Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Curriculum review can ensure that nurses develop appropriate competencies to respond to market demand. Regular revision and updating of curricula are in line with recommendations of the WHO to scale-up health professionals' education and training. Introducing transformative changes in education provides an opportunity to review the strengths and weaknesses of the current systems. The nursing profession was the first of the health professions in South Africa to transform its legislative framework, which led to the development of new qualifications.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Emerging contractors play a significant role in the employment and skills development landscape as they are the employers of unskilled and semi-skilled labour in the construction industry (Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW): Contractor Development Policy, 2016; Rass, 2019). In 2004, the National Cabinet approved the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to encourage job creation imperatives through the provisioning of skills and business enhancement initiatives for the targeted Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs), specifically the unskilled and semi-skilled labour force of the South African construction industry (Makiva, 2015; DTPW, 2021; DTPW: Contractor Development Programme (CDP) Policy, 2016; Rass, 2019). In response to this call, in 2012 the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works (WC DTPW) designed and implemented the Contractor Development Programme (CDP) with parallel aims.

Thesis (Ph. D. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / In South Africa, shelters that accommodate survivors of domestic violence also adopted the Skills Development Programme with the intention of empowering survivors to be financially self-reliant. In shelters the Skills Development Programme is rendered for a period of six months depending on the stay of the survivors. Despite the provision of the Programme, which has been identified as intervention strategies towards poverty alleviation, it is evident that the level of skills training provided does not conform to the identified skills shortage in the economy. Sometimes it is due to limited time which the training had provided.The programme is not sustainable, and as a result, there is a high beneficiary turnover. Furthermore, resources of training beneficiaries to be independent are limited. Monitoring and evaluation is also poor. This programme is acknowledged to be expensive. The graduation from this programme does not mean success for the survivors. Instead, it results in the participants going back to poverty status and be dependent on government resources to make a living post-institutionalisation. This study titled “An evaluation of the effectiveness of Skills Development Programmes in the shelters accommodating survivors of domestic violence in Gauteng Province, Tshwane Region” evaluated the effectiveness of the said programme. It has adopted a qualitative approach which was evaluative in nature, guided by the Stages of Change Model (Trans-theoretical Model) underpinned by Theory of Reasoned Action. The participants consisted of three (3) different sets. They were survivors (individuals) of domestic violence from the shelters, shelter managers and a focus group made out of those individual survivors. Five (5) survivors of domestic violence and five (5) shelter managers were interviewed on a face to face basis. Semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data. This was followed by a focus group discussion. Multiple sources provided verification and trustworthiness while complementing similar data. As a result, more comprehensive data was obtained. During the data analysis process, different themes emerged. These were presented in the form of a report. It was evident that the Skills Development Programme presented in the shelters is not effective to help survivors of domestic violence to be financially self-reliant. However, there is a potential in the programme if it can be well resourced. / The National and Provincial Department of Social Development

Thesis (M. Pharm. (Pharmacology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Introduction: Zebediela Hospital in Limpopo Province is running an outreach programme as part of its chronic care initiative. In the programme, pharmacy personnel visit the feeder clinics attached to the hospital to dispense chronic medicines to patients. This study aimed at evaluating how this pharmacy chronic care outreach programme is performing, by looking at pharmacy personnel, nursing personnel and patients’ perceptions. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the six feeder clinics attached to Zebediela Hospital in the Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality of the Capricorn district in Limpopo Province using a quantitative research method. This quantitative research was administered in the form of a survey. Questionnaires were used to collect data from patients, nursing personnel and pharmacy personnel. A total of 399 participants (n=399) took part in the study. The participants included 337 patients from six different clinics, 18 pharmacy personnel and 44 nursing personnel. Data was analysed using the SPSS version 25.0. Results: The pharmacy personnel showed that an allocation of more than three personnel per duty roster sufficed. Regarding transport used by pharmacy personnel when embarking on the Pharmacy Chronic Care Outreach Programme, 71.4% of pharmacy personnel indicated that they always used hospital transport in 83.3% of the cases. The study findings showed that, 71% of patients agreed they were satisfied with the pharmacy times for collecting medicines apart from the fact that 65.6% of patients travelled for more than two hours from their respective homes to their nearest clinic. Sixty eight percent of pharmacy personnel perceived the PCCOP model to be reducing patient waiting time at the clinics. Both the patients and nursing personnel were however not satisfied with the pharmacy personnel’s arrival time at the clinic. The other negative aspect reported was the space problem at the clinics where, 77.8% of pharmacy personnel and 54.5% of nursing personnel reported this as not user-friendly. The patients’ satisfaction levels regarding the PCCOP model for “very satisfied” stood at 64.2% and 0.6% for “very dissatisfied”. Both pharmacy and nursing personnel recommended that the PCCOP model be continued with recommendations towards improving human resources and infrastructure. Conclusion: In conclusion, both pharmacy personnel and nursing personnel showed that the outreach programme was a good initiative in the health system and it benefitted patients. However, the concerns mentioned by patients included long waiting times at the clinic and medicine stock outs. As the results show, the pharmacy chronic care outreach programme should be continued, as long as patients’ complaints can be attended to. Key words: Evaluation, Pharmacy Chronic care Outreach Programme, Zebediela

The researcher investigated teachers’ use of group work play-based pedagogy to enhance core skills in young learners. The reason for this investigation was rooted in the teaching methods used by most Nigerian teachers. Most Nigerian teachers prefer to use the traditional learning approach (TLA); known as teacher-centred learning, in comparison to learner-centred pedagogy. According to the research, the learner-centred approach is a contributing factor to the development and enhancement of the acquisition of core skills among young learners. The study site identified was the eastern part of Nigeria. Nine participants were purposively sampled, who were responsible for teaching young learners between the ages of five to eight years. The researcher adopted the qualitative approach with an interpretive paradigm when employing a professional development programme through Participatory Action Research (PAR), observational schedule and field notes as tools for data collection. Findings from the study revealed that teachers do not understand what core skills are and how they should be developed in young learners. It was also found that teachers did not have sound knowledge of curriculum implementation and its impact on the development of core skills. Teachers also lacked the knowledge and understanding of the use of diverse group work play-based pedagogy in the early grade classes A recommendation was made for teachers to use group work play-based pedagogy to develop core skills among learners. It also recommended the provision of adequate continuous professional development training on group work play-based pedagogies to enhance and strengthen teachers’ knowledge and understanding. The study proposes the need for teachers to update their knowledge and understanding of curriculum policies on play-based pedagogy. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / pt2021 / Early Childhood Education / PhD / Unrestricted

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Women living with HIV (WLHIV) desire to bear children. Safe conception (SC) education for informed decision-making to prevent peri-conception HIV infection is needed but not routinely available. Poor SC knowledge, attitude, skills in addition to the absence of a standardised training programme were challenges that limited delivery. This study therefore aimed at developing a training programme for healthcare workers to facilitate SC education among WLHIV. The study adopted the intervention research approach. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed.

Magnetic data storing has been of great interest since 1950 when the first magnetic hard drive was fabricated. A lot has happened since then, but there is still a need for smaller and cheaper devices.  One way to achieve this is by creating nano-sized ferromagnetic areas in a thin film at room temperature, or nano-magnets. In this thesis, the aim is to fabricate and characterize novel amorphous nano-magnets. Using a chromium mask ions can be implanted in a nano-sized pattern in an amorphous iron zirconium thin film. The mask is fabricated by depositing chromium over the iron zirconium and etching the nano-structures into the chromium film.  This requires the parameters for the etching to be optimized. It is discovered the parameters change with the size and shape of the pattern. Magnetization and structural characterization were performed by using the magneto-optical Kerr effect and a magnetic force microscope. The result shows that the nano-magnets become magnetically harder than the reference sample. The study further reveals structural details for further improvements in implanted regions. / <p>Opponent: Stivan Sabir</p>

The South African National Development Plan (NDP) (National Planning Commission, 2011, p. 1) provides the road map for a reformed public health system by 2030. The proposed health system will be facilitated by, amongst others, training an appropriate balance of healthcare professional s including a cadre of community health workers (CHWs) that have a broad skills mix suited to reaching a larger number of people with first level intervention. With this in mind, a pilot group of CHWs were up-skilled as Rehabilitation Care Worker s (RCWs). The training program was a joint project between the Division of Disability Studies and the Departments of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy at UCT. Problem: Little is known about the perspectives of RCWs on the benefits and challenges of additional training in rehabilitation and disability related skills. Rationale: To inform the curriculum for a rehabilitation care worker (RCW) training program and the Western Cape Department of Health (WCDoH) of ways in which this cadre of worker could contribute to the realization of the 2030 Healthcare Plan. Aim: To describe the outcomes of a pilot RCW training program from the perspective of the pilot group of graduates. The objectives were to identify the areas of practice where RCWs feel competent/incompetent, to identify aspects of the health services where RCWs believe they can contribute the most/the least and to identify the facilitators/barriers they experienced when deployed in the health field. Methodology: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Method: Focus groups were carried out with three groups of six participants. Findings: The plot that permeated the participants’ perspectives revolved around how the RCWs were pioneers in breaking new ground for the Western Cape Department of Health (WCDoH). Two themes informed the plot: "we move health services to a new level" and "we manage change in new ways". Discussion: It is argued that the pilot RCW curriculum achieved its’ objective of equipping a cadre of worker with basic rehabilitation, care and disability inclusion skills. While the envisaged role of RCWs in the health service and in making the NDP a reality is supported, it is argued that attention needs to be given to supervision structures and to training of all other health workers in order to promote inter professional practice. Conclusions: The pilot group of RCWs believe that they have acquired a new and large variety of skills that have enabled them to make a broad and positive impact in their places of work, at home and in the broader community.

Magister Educationis - MEd / When a first-time teacher graduate and start working in a school, the first-time teacher is expected to adapt and adjust to the demands of a daily teaching programme (Carter & Francis, 2001). This can be overwhelming by taking on the same responsibility as the more experienced teachers. This can be a reality shock to first-time teachers as they may often be disadvantaged with the fact that they are often unprepared for the real world (Johnson & Kardos, 2002; Carter & Francis, 2001). Furthermore, many schools have appointed first-time teachers, but not all first-time teachers have been given proper support or introduced a mentor or a mentoring programme to help them adjust to their new career. This can contribute to the fact that first- time teachers are unprepared for their new roles and the challenges they may face (Carter & Francis, 2001). I will therefore look at mentoring and the preparedness of firsttime teachers, the study will focus on a non-governmental Joint Mentoring Project (JMP). This study aims at investigating how the JMP contributed toward first-time teachers’ teaching and learning experiences in selected primary schools.

Quelque-soit le multiprocesseur et son architecture, la facilité de leur programmation demeure une difficulté majeure. Une croyance bien installée est que l’exploitation correcte et efficace du parallélisme dans une application est une question pour les concepteurs d’outils de développement logiciel. Selon cette vision, nous avons besoin de techniques de compilation plus sophistiqués pour partitionner une application en threads simultanés. Mais de nombreux experts revendiquent que l'architecture joue un rôle tout aussi important: il faut opérer un changement fondamental dans l'architecture de processeurs avant que l’on puisse espérer des progrès importants au niveau de leur programmabilité. Notre approche favorise la convergence de ces points de vue. La convergence entre le calcul parallèle “en flot de données” avec l'architecture de von Neumann est porteuse de nombreuses promesses. En particulier en termes de tolérance à la latence, en termes d’exploitation d'un haut degré de parallélisme, le tout pour un très faible coût de changement de contexte entre threads. Les architectures à flot de données multithread exigent un haut degré de parallélisme pour tolérer la latence. D'autre part, le partitionnement d’un programme en un grand nombre de threads à grain fin est une source d'erreurs commune pour les développeurs. Pour reconcilier ces faits, nous nous efforçons de faire progresser l'état de l'art dans le partitionnement automatique de threads, conjointement avec le support du langage de programmation pour l’exploitation de parallélisme à plus gros grain, tout en préservant un concurrence déterministe. Cette thèse présente un algorithme général de partitionnement de threads, pour transformer du code séquentiel en un programme exprimant du parallélisme en flot de données. Notre algorithme fonctionne sur le Program Dependence Graph (PDG) et la forme en assignation unique statique (Static Single Assignment, SSA), pour extraire du parallélisme de tâche, pipeline, et de données, en présence de flot de contrôle arbitraire. Nous avons conçu une nouvelle représentation intermédiaire pour faciliter la génération de code, et son exécution parallèle en flot de données. Nous avons également mis en œuvre ces algorithmes dans un prototype fondé sur GCC, et contribué au développement d’une plateforme de simulation permettant d’explorer la parallélisation en flot de données à grande échelle. Ces extensions et l'architecture simulée permettent l'exploration de modèles innovants de mémoire pour le parallélisme en flot de données. Ces outils et modèles ont également été évalués sur des applications réalistes. / Across the wide range of multiprocessor architectures, all seem to share one common problem: they are hard to program. It is a general belief that parallelism is a software problem, and that perhaps we need more sophisticated compilation techniques to partition the application into concurrent threads. Many experts also make the point that the underlining architecture plays an equally important architecture before one may expect significant progress in the programmability of multiprocessors. Our approach favors a convergence of these viewpoints. The convergence of dataflow and von Neumann architecture promises latency tolerance, the exploitation of a high degree of parallelism, and light thread switching cost. Multithreaded dataflow architectures require a high degree of parallelism to tolerate latency. On the other hand, it is error-prone for programmers to partition the program into large number of fine grain threads. To reconcile these facts, we aim to advance the state of the art in automatic thread partitioning, in combination with programming language support for coarse-grain, functionally deterministic concurrency. This thesis presents a general thread partitioning algorithm for transforming sequential code into a parallel data-flow program targeting a multithreaded dataflow architecture. Our algorithm operates on the program dependence graph and on the static single assignment form, extracting task, pipeline, and data parallelism from arbitrary control flow, and coarsening its granularity using a generalized form of typed fusion. We design a new intermediate representation to ease code generation for an explicit token match dataflow execution model. We also implement a GCC-based prototype. We also evaluate coarse-grain dataflow extensions of OpenMP in the context of a large-scale 1024-core, simulated multithreaded dataflow architecture. These extension and simulated architecture allow the exploration of innovative memory models for dataflow computing. We evaluate these tools and models on realistic applications.