MAAS / Centre for African Studies / Since its inception, the study of music in South African schools has been fashioned on Western Classical models. The change in orientation from the Eurocentric to the Afrocentric approach required that indigenous African music be accorded space in the curriculum. This study explores challenges in mainstreaming indigenous African music in the curriculum of South African primary schools. It specifically focuses on the Intermediate Phase (grades 4-6). This study enlists a variety of appropriate qualitative methodologies, such as interviews carried out with a sample of educators and schools. It also analysed relevant DVDs of indigenous African music performances. It is envisaged that findings emanating from this study will be of value to music educators, music curriculum planners, education specialists, and other stakeholders. The dissemination methods will include publications of relevant teaching materials for classroom purposes, as well as generating research articles for scholarly discourse. / NRF

This study focused on the teaching of Mathematics to Grade 3 learners and learner underperformance in Mathematics in South Africa and worldwide. A theoretical framework examined the value of social constructivism, behaviourism and connectivism to Mathematics teaching. A comparison was made with Mathematics teaching in primary schools in South Africa, Bangladesh and Mozambique according to the literature. Against this background a qualitative inquiry was conducted in three selected primary schools with a purposeful, convenient sample of five Grade 3 Mathematics teachers in Danielskuil town, North West Province, South Africa Data were gathered by semi-structured individual interviews, non-participatory classroom observation and document analysis to explore theoretical knowledge and teaching approaches of participants, establish strategies to enhance teacher proficiency, identify successes and challenges in teaching Grade 3 Mathematics and factors that impede Mathematics teaching in the selected primary schools. Findings indicated challenges created by lack of physical classroom resources such as stationery, textbooks and learning aids, poor school infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, discipline problems, teachers' inability to meet the needs of learners with barriers to learning , language barriers , learners' social problems, teachers' lack of Pedagogical Content Knowledge , lack of developmental teacher training and limited stakeholder support from the Department and parents. Successes related to Mathematics intervention programmes, study groups after school and math's clubs. Based on the literature and empirical inquiry, recommendations were made for implementation by Department of Basic Education, schools and teachers improve the learner performance outcomes in Grade 3 Mathematics in primary schools in South Africa. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)

The purpose of this study was to undertake an investigation into the investigation into the management of Grade 3 mathematics curriculum in a Transformational leadership Approach in Johannesburg East public school which is in D9 District of the Gauteng Department of Education. The role of the Leader in the school is to make sure the educative function us carried out to the desired level. Curriculum management referred to the provision of effective leadership and supervision by HOD's and other education managers of the activities of teaching staff in a school in order to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency with which the curriculum is delivered. The managers must ensure that quality teaching and learning is being provided and it is the responsibility of all education managers. A qualitative approach was undertaken to enable the researcher to explore the experiences, feelings and perceptions of the educators, Heads of department (HODs) and Deputy Principals to have a wider and richer assortment of current, valid and relevant data of how management of Grade 3 Mathematics in curriculum in Transformational Leadership approach. The quality of teaching in schools strongly influences levels of pupil motivation and achievement, Fullan (2001). The managers in schools has been consistently alluded to as the most significant factor in the success and quality of the school’s improvement process (Petersen, 2001: 159) The data collected for the research was analysed by using qualitative techniques and the findings showed that through the responses from the educators, Heads of Department, Principals showed that not enough support was given by the Department, workshops presented were not enough and educators , HOD and Deputy Principals were unable to implement as required. Educators felt that they did not receive proper and enough support from the SMT as the SMT was not fully equipped to support them. The HOD and Deputies responded that they felt limited in taking part in the Grade 3 mathematics curriculum transformational approach as educators were confined to a classroom management style of thinking. The deputy principal, the heads of department and subjects heads in primary schools as formal leaders, all have crucial responsibilities in assist the principal in meeting the school’s instructional goals. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

This study on technology in the South African school curriculum investigates the nature and value of this subject as a catalyst in developing Foundation Phase learners’ creative thinking skills Technology as school subject is defined as the use of knowledge, skills and available resources to develop solutions to meet human needs and wants, taking social and environmental factors into account. Central to this subject, is the design process of investigating, designing, making, evaluating and communicating solutions to problems identified in the environment. The notion and nature of creativity as researched by respected psychologists and researchers over the last few decades, with particular reference to Matlin’s theory of problem-solving and creativity, provides a theoretical underpinning with the aim of linking the problem-solving nature of technology with creative thinking. A qualitative case study research project, comprising a sample of six Foundation Phase learners at an independent school, has been conducted. Key characteristics of qualitative educational research such as sensitivity, precision, verification, empiricism, natural setting, inductive data analysis, validity and reliability and triangulation, have been taken into consideration. This study highlights the potential of technology as a school subject that provides learners with the opportunity to solve problems in creative ways and use authentic contexts rooted in real life situations. In addition, learners are afforded the opportunity to work collaboratively with others and engage in meaningful activities in the indoor and outdoor environment. Technology as a school subject in the Foundation Phase catalyzes learners’ creative thinking and problem-solving skills and provides a solid foundation for preparing young citizens for the demands and challenges of the 21st century. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

This study focuses on the barriers that hinder the Zulu-speaking English second language learner in the Foundation Phase in acquiring basic reading and spelling skills. Nine hypotheses were developed from the literature study. Emanating from this, a quantitative empirical investigation, undertaken at various Foundation Phase schools in and around the greater Durban area, examined these barriers. A questionnaire was used as the main instrument in investigating these barriers. The study highlighted the relationships between the various variables. These relationships were, in the main, found significant. The research has indicated that contextual, language, school and intrinsic factors are significantly correlated to the problems L2 learners experience in acquiring English reading and spelling skills. The limitations of this investigation were discussed and recommendations, based on these results, were forwarded. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance & Counselling)

This study focuses on the barriers that hinder the Zulu-speaking English second language learner in the Foundation Phase in acquiring basic reading and spelling skills. Nine hypotheses were developed from the literature study. Emanating from this, a quantitative empirical investigation, undertaken at various Foundation Phase schools in and around the greater Durban area, examined these barriers. A questionnaire was used as the main instrument in investigating these barriers. The study highlighted the relationships between the various variables. These relationships were, in the main, found significant. The research has indicated that contextual, language, school and intrinsic factors are significantly correlated to the problems L2 learners experience in acquiring English reading and spelling skills. The limitations of this investigation were discussed and recommendations, based on these results, were forwarded. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance & Counselling)

Abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa / The purpose of this study was to explore reading barriers of Foundation Phase learners in IsiXhosa Home Language in the Lady Frere district in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP). The qualitative single case study of one Junior Secondary school in the chosen district was studied. The empirical research was done through interviews with the teachers and lesson observations. The findings suggested that there was some concern with regards to the reading ability of learners in the District. The lack of parental involvement, high turnover of teachers, lack of training and support of teachers were identified as attributing factors to reading barriers of learners. Measures to address these factors were suggested. The measures included capacity building of teachers, parents or care givers of learners, and ways of retaining teachers in schools to reduce the high turnover of staff. In conclusion, it is anticipated that the findings and recommendations of this study will provide valuable contribution to the district officials to be able to address the teaching and learning gaps and empower and support both teachers and learners in the Eastern Cape Province. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om leeshindernisse van leerders in die Grondslagfase, met Xhosa as huistaal, in die Lady Frere distrik in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie te ondersoek. Die kwalitatiewe, enkele gevallestudie het die bestudering van een Junior Sekondêre skool in die gekose distrik behels. Die empiriese navorsing is gedoen deur onderhoude met die onderwysers te voer en deur waarnemings van lesse. Die bevindings dui daarop dat daar kommer bestaan oor die leesvermoë van leerders in die distrik. Afwesige ouerbetrokkenheid, die hoë omset van onderwysers en die gebrek aan voldoende opleiding en ondersteuning aan onderwysers word identifiseer as die moontlike oorsake van leeshindernisse van leerders. Maatreëls om die faktore wat leeshindernisse veroorsaak aan te spreek, is voorgestel. Die maatreëls behels onder meer kapasiteitsbou van onderwysers, ouers of versorgers van leerders, asook maniere om onderwysers in skole te behou en sodoende die hoë personeelomset te verminder. Ten slotte, die verwagting is dat die bevindings en aanbevelings van hierdie studie ‘n waardevolle bydrae aan die distriksbeamptes sal lewer om die leemtes vir voldoende onderrig en leer te kan aanpak en sodoende beide onderwysers en leerders in die Oos- Kaap te bemagtig en te ondersteun. / Injongo yoluphando yayikukuphonononga izithintelo kufunda zamabanga aphantsi kulwimi lwasekhaya lwesiXhosa kwisithili saseCacadu kwiphondo laseMpuma-Koloni. Kwaphononongwa isifundo secala elinye elinoqeqesho kwisikiolo samabanga aphakathi kwisithili esikhethiweyo. Kwenziwa uphando olunamandla kusetyenziswa udliwanondlebe nootitshala kunye nokujonga. Iziphumo zabonisa ukuba kukho ukuxhalaba ngendlela abafundi besithili esikhethiweyo babefunda ngayo. Oko kwakudalwa kukungazibandakanyi kwabazali emfundweni yabantwana babo, ukutshintsha nokushiya kootitshala izikolo nesebe lezemfundo ngokubanzi nokunqongophala koqeqesho nenkxaso yootitshala. Kwacetyiswa amadondolo okulungisa imiba echaphazela iingxaki zokufunda . Lamadondolo ayecebisa ukuba kujongwane nemiceli mingeni eyayisele iboniwe, enje ngophuhliso lweetitsshala, abazali okanye abagcini bantwana, iindlela zokugcina abasebenzi ezikolweni, ukunciphisa ukutshintsha izikolo nokuyeka ukufundisa kootitshala. Ukuphetha, kuyabonakala ukuba iziphumo nezindululo zoluphando zizakuba negalelo elingathethekiyo kumagosa ezemfundo. Loo nto iyakuwanceda amagosa lawo akwazi ukuqaphela nokuqubisana nezikhewu ekufundeni, baphuhlise baxhase ootitshala nabantwana kwiPhondo leMpuma-Koloni. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

This study investigated the challenges English (as a second language) teachers face in primary schools. The objectives of the study were to identify particular challenges encountered by teachers of English as a second language to young learners and explore how training and development programmes can support teachers in meeting those challenges, describe the reading policies, where they are in place, of Letlhakane Primary Schools and devise solutions/ recommendations on how to tackle the challenges that teachers face in English reading. The sample for the study was drawn from the teachers serving at government primary schools. A sample of 30 teachers was purposively selected from three (3) primary schools identified as large in Letlhakane. The study adopted the following qualitative data collection strategies: focus group discussion, individual interviews and classroom observations. The findings revealed that there are many challenges that teachers face in teaching reading in the schools observed. Some of the challenges include exceptionally large numbers of children in class, limited time, lack of expertise in the teachers and shortage of materials and resources for teaching reading in English. The study recommends that class size be reduced, reading be made the main subject and timetabled, which will give it more time to be taught, teaching of reading must be introduced and made a compulsory course at all levels in colleges of education for primary school teachers. Teachers should be given regular in-service training in the teaching of reading. The Ministry of Basic Education should supply primary schools with the necessary materials for teaching reading and increase those that have a shortage of such resources. It is also recommended that building of libraries furnished with appropriate readers be done and the use of English as a language of instruction in all subjects except for Setswana should be started as early as in standard/grade 1. Reading policies should also be developed in schools so that teachers know what to do or follow when it comes to the teaching of reading. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Many learners failed at school and were often causing over identification of learners with a mild intellectual disability. A national intervention, the Foundations for Learning was regarded as a national curriculum adaptation that addressed many learning needs. The aim of the study was to investigate the responsiveness of the Foundations for Learning in meeting the mathematics educational needs of Foundation Phase learners with a mild intellectual disability who lived in a disadvantaged village in Mpumalanga Province. A survey involving 39 teachers was conducted in the village and data was collected using a questionnaire. The main findings were that the national curriculum adaptation was significantly responsive and promoted mathematics achievement of some of the learners with a mild intellectual disability. The recommendations included that teacher informal identification of learners with a mild intellectual disability needed to be followed by formal assessment by psychologists and support from the District Based Support Team. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

This study aims to investigate the challenges affecting reading in the foundation phase and to explore the different approaches that teachers use to address them. The research is qualitative in nature and used a case study approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analyses. Participants were teachers from two different schools in the rural areas of Bolobedu, Limpopo Province of South Africa. The data collected revealed the challenges encountered by teachers in teaching reading in the foundation phase of schooling. I also analysed documents that teachers used in teaching reading. The documents were used to triangulate the data obtained through observations and interviews. Content analysis was used to interpret and make meaning of the data. The findings revealed challenges of a socio-economic nature, parental involvement, family roles, poverty, teacher competency, availability of resources and language barriers leading to barriers to reading. In addressing these challenges, teachers rely on workshops, phase and grade meetings and their personal experiences. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)