Leadership styles of principals and school climate are two factors that vary greatly in different private secondary schools in Mauritius. They also contribute immensely in the making of a school a peaceful and happy work place for both staff and students. This study first presented a literature review on leadership styles of principals and school climate. References were made from many sources in order to have a clear overview on these two factors. A qualitative research based on interviews and observations was conducted on teachers and principals from nine private secondary schools in order to fulfill three aims of the study. Firstly, the types of leadership styles adopted by principals in private secondary schools in Mauritius were assessed. Secondly the types of school climate that prevailed in these private secondary schools were evaluated. Lastly, the relationship between the leadership styles of principals and school climate in the private secondary schools was investigated. The results revealed that when the democratic style of the `power' concept of leadership was used alone or with other styles but was more prevalent, the principals of these schools scored `high' in both the initiating structure and consideration items of the `relational' concept of leadership and, the climate of these schools was classified in the category of `others' but was more `open' than `closed'. However, when the authoritarian style of the `power' concept of leadership was used with other styles but was more prevalent, the principals either scored `low' in both the initiating structure and the consideration items or `low' in the consideration items only of the `relational' concept of leadership and the climate was more `closed' than `open'. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of the school community with regard to the outcomes of a school improvement program (SIP) on the effectiveness of Sidama Zone schools. It was primarily a qualitative study, which explored the experiences of the school community with regard to the outcomes of the SIP. Four schools were purposefully selected. The data were collected by means of interviews, focus-group discussions, observations and relevant documents, and analyzed focusing on thematic categories. The findings indicated that in schools where there existed a strong collaboration of the school community in the planning, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation processes, the improvement initiatives were owned by all in the school and the performance of the schools was enhanced. On the other hand, the lack of collaboration in the school community negatively affected the performance of those schools. Besides, in all the schools the CPD was challenged by the resistance of the teachers, the lack of resources and poor implementation strategies. It also became apparent that the teachers' commitment to support each other and their students, to implement active learning methods and continuous assessment contributed to the effectiveness of the better-performing schools. Findings further revealed that to the contrary, these actions were loosely implemented in the poorly-performing schools. Though the peer learning approach was implemented, it became evident that there were mixed views regarding its benefits. The availability of the necessary facilities created an environment conducive to learning in schools one and three. Although there were attempts to implement extra-curricular activities for the social and emotional development of the students, its implementation was negatively affected by a lack of coordination and resources in the schools. In the poorly-performing schools, the school environment was found not to be conducive to teaching and learning. In the better-performing schools, the feedback from the school community was used as an input to make adjustments to the improvement process, and this created a feeling of ownership that led to the effectiveness of the schools. The outcomes of the study indicated that the promotion-rate of the students to the following grade was considered as a measure of the effectiveness of the schools. Conversely, the lack of proper participation of the school community in the school’s affairs, the lack of proper leadership support, the teachers’ resistance to participate in CPD, the non-existence of training opportunities and workshops for the teachers, and the shortage of resources were reported as challenges. From the findings it has been concluded that the SIP has contributed to school effectiveness in the schools that have properly managed the change process as opposed to those schools which remained poorly performing due to low level of SIP implementation. Finally, monitoring the SIP cycles, building trust between the principals and the teachers, creating a link between the schools and other institutions, introducing recognition mechanisms, and providing support to the poorly-performing schools were indicated as strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the school. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

The study examined longitudinal relationships among school climate, teacher efficacy, optimism, sleep quality and work engagement. On the basis of Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and Job Demand-Resources (JD-R) model, it was hypothesized that school climate, teacher efficacy, optimism and sleep quality were positively associated with work engagement. The present study was conducted among 141 Hong Kong secondary school teachers, who received the same set of self-report questionnaire over a four-month time interval. Results of cross-lagged panel analysis yield non-significant cross-lagged relationships among the variables. However, results of multiple linear regression analysis identified teacher efficacy and optimism as significant predictors of teachers’ work engagement. The findings provide partial support to the generalization of JD-R model to the Hong Kong teaching profession that teacher efficacy and optimism were found to be profession-specific personal resources that are positively associated with teachers’ work engagement. / published_or_final_version / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

永續校園能夠讓學校的學習者透過教育的過程及校園的生活，配合環境議題的探討，以改善生活及環境品質，並達到環境教育目標。為達上述目標永續校園在校園的環境上，應如何規劃以達到節省能源、永續發展、乾淨健康；同時永續校園設施是否能夠發揮環境教育之目的，獲得教師充分使用融入教學之中，成為本研究探討的課題。 本研究以2002年與2003年99所永續校園為研究對象，共發出99份調查問卷與1009份研究問卷，調查問卷部分共回收89份，問卷回收率達89.9％，而研究問卷則回收740份，有效問卷為729份，可用問卷比例為72.2％。訪談對象則訪問兩所永續校園的規劃人員。最後將文獻探討、問卷調查和訪談結果的發現，歸納出以下結論： 一、國民小學參與永續校園環境規劃動機主要為「改善學校環境」、「發展學校特色」、「協助學生親近自然」。 二、國民小學申請永續校園環境規劃最主要的項目為「透水鋪面」、「生態景觀教學水池」、「落葉堆肥」、「教學農園」、「多層次生態綠化」，且使用狀況良好。 三、永續校園環境規劃主要是由「總務主任」以及「校長」進行規劃。 四、國民小學參與永續校園環境規劃模式以整合案較佳。 五、永續校園環境設施主要是由「總務主任」、「工友」及「教師」進行維護，但學校人力、經費以及專業知能不足，設施維護不易。 六、國民小學推動永續校園發展主要遇到的困難為「所需經費不足」、「缺乏適當空間」、「行政者生態知識不足」、「缺乏整體規劃」以及「教師參與度低」。 七、教師參與永續校園環境規劃主要的項目為「資源回收利用」、「落葉堆肥」、「生態景觀教學水池」，而教師最常使用的永續校園設施為「資源回收在利用」、「生態景觀教學水池」、「落葉堆肥」。 八、教師將永續校園環境規劃融入教學主要遇到的困難為「耗費時間太多」、「相關資訊不充裕」、「學校環境資源不足」。而教師將校園環境融入教學的原因主要為「落實推動環境教育」、「採用多元教學方式」以及「實做學習效果較佳」。 九、有參與永續校園環境規劃的教師對永續校園環境規劃與使用認同感較高。 十、學校行政人員對永續校園環境規劃與使用認同感高於一般教師。 十一、大規模學校之教師對永續校園環境規劃與使用認同感較低。 十二、不同任教科目教師對永續校園環境規劃與使用態度沒有差異。 十三、不同年資對於學校實施永續校園環境規劃的態度沒有差異。 最後綜合研究結果提出以下建議： 一、永續校園環境規劃應繼續實施並予以推廣 二、「生態景觀教學水池」可多加推廣 三、規劃「生態景觀教學水池」與「教學農園」應審慎考量設置地點 四、設計時考慮建設經費以及後續維護費用 五、宜針對學校環境擬定整體且長期的環境規劃內容 六、鼓勵教師參與永續校園環境規劃 七、學校宜多舉辦相關環境教育研習以充實教師專業知能 / Sustainable schools can help students improve quality of life and environment through education, the school life, and discussion about the environmental topics; at the same time they can implement the goal of the environmental education. In order to achieve these goals, how should sustainable schools design school environment and does these sustainable school environmental facilities bring environmental education into play are this study’s purpose. 99 sustainable schools in 2002 and 2003 are the research objects. 99 copies of the questionnaire survey and 1009 copies of the research questionnaire are distributed to randomly-sampled schools. Out of 99 surveys 1009 research questionnaires, 89 surveys and 729 questionnaires are valid. The retrieval rate are 89.9% and 72.2%. There are two interviewees who are familiar with sustainable school environment planning. Finally, the conclusions of study have been made by analyzing the literature review, the questionnaire, and the interview’s result. Some findings and suggestions are described as below: 1. The main motivations that elementary schools join the sustainable school environment planning are ‘improve school environment’,’ develop school characteristic’, and ’allow student to enjoy the nature’. 2. The main projects of sustainable school environment planning for elementary schools application are 'permeable pavement’,’ ecological pond ','fallen leaf compost’, ’agricultural garden of teaching’, and ’the multi-layers ecological green-making '. Moreover, they have to be in good condition. 3. In most cases, sustainable school environment planning is planned by ' the director of general affairs ' or 'the principal'. 4. The combing model is better when elementary schools participate sustainable school environment planning. 5. Sustainable school environmental facilities are mainly maintained by ' the director of general affairs’,’ workers' and 'teachers'. However the manpower, funds and professional knowledge of schools are insufficient, it is difficult to maintain facilities. 6. The main problems for elementary schools to develop sustainable school are ‘insufficient funds’,’ lack of space’,’ ecological knowledge in administration is insufficient’,’ lack proper plan’ and ‘low participation of teachers’. 7. The main projects that teacher participate sustainable school environment planning are 'resource recycle’,’ the fallen leaf compost’,’ the ecological pond’; facilities teachers use most frequently are 'resources are retrieved and utilized’,’ the ecological pond' and 'the fallen leaf compost'. 8. Main difficulties that teachers incorporate sustainable school environmental facilities into teaching are 'too time consuming',' insufficient information’, and ’environmental resources of schools are insufficient'. Teachers incorporate sustainable school environmental facilities into teaching are 'implement and promote the environmental education’,’ adopt multiple teaching method' and 'learning by doing has better effects'. 9. Teachers who participate in sustainable school environment planning have higher identification in planning and using sustainable school environmental facilities than teachers who do not participate. 10. School administrative personnel have higher identification in planning and using sustainable school environmental facilities than general teachers. 11. Teachers of big scale schools have lower identification in planning and using sustainable school environmental facilities than other scale schools’ teachers. 12. There is no differentiation of the identification in planning and using sustainable school environmental facilities among different subject teachers. 13. There is no differentiation of the identification in planning and using sustainable school environmental facilities among teachers’ seniorities. After the study, some suggestions are made as follows: 1. Continue to develop sustainable school environment planning and keep implement and popularized it. 2. Promote the ecological pond. 3. Carefully plan where to build the agricultural garden of teaching and the setting place of ecological pond. 4. Budget construction costs and maintenance expenses during the designing phase. 5. Draft the whole and long-term environmental program of the school. 6. Encourage teacher participating in the sustainable school environment planning. 7. Schools should provide more relevant environmental education study to improve teacher's professional knowledge.

Day care centers and schools are important environments for children, but few epidemiological studies exist from these environments. Mould, dampness, fungal DNA and allergens levels in these environments and respiratory health effects in school children were investigated in this thesis. In the day care centers studies, Allergen Avoidance Day care Centers (AADCs) and Ordinary Day care Centers were included. One third of the Swedish day care centers had a history of dampness or mould growth. Total fungal DNA levels were positively associated with risk construction buildings, reported dampness/moulds, rotating heat exchangers, linoleum floors and allergens (cat, dog, horse allergen) levels. The two school studies included secondary schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia and elementary schools from five European countries (Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and France) (HESE-study). In Malaysia, 13 % of the pupils reported doctor-diagnosed asthma but only 4 % had asthma medication. The prevalence of wheeze in the last 12 months was 10 % in Malaysia and 13 % in the HESE-study. Cough and rhinitis were common among children in the HESE-study. There were associations between fungal DNA and reported dampness or mould growth. Fungal DNA levels and viable mould (VM) concentration in the classrooms were associated with respiratory symptoms (wheeze, rhinitis, cough, daytime breathlessness) in school children. In the HESE-study, associations were found between total fungal DNA, Aspergillus/Penicillium DNA and respiratory symptoms among children. Moreover, Aspergillus versicolor DNA and Streptomyces DNA were associated with respiratory symptoms in Malaysia and the HESE-study, as well as reduced lung function [forced vitality capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)] among children in the HESE-study. In conclusion, fungal DNA and pet allergens were common in day care centers and schools and respiratory symptoms in school children were common. The associations between VM concentration and fungal DNA levels in the schools and respiratory health effects in school children indicated a need for improvement of these environments. Moreover, risk constructions should be avoided and buildings should be maintained to avoid dampness and microbial growth. Health relevance of microbial exposure and biodiversity needs to be further studied using molecular methods.

The main aim of this study was to investigate how effective School Management Teams were in the management of healthy school environments in the Gert Sibande District. This was a qualitative study which employed two data collection strategies: face to face interviews and photographs. A literature review on this study revealed vital aspects, that a healthy school environment: can directly improve children’s health and effective learning; the school is strategically positioned to reach large numbers of the population to teach them to understand the importance of investing in health. Literature indicated collaboration and synergy as essential aspects, and policies as cornerstones that underpin the health promotion initiatives. Selection of sites was purposefully done as three of the four schools in this study were part of the Eco Schools programme. The study revealed that there was disconnect between the SMTs and committees that were involved in health promotion: in coordinating plans; and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of programmes. This therefore, means that there was no support for the committees from the SMT. It was also found that there were committees that: did not have plans; did not sit for meetings and the reluctance of the SMT to address these challenges compounded the situation and contributed to some committees being dysfunctional. The failure of the SMT to guide and provide leadership in their engagement with community members who provided assistance in terms of basic needs to learners indicated a need for the development of a cadre of leaders that are capable of working beyond the borders of schools. In all the committees that were interviewed, the Environmental Committee came up to be more effective and organized than others in three schools. The health committee was lacking in the area of training especially in the prevention of communicable diseases. The study provided recommendations to assist the SMT in their endeavors to promote healthy environments in their schools. / MEd, Education Management, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

This thesis deals with the problem of poetry understanding mainly in the school environment. The core theme is the tension between the rational literary studies analysis and the intimate experience of the poem, which is often shrouded in mystery. This work aims to explore this relationship and tries to find a possible connection between these two different approaches. The theoretical part presents possible approaches to the interpretation of poetry; the second part presents empirical data from classroom observation. Text is continuously compared with psychoanalytic theory. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

(in English): This thesis deals with the current status of the teacher in the student's life in today's society. The theoretical part presents to the reader the basic issues concerning the two major subjects of education, teacher and pupil. The main goal of the practical part is to find out with the help of a questionnaire whether and to what extent is to identify the student with the teacher and with various forms of teachers' role in the student's life.

This diploma thesis is focused on selected aspects of socialisation of adolescents. It examines natures of interactions of adolescents and adults, emphasises social relations perception and pursues the influence of authority on socialisation processes of this group. The thesis was written in a theoretically-empirical approach, given that the theoretical part clarifies the above-mentioned areas of research. The empirical part, on the other hand, applies the qualitative research design. The respondents group consists of adolescent boys and girls, all of whom are clients of OSPOD (Department of Social and Legal Child Protection) and curators for adolescence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, analysing the issue of relations with individual socialisation variables and their reflection in the curators' point of view. It is assumed, socialisation processes and interactions are conflicting to a certain extent. In respect to their further development, it is necessary to understand these particular development symptoms and their perceptions. The outcome of this research is further elaborated and discussed in accordance to academic resources. At the end of the thesis, further researches as well as interventions regarding work with adolescents who experience socialisation issues are recommended. The...