality), age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth. The question then arises, what makes learners of public primary schools choose the schools that are not in the areas where they live? What is interesting in the ex Model C schools that they cannot get in township schools? There are many aspects which give meaning to concept 'school choice'. In order for parents to view school choice as priority in education, certain of these aspects need to be considered. These include qualities that are desired in school, the , climate of the school that is conducive to teaching and learning. Kinds of activities enjoyed together by all in the school, the effective school management. In addition to exploring these aspects, the study investigates what attracts the children including what gives challenges to school principals. The findings of this study show that a school is able to market itself if it has a vision and mission statement, quality education, ethos, excellent pass rate and if 71 it serves the needs of the community. Learners maintain relationships with schools that serve as learning organisation. Moloi (2002:7) explains that a learning organisation acknowledges the importance of individual and group processes to enhance learning in their environments. The process whereby the data was collected is described. This included interviews of individual learners, the data analysis is examined and the themes that emerge are discussed within the framework of the existing literature on how parents choose schools for their children. The study concludes with a discussion of the implication for further research. Guidelines to the principals are suggested. These guidelines are for the enhancement of school choice.

This study is an investigation on the role of the School Governing Body (SGB) in macro planning of LSEN Hospital Schools. The literature review revealed that much has not yet been done pertaining to the involvement of parents in macro planning at the school level. For this research, qualitative research was conducted on educators, principals and parents who are members of the SGB at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital School and Johannesburg Hospital School. The researcher used interviews, notes taking and observation to collect data. The findings disclosed that most of the SGB members had no knowledge about section 20 status as laid down by SASA. They are not aware of their rights and limitations due to lack of professional training. The stakeholders involved in these schools, when doing macro planning, are the internal stakeholders only (the principals and educators). Based on the findings of this study, recommendations and guidelines have been provided to improve the involvement of parents in the school macro planning and management. / Prof. J.R. Debeila

Submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF EDUCATION in the Department of Educational Planning and Administration at the University of Zululand, 1991. / The ever depreciating quality and quantity of matric results in black schools has called for the urgent attention for all educationists, decision-makers and parents, as well as pupils with the aim of joining hands to save and improve this appalling state of affairs. There has been much speculation ranging from the malfunctioning of the education system for the black community to the racially segregated education system. This thesis presents the findings of a study which describes the role played by parents in the academic performance of pupils in Senior Secondary classes in the Nseleni and Ongoye Magisterial districts. The Study was conducted among 150 Standard 9 and 10 pupils, 12 subject teachers, six principals of schools and 50 parents. The questionnaire and interview tools of research were used in the collection of data. The data collected by means of both the questionnaire and research tools, were analysed quantitatively. The analysis of results led to the emergence of numerous closely related factors which formed the basis of poor academic performance of pupils in Senior Secondary classes, especially standard 10. The findings indicated work time-tables, viz. shift work undertaken by parents, lack of parental support due to illiteracy, conditions of employment, lack of space and furniture conducive to study - due to unfavorable socio-economic factors prevailing within the family, absence of a well-structured personal study time-table for pupils, lack of regular contact between the school and parents, low occupational status of the parents, discrepancies in the staffing procedures and a high teacher-pupil ratio in schools are factors responsible, to a large extent, for the poor academic performance of pupils. In the light of these findings, it is advisable that these factors should not be regarded as separate, units, but as complementary to one another, forming a complete whole.

The importance of secondary school education in moulding learners into responsible citizens of tomorrow cannot be ignored or undermined. Secondary school education is the stepping stone for unlimited opportunities for learners to explore the career choices that they have to pursue further in their lives. Every year the performance of secondary schools in the matric examination come under spotlight as soon as the results are published. Many schools in the previously disadvantaged communities perform poorly in the matric examination each year. This research aims at drawing up management strategies that could be used to improve the performance of learners in the matric examination in the poorly performing schools. The literature study reveals that effective management and leadership is an essential characteristic of a successful school. Managers of schools that are poorly performing in the matric examination have to set up proper systems in place to ensure effective teaching and learning. Effective participation of all stakeholders in the management of the education of the learners is essential to improve the academic performance of learners in the matric examination. Quality subject delivery by educators in the classroom is the most important and indispensable factor that can improve the academic performance of learners in the secondary schools. Active participation of parents in the education of their children is essential to improve the discipline of the school as well as the academic performance of the learners. The literature study also reveals that poor socio-economic conditions can negatively influence the academic performance of learners. Schools that are poorly performing require visionary and innovative managers to turn them around into centres of excellence. Managers of schools have to seek the assistance and cooperation of the community and the business people to improve the quality of education provided in schools. Availability of necessary physical facilities enhance the quality of teaching and learning and the academic performance of learners in the various subjects. A questionnaire was used to collect the data required for this research. Forty schools that are poorly performing and forty schools that are well performing in the matric examinations were selected for this research. All these schools exist in the previously disadvantaged communities. Based on the information gathered using the questionnaire, each item in the questionnaire is analysed and discussed. After the factor analysis, the significance of the difference between the factor means of the various groups for each of the factors were analysed and explained. The data obtained suggests that in many schools (66,5% of schools surveyed), there is a lack of effective management structures that are essential for the implementation of quality teaching and learning. Lack of support and active participation of the parents in the education of the learners can be noticed from the information gathered. Poor management of school resources for effective teaching and learning can be also observed from the data collected. Lack of physical facilities is still a major problem in many (54,5% of the schools surveyed) schools. Lack of shared vision and cooperation among the stakeholders of education for the provision of quality education is evident in many schools. Ill-disciplined and non-committed learner bodies are a major challenge to many schools in the previously disadvantaged communities. The research shows that, organisational support and individual support are crucial to the success and the improvement of the academic performance of a school. The management strategies to improve the academic performance of previously disadvantaged schools in the grade 12 examination has two components namely: organisational support and individual support. The SMTs of schools have to set up management systems in place to ensure effective teaching and learning at schools. It is the responsibility of the SMTs to provide a suitable atmosphere needed for effective curriculum delivery at schools. The human, physical and financial resources of a school should be managed most effectively for quality education for all. Management strategies that will provide opportunities for all stakeholders to participate effectively in the school development programmes should be organised by the SMTs of schools. Schools have to introduce and implement strategies to improve the learner attendance and discipline for quality education and to improve the academic performance. The SMTs of schools have to introduce programmes that will increase the participation and support of parents in the education of learners. The academic performance of schools cannot be improved without providing sufficient individual support to the learners and educators. Based on the needs of the educators and learners, schools have to organise various programmes to support them to improve the academic performance in the grade 12 examination. Workshops and in-house training for educators are some of the ways to support the educators to enhance the quality of curriculum delivery at schools. Additional academic support programmes like extra lessons during afternoons and holidays can assist learners to improve their performance. Schools should have necessary systems in place to address the socio-economic needs of learners. In chapter 6, the findings of the research as well as the recommendations of management strategies to improve the academic performance of previously disadvantaged schools in the grade 12 examination are also given. / Prof. T.C. Bisschoff