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1
Swart, John-Frederich. "The nature of learning support in rural schools." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2368.
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Thesis (MEd (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The focus of this research study is on learning support to learners in rural schools as experienced by learning support professionals and teachers in order to identify best-practices and the obstacles experienced in this regard. It was envisaged that continuous exploration of current practices could assist in identifying ways to support the development of inclusive education. The research questions to address this aspect were: What is the nature of learning support in rural schools as experienced by teachers? and What is the nature of learning support in rural schools as experienced by learning support professionals? The aim of this study was therefore to explore and describe the nature of learning support in rural schools, in order to make some recommendations to learning support professionals, teachers and education authorities to ensure the effective development and implementation of learning support strategies in rural schools. The research study was conducted from a qualitative approach, utilising explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs. Purposive sampling was employed and data saturation determined the sample size. The findings were based on a structured analysis framework. Ethical aspects included informed consent, voluntary participation and confidentiality
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Fumba, Zamumzi Norman. "Development of a language policy in a rural school." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007798.
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The study was undertaken to observe and participate in the process and development of a language policy for a rural secondary school in Peddie in the Eastern Cape. This was done in collaboration with parents, learners, and teachers. The researcher acted as a researcher, facilitator and learner in the process that Iead to the final product. Twenty four learners were selected from Grade 8 to Grade 10. These learners formed three focus groups. A questionnaire and lesson observation were used to establish what was taking place in the school with regard to language practices and preferences by learners, teachers and parents. Lesson observations were recorded by a tape recorder. Outcomes are that Xhosa is the dominant language to which the learners are exposed. They only have the exposure to 'chunks' of English in class and when they read magazines, newspapers and listening to radio and TV. Teachers code switch. This is supported by both learners and their parents. Parents want their children to improve performance by being taught in the medium of a language they understand well enough. The study shows different perceptions about the language that should be used as LOLT. Parents in the study favour English as LOLT, while parents in general favour Xhosa. This view is also held by both teachers and learners. At a conscious level when teachers and learners talk about the language to be used as LOLT, they favour English, but when they are faced with the reality of the class they are ambivalent, hence they code switch. The study finally reports on the divergent views of the parents, on one hand, and those of the teachers and the learners on the other hand. The divergence will be resolved in a workshop, part of the broader process of school language policy research, which is beyond the scope of the research reported in the thesis. The final product, in the form of the school language policy, will then be drafted for presentation to the School Governing Body (SGB) for ratification and writing up process.
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Visser, Alvin-Jon. "Rural students' local knowledge of learning in formal and informal contexts." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002588.
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The general aim of this thesis is to illuminate the process of learning as it occurs in formal and informal contexts. The study focuses on South African scholars attending school in rural areas where the contrast between learning in formal and informal learning contexts is more pronounced than that in urban areas. The research draws on rural scholars' local knowledge of formal and informal learning contexts in order to gain a rich insight into how cognition is situated in different learning contexts. This is accomplished through investigating the structure of the respective learning tasks, the mediators involved, the task objectives and the means for achieving these objectives in the different learning contexts. The thesis draws on a socio-cultural approach to the study of cognitive development to probe the activity of learning in a formal and informal learning context. Through the use of a context sensitive methodological methods especially Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and techniques, it was possible to illuminate tacit local knowledge structures and to get participants to actively explicate their understandings related to learning in different contexts The research results illustrate the assertion that the activity of learning is fundamentally situated in the learning context from which it arises. Learning is framed by the community of practice which structures affordances for situated learning, through mediation, within zones of proximal development. Learning in a formal context such as the school is often abstract, rule-based, standardised and theory related. Learners also find it difficult to reflect on the learning tasks and the mediational means used in a formal learning context. In contrast, the learning which takes place in an informal setting is often practical, individualised, flexible and environment based. This learning is structured around everyday activities and is dynamically defined and supported. In a situation where a learner is exposed to dislocated learning contexts, the essential goal of educational initiatives is to bridge the gap between the two. This can be achieved through mediators creating effective zones of proximal development which facilitate the individuals adaptation between learning contexts. Exposing rural scholars' local knowledge of learning in formal and informal contexts allows for a fuller understanding of the cognitive development structured within formal and informal communities of practice. It is this understanding that is necessary to address the situation where learning contexts, drawing on different knowledge bases find ways of thinking, prove challenging and/or conflicting to the scholar.
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Hamilton, Joanne. "Promoting inclusive education : a case study of assessment in two rural schools." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53562.
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Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An outcomes-based education (OBE) approach was introduced into South African schools in 1998 in order to align education with the democratic values of the new government. The transition to OBE has not been an easy process for many stakeholders. Teachers, in particular, have had to review their own philosophies and practices of teaching and learning. This paradigm shift required by OBE was, however, underestimated in teacher training. The recent addition of an inclusive education approach may arguably be seen as a natural, anticipated extension of the transformation of South African education. This is stated because the principles and practices of inclusion are endorsed and actualised by OBE and the Constitution of South Africa. Based on this inference, this research study explores how assessment, an integral part of the teaching and learning process, can contribute towards the promotion of inclusive education. The research was conducted at two rural mainstream primary schools near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. The research methodology was based on the principles and beliefs of the qualitative paradigm as this study explored the teachers' constructed realities and experiences of assessment in OBE and inclusive education. A case study research method was employed in order to produce 'thick' descriptions and contextualised interpretations of their constructions. Following Creswell's (1994) dominant-less dominant design model, the data in the study was produced via both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A selfadministered questionnaire consisting of closed-ended and open-ended questions was given to all of the teachers at both schools to enable an initial inquiry into the area of research interest. The responses to the closed-ended statements produced the quantitative data in the research study and the responses to the open-ended questions formed part of the qualitative data. Following an analysis of the data produced, two volunteer teachers at each school were then interviewed to gain further insight and clarification. The qualitative and quantitative data produced in each case study were first analysed separately (within case analysis) and then compared and combined in a cross-case 'study analysis. This approach enabled a thorough understanding of the research question and the production of quality research. The findings of the research indicate that, although the teachers in the case studies do not see a connection between assessment and inclusion, their assessment practices and principles do contribute towards the promotion of inclusive education. The research found that assessment in OBE has encouraged these teachers to view their learners as individuals with different abilities and needs. Consequently, some of the teachers have adjusted and modified their assessment methods to accommodate these factors. It was also found that not all of the teachers seem to have made a paradigm shift required by OBE. This lack of internalised understanding might contribute towards the confusion, insecurity and skepticism reported by some teachers with regards to assessment and inclusive education. Due to the importance of a paradigm shift in OBE and inclusive education, it is strongly recommended that teachers receive the necessary assistance and training that engenders this transition.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys (UGO) benadering is in 1998 in Suid-Afrikaanse skole bekendgestel ten einde onderwys in lyn te bring met die demokratiese waardes van die nuwe regering. Die oorgang na UGO was vir menige rolspelers nie 'n maklike proses nie. Veral onderwysers moes hulle filosofie en praktyke rondom onderrig en leer hersien. Hierdie paradigmaskuif, wat 'n vereiste vir UGO is, word in onderwyseropleidingsprograrnme onderskat. Die onlangse toevoeging van 'n inklusiewe onderwys benadering mag moontlik gesien word as 'n natuurlike, geantisipeerde verlenging van die verandering in Suid- Afrikaanse onderwys. Dit word genoem omdat die beginsels en praktyke van inklusiewe onderwys deur UGO en die konstitusie van Suid-Afrika onderskryf en geaktualiseer word. Op grond van hierdie aanname, ondersoek hierdie navorsingsprojek hoe assessering as 'n integrale deel van die onderring en die leerproses kan bydra tot die bevordering van inklusiewe onderwys. Die navorsing is by twee landelike, hoofstroom primêre skole naby Stellenbosch in die Wes- Kaap geloods. Die navorsingsmetodologie is gebaseer op die beginsels en praktyke van kwalitatiewe navorsing, aangesien die studie onderwysers se vertolking van die werklikheid en ervarings van assessering in UGO en inklusiewe onderwys ondersoek. 'n Gevallestudie as navorsingsmetode is gebruik om gedetailleerde, presiese beskrywings en gekontekstualiseerde interpretasies van die betrokke onderwysers se belewenisse te lewer. Deur Creswell (1994) se 'dominant-less dominant design model' as riglyn te gebruik is data van hierdie studie op beide 'n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode geproduseer. 'n Vraelys wat geslote- en oop-einde vrae bevat het en self deur alle onderwysers van beide skole voltooi is, is gebruik om die aanvanklike narvorsingsbelange te identifiseer. Kwalitatiewe narvorsingsdata is verkry deur die response wat gelewer is op oop-einde vrae en kwantitatiewe data is geproduseer deur middle van die geslote-einde vrae. Na 'n analise van die data is onderhoude met twee vrywillige onderwysers van beide skole gevoer om meer inligting en duidelikheid te verkry. Die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data wat geproduseer is, is eers afsonderlik geïnterpreteer en daarna in 'n kruis-gevallestudie analise vergelyk en gekombineer. Hierdie benadering het tot deeglik, deurdagte insigte rakende die navorsingsvraag en die daarstel van kwaliteit navorsing, gelei. Die narvorsingsbevindinge het getoon dat, alhoewel die onderwysers wat betrokke was by die gevallestudies nie 'n verband kon sien tussen assessering en inklusiewe onderwys nie, het hulle assesseringspraktyke en -beginsels wel 'n bydrae gelewer tot die bevordering van inklusiewe onderwys. Die navorsing het bevind dat assessering in UGO die onderwysers aangemoedig het om hulle leerders as individue met unieke vermoëns en behoeftes te sien. Gevolglik het sommige onderwysers aanpassings en veranderings In hulle assesseringsmetodes gemaak om hierdie faktore te akkommodeer. Daar is ook bevind dat nie al die onderwysers die paradigmaskuif wat UGO vereis, gemaak het nie. 'n Onvermoë om die beginsels van UGO te internaliseer mag moontlik bydra tot die verwarring, onsekerheid en skeptisisme oor assessering en inklusiewe onderwys wat deur sommige van die onderwysers gerapporteer is. Weens die belangrikheid van 'n paradigmaskuif in UGO en inklusiewe onderwys, word daar ten sterkste aanbeveel dat onderwysers die nodige ondersteuning en opleiding ontvang om hierdie oorgang te bewerkstellig.
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Blease, Bernita. "Exploring writing practices in two foundation phase rural multigrade classes." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1848.
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A full dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for
the degree of Master in Education
Presented to the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences
at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology
2014Writing in rural multigrade Foundation Phase schools is a largely negelected area for research and teacher development. Even those teaching multigrade classes are not sure how to approach it. There are almost no regulations or guidelines in PIRLS or government documents and reports. Nevertheless multigrade rural schooling is prevalant throughout South Africa. This gap between widespread practice and lack of theoretical acknowledgement or knowledge prompted this study. For the purposes of this study two rural multigrade Foundation Phase classes were selected in the Northern District of the Western Cape. This study answers one main question: What writing practices are being implemented in these two rural Foundation Phase multigrade classes? Two sub-questions are: How do the two Foundation Phase teachers teach writing skills to rural multigrade learners? What challenges do these two Foundation Phase teachers experience when teaching writing? Lack of research in this area required considerable time to consolidate an appropriate research methodology. To establish a scientific structure for this research certain theoretical approaches were adopted. Socio-cultural theories of learning, particularly focusing on Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model, Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and social constructivism were used. Piaget’s developmental contributions add to this research project. Cambourne’s principles and strategies were invaluable in understanding constructivism in a language classroom. Because this was a pioneering research project it took over four years to complete analysis of data from the schools and link it to the theoretical framework. A qualitative interpretative case study research design was specifically formulated to provide an objective understanding of the research questions. The data were analysed qualitatively. Four themes emerged from sub-question one and include: the pedagogy of teaching writing in a multigrade class, the importance of creating a writing ethos in the classroom, elements of writing and supporting learners in the writing process. The following six themes were identified in answering sub-question two: teacher challenges, poor socio-economic backgrounds, writing support from the WCED, creating a writing ethos including discipline, parental literacy and learner challenges. In conclusion, this research indicates that multigrade education is, far from being a recalcitrant problem or cause for apology, useful as a template for curriculum development in many other areas of education. Multigrade education provides a realistic and flexible tool for meeting urgent educational problems.
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Davidson, Michael R. "Domino Servite School: an evaluative case study of a private Christian secondary school in rural Natal." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003382.
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Domino Servite School (DSS) is a private school, founded in 1986, and situated on KwaSizabantu (KSB) mission station in the Natal midlands. This research into DSS is a case study which aims to present an illuminative evaluation in the Whole School genre, within that branch of educational research concerned with effective schools. The project aimed to make use of a compatibility paradigm accommodating nomothetic and anthropological data. In attempting triangulation of methodological approaches, it tried to establish the extent to which DSS may be considered an efficient and effective 'New Private' school. It also aimed to understand the school's raison d'ětre. In order to illuminate the relevance and social processes of DSS, evaluation made use of internal and external referents. The internal investigation sought to make judgements in reference to the efficiency of the school as an organisation. On the macro-level, whole school evaluation required extensive curriculum evaluation. On the micro-level, appraisal of teaching and assessment of pupil performance was undertaken. This internal investigation required a critical analysis of the school's formal, informal and hidden curriculum. The external evaluation sought to make judgement in reference to the effectiveness of DSS. On the macro-level, this required evaluation of the findings of the internal investigation in terms of a broader South African context. Implications, for example of the school's 'private' status, and its 'Christian' curriculum in respect of multi-culturalism, education for nationhood , and ethnicity were examined. The analysis of these dimensions paid attention to the school's spatial context in terms of both its 'rural' and missionary setting. Here the focus was on the school's formal curriculum. Analysis of the inter-relational context paid attention to its informal curriculum or the way in which the school deals with the commonality and diversity of its clientele and staff. The inter-relational context of the school examined the hidden curriculum, or the relationship between the school and the broader South African Community. A critical ethnographic account of this institution was therefore possible because of the dual focus on the internal and external evaluation reference points. Internal evaluation made extensive use of direct (non-participant) observation, structured and nonstructured interviews, questionnaires, and documentary analysis. Indirect (participant) observation, in particular Clinical Supervision (CS), was also used. Indirect (non-participant) observation made extensive use of Flanders' Interaction Analysis Categories (FIAC). Teacher self-evaluation was also included, while analysis of pupil performance made use of 'standardised' achievement testing and a tracer study. External evaluation required detailed study of local and international literature on issues relating to private schooling, rural and multi-cultural education, education for nationhood and ethnicity. The research found that much of the school's curriculum path is incongruous with its rural context largely because of its association with the former Department of Education and Training (DET), and because of its missionary heritage. As such the school is presently (1) located within a questionable (formal) curriculum tradition which has little relevance to, nor potential for, the transformational needs of either rural Natal or South Africa in general. However, this does not preclude the possibility of the school making a contribution to education for development in South Africa. (2) The school advocates a mono-cultural Christian value system and modified cultural pluralism which attempts to assimilate pupils from diverse socio-economic and ideologically homogeneous backgrounds. Multi-cultural education, plural values, religious and values democracy are therefore not part of the school's raison d'ětre. (3) The school, through its associated organisation Christians for Truth (CFT), represents a social view espousing either a modified cultural pluralism or multi-nationalism which allows for allegiance to a transcendent value system without compromising group. values and associations. This means that the school aims at assimilating or amalgamating diversity into a mono-cultural unity that transcends group identity. This transcendent culture is defined in Christian terms. The study recommends inter alia, further investigation into the educational implications of_values neutrality and the particularism of secular humanism; a comparative analysis of a random sample of private missionary schools and ordinary state controlled rural schools so that more generalisable results might be obtained; and a more thorough investigation into the parental and pupil contributions to the school, their attitudes and perspectives on missionary education and their feelings about the management styles evident in the organisation.
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Perold, Jana. "Entrepreneurial development through non-formal adult education and skills training in a rural community." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53411.
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Thesis (Master of Consumer Science)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years unemployment figures in South Africa have reached alarming proportions. Many people do not have any form of income, and many others rely on irregular incomes from seasonal work. Education of adults has been highlighted as a possibility for teaching people various skills, which they could apply to generate an income for themselves. This research was conducted by following a participatory action research method to determine whether a nonformal adult education programme would assist individuals in generating an income. The literature review to support the research conducted included a discussion on poverty, rural areas and their development, and the relevance of entrepreneurial development for these areas. From here, the focus of the literature review moved to that of adult education as applied in training programmes. Participatory Action Research (PAR) and its role in a nonformal adult education programme is discussed, followed by a discussion of empowerment. The monitoring and evaluation of these programmes are also described. The Development and Advancement of Rural Entrepreneurship (DARE) is a programme that was launched in 2000 by the Department of Consumer Science: Foods, Clothing, Housing at the University of Stellenbosch. The main focus of this programme is the assistance given to rural communities to assist them in addressing the problem of unemployment and poverty, by providing support and training to potential local entrepreneurs. The rural town of Montagu was identified to conduct a nonformal adult education programme, focusing on skills training and entrepreneurial development of interested individuals in the community. The research period lasted 14 months. The programme itself consisted of different projects that concentrated on skills training suitable for income generation. People from the community were invited to attend the programme, making all participation voluntary. A PAR approach to present training skills was followed. Each PAR cycle consisted of four stages, namely planning, action, observation, reflection, as well as the revised plan which forms the first phase of the next plan. This approach ensures maximum involvement of participants. Empowerment levels of participants were measured using a standardised questionnaire with a pre- and post- test design. One of the PAR cycles included a five-day business course. Different aspects of entrepreneurship were addressed during the programme and eventually all the skills were combined and implemented to assist in the generation of income. Data of the empowerment levels of participants, and general information on the participants and their evaluation of the programme are documented as case studies. This data was also used to evaluate the success of the programme. The analysis of the data clearly shows that there was a need for skills development and entrepreneurial development in this rural area. Participants were eager to take part in the programme and to apply their skills in the market place where they displayed the skills they have acquired. Those participants who completed the programme all demonstrated an increase in their empowerment levels, the most significant increase on micro level. The research results indicated that participants were able to apply the knowledge and skills gained during the programme. However, four months after the completion of the programme none of them were involved in income-generation ventures. Despite the fact that the need for training existed in this rural area, sustainability was problematic once the facilitator withdrew. It is therefore recommended that novice entrepreneurs should have long-term guidance and emotional support in order to reach independence eventually.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die werkloosheid syfer in Suid-Afrika het die afgelope paar jaar onrusbarend toegeneem. 'n Groot aantal mense het geen vorm van inkomste nie, en baie maak staat op die inkomste wat hulle uit seisoenwerk genereer. Opleiding van volwassenes is aangedui as 'n wyse waarop mense 'n verskeidenheid vaardighede kan aanleer wat hulle dan kan toepas om sodoende vir hulself 'n inkomste te genereer. Hierdie navorsing is onderneem om te bepaal of 'n nieformele opleidingsprogram waar 'n deelnemende aksienavorsingsmetode (DAN) gevolg is, individue sal kan help om 'n inkomste te genereer. Die literatuuroorsig wat die navorsing onderskryf, sluit 'n bespreking in van armoede, landelike areas en die ontwikkeling daarvan asook van die relevansie van entrepreneuriese ontwikkeling in hierdie areas. Die fokus van die literatuur verskuif dan na volwasse onderwys, soos toegepas in opleidings programme. Daarna word deelnemende aksienavorsing (DAN) en die rol daarvan in programme in nieformele onderwys vir volwassenes bespreek. Dit word gevolg deur 'n bespreking van bemagtiging. Laastens word monitering en evaluering van programme bespreek. Die Development and Advancement of Rural Enterprises (DARE) Program is deur die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, Departement Verbruikerswetenskap: Voedsel, Kleding, Behuising in 2000 geloods. Die fokus van die program is om bystand aan landelike gemeenskappe ten opsigte van die hantering van werkloosheid en armoede aan te spreek. Die landelike dorp Montagu, is geïdentifiseer as 'n area om 'n nieformele onderwysprogram vir volwassenes wat fokus op vaardigheidsopleiding en entrepreneuriese ontwikkeling van belangstellende individue in die gemeenskap, aan te bied. Mense van die gemeenskap is uitgenooi om vrywillig aan die program deel te neem. Die navorsingsperiode het oor 14 maande gestrek. Die program self het bestaan uit verskillende projekte wat op opleidingsvaardighede geskik om 'n inkomste te genereer, fokus. 'n Deelnemende aksienavorsingsmetode is gevolg om opleidingsvaardighede aan te bied. Elke DAN-siklus het uit vier fases bestaan, naamlik beplanning, aksie, observasie en besinning. 'n Hersieningsplan het deel uitgemaak van die eerste fase van die volgende siklus. Hierdie benadering het maksimum betrokkenheid deur deelnemers verseker. Tydens een van die DAN siklusse, is deelnemers se bemagtingingsvlakke gemeet deur gebruik te maak van 'n gestandaardiseerde vraelys met 'n voor- en ná-toets ontwerp. Een van die DAN-siklusse het uit 'n vyf-dag sakekursus bestaan. Verskillende aspekte van entrepreneurskap is tydens die program aangespreek en ten slotte is alle vaardighede saamgevoeg en geïmplementeer om die generering van inkomste aan te moedig. Gevallestudies is gebruik om deelnemers se bemagtigingsvlakke, algemene inligting oor die deelnemers en die deelnemers se evaluering van die program aan te teken. Hierdie data is ook gebruik om die sukses van die program te evalueer. Die data analise wys uitdruklik dat daar 'n behoefte was aan die ontwikkeling van vaardighede en entrepreneuriese ontwikkeling in hierdie landelike gebied. Deelnemers was gretig om aan die program deel te neem en om vaardighede wat aangeleer is, toe te pas op die ope mark. Die deelnemers wat die program voltooi het, het almal 'n verbetering ten opsigte van hulle vlakke van bemagtiging getoon, met die grootste verbetering op die mikrovlak. Die navorsingsresultate bevestig dat die deelnemers hulle vaardighede en kennis wat in die program verwerf is, kon toepas. Nogtans was geeneen van die deelnemers wat die program voltooi het, vier maande ná die afloop van die program besig om 'n inkomste te genereer nie. AI was daar 'n behoefte aan opleiding in hierdie landelike area geidentifiseer, was daar, nadat die fasiliteerder onttrek het, geen volhoubaarheid van die program nie. Daar word dus aanbeveel dat opkomende entrepreneurs langtermynondersteuning sal geniet wat uiteindelik tot hul onafhanklikheid sal lei.
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Knaap, Margriet. "Sustainability of early childhood development sites in selected rural areas." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/51927.
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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is guided by the question: what is done to sustain early childhood development (ECD) in South Africa? The research is conducted in is selected rural areas in Namaqualand and the Karoo. A selection of ECD centres is taken as the study material. In depth interviews and workshops were conducted with various role-players connected to ECD to provide case material for analysis. Apart from the findings of this research the study concludes with a number of recommendations of how to address questions of sustainability, self-reliance and development of these centres and the communities they are located in. The study is contextualised within the situation of wide-spread and ingrained poverty amongst the communities living in rural areas in South Africa. The study pleas for explicit educational policy reforms, a stronger role to be played by government institutions on all levels and by community institutions such as churches, the empowerment of . women and the organisational reform of ECD centres. The overall theme is that the education of young people is paramount to the development of communities. The self-reliance of the centres is primarily depended on the sustainability of community life as a network of social and economic relations. The first chapter introduces the research problem, the reasons why this study is deemed necessary and a framework of the research process. It includes a description of the context and methodology of the study. The second chapter outlines the concepts of self-reliance, development and sustainability from the point of view of the progressive and participatory paradigms, the basic requirements for sustainable development, such as lifelong learning for all people and the interdependencies that enhances progress and development. Chapter three is devoted to Early Childhood Development (ECD). A historical overview and the current status of ECD, including government policy, in South Africa is presented. The gaps existing between the different echelons that are directly or indirectly involved in ECD are identified. The fourth chapter deals with ECD sites. Their objectives and the benefits for ECD education as well as care-taking strategies are described and researched. The multidimensional purposes and tasks with respect to children and parents as well as the community are especially highlighted. Chapter five develops the integrating function of ECD sites within community further. The focus is on the various interdependencies and relationships between an ECD site and its environment. The role of parents, women and their ties with ECD and local churches, especially within rural communities, is analysed. Also, the wider community, the different organisations that has relationships with ECD, the practical utility of networks, and the contribution of government structures are dealt with. Chapter six outlines the conditions that will enhance and enable an ECD site to become more sustainable and self-reliant. Finally, chapter seven proposes conclusions and recommendationsflowing from this study. The most basic condition is education and learning. The idea of a culture of lifelong learning for all is stressed and it is proposed that this should start at the youngest possible age. ECDs should therefore have a strong impact on learning. The main contributors to this process are women, local churches, the different tiers of government and lastly, funding organisations.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie word gelei deur die vraag: wat word gedoen om die volhoubaarheid van vroeë kinderontwikkeling (ECD) in Suid-Afrika te verseker? Die navorsing is in geselekteerde landelike gebiede van Namakwaland en die Karoo uitgevoer. 'n Seleksie van ECD sentrums is as studiemateriaal gebruik. In diepte onderhoude en werkswinkels is onderneem met verskeie rolspelers in ECD om toepaslike gegewens vir ontleding te verskaf. Afgesien van die bevindinge van die ondersoek wat beskryf word, kom die studie tot gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings oor hoe om die volhoubaarheid, selfvoorsiening en ontwikkeling van hierdie sentrums en die gemeenskappe waarin hulle gevestig is, te verseker. Die ondersoek is gekontekstualiseer binne die situasie van wydverspreide en ingegroeide armoede in die gemeenskappe van landelike gebiede in Suid-Afrika. Dit lewer 'n pleidooi vir uitdruklike opvoedkundige beleidshervormnings, 'n sterker rol deur regeringsinstansies op alle vlakke en deur gemeenskapsinstellings soos kerke, die bemagtiging van vroue en die organisatoriese hervorming van ECD sentrums. Die algehele tema is dat die opvoeding van jong mense allesoorheersend is in die ontwikkeling van gemeenskappe. Die selfvoorsiening van hierdie sentrums is primêr afhanklik van die volhoubaarheid van die gemeenskapslewe as 'n netwerk van sosiale en ekonomiese verhoudings. Die eerste hoofstuk stel die navorsingsprobleem, die redes waarom die ondersoek as noodsaaklik beskou word en 'n raamwerk vir die navorsingsproses bekend. Dit sluit in 'n beskrywing van die konteks en metodologie van die studie. Die tweede hoofstuk bied 'n uiteensetting van die begrippe selfvoorsiening, ontwikkeling en volhoubaarheid. Dit word gedoen vanuit die oogpunt van progressiewe en deelnemende paradigmas. Verder word die basiese vereistes vir volhoubare ontwikkeling, soos lewenslange leer vir alle mense en die interafhanklikhede wat vooruitgang en ontwikkeling sal verhoog, aangedui. Hoofstuk drie is gewy aan vroeë kinderontwikkeling (ECD). 'n Historiese oorsig en die huidige stand van ECD, insluitende die owerheidsbeleid, in Suid-Afrika word aangebied. Die gapings tussen die verskillende vlakke wat direk of indirek betrokke is by ECDword uitgewys. Die vierde hoofstuk handeloor ECD sentrums. Hulle doelstellings en die voordele vir ECD opvoeding sowel as sorg strategieë word beskryf en nagevors. Die multidimensionele oogmerke en take met verwysing na kinders en ouers asook die gemeenskap word veral beklemtoon. Hoofstuk vyf ontwikkel die integreringsfunksie van ECD verder. Die fokus is die verskeie interafhanklikhede en verhoudings tussen 'n ECD sentrum en sy omgewing. Die rol van ouers, vroue en hulle bande met ECD en plaaslike kerke, veral in landelike gemeenskappe, word ontleed. Verder word ook gekyk na die wyer gemeenskap, die verskillende organisasies wat in verhouding staan met ECD, die praktiese waarde van netwerke en die bydrae van die owerheid. Hoofstuk ses gee 'n oorsig van die voorwaardes wat 'n ECD sentrum se volhoubaarheid en selfvoorsiening sal verhoog en bemagtig. Ten slotte stel hoofstuk sewe gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings wat uit die studie spruit, voor. Die mees basies voorwaarde is opvoeding en leer. Die idee van 'n kultuur van lewenslange leer vir almal word beklemtoon en dit word voorgestel dat dit op die vroegs moontlike ouderdom 'n aanvang neem. ECDs behoort daarom 'n sterk impak op leer te hê. Die hoof bydraers hiertoe is vroue, plaaslike kerke, die verskillende vlakke van regering, en ten slotte befondsingsorganisasies.
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Tshifura, Vhonani Willbert. "The role of school governing bodies in rural areas in the Northern Province." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53165.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In April 1994, after South Africa's first democratic elections, a new era in education commenced. The education system was transformed to a unitary system and a programme of legislation was launched aimed at promoting democratic ideals and practices. Of particular importance to schools was the South African Schools Act (Act No. 84 of 1996) by which significant powers were granted to School Governing Bodies (SGBs) at local level In addition to the school principal, a SGB was to be composed of elected representatives of four main stakeholder groups: educators, non-educator staff, learners (in Grade 8 or above) and parents. The powers and responsibilities allocated by the Act indicated that the introduction of SGBs had far-reaching potential to improve school effectiveness and, more importantly, to contribute to the growth of democracy in South Africa. The writer of this study was an educator, resident in the Northern Province and with significant first-hand teaching experience in schools in rural and semi-rural areas of the province, as well as experience as a member of a SGB. This experience had made him keenly aware of the role that SGBs could play in improving schools with which he was familiar. The purpose of the research was therefore to investigate the role of SGBs in rural areas of the Northern Province. To evaluate the role of SGBs, the researcher aimed to investigate aspects such as whether SGBs were in fact properly established, e.g. through the conduct of proper elections, how stakeholders perceived their roles, what functions were typically performed by SGBs, the perceptions of roleplayers about significant progress and or problems, and what needs for help or training were experienced. In particular the research aimed to discover whether there were particular needs associated with SGBs in the rural areas in order to determine what sort of capacity-building was required. The approach used in the investigation followed four main steps. Firstly, a literature study provided the basis for analysis and clarification of important concepts. Secondly, the legal and policy context was described, paying particular attention to the specific legislation and documents that frame school governance in South Africa. Thirdly, the writer examined the context of Northern Province, describing four stages in the history of educational administration and focusing on rural communities in particular. The fourth perspective was gained by an empirical study of a sample of ten secondary schools in the rural and semi-rural areas around the town of Thohoyandou. The method of investigation was to use questionnaires and interviews to obtain data from representatives of all five stakeholder groups in SGBs at each of these schools. The findings led to the conclusion that SGBs were largely well-established in the rural areas of Northern Province. They were widely accepted as legitimate and worthwhile structures but there were specific important needs for training and capacity-building. Perhaps the most important finding was that parents in rural areas appear to find it very difficult to become involved in the educational life of schools and are especially reluctant to serve on SGBs. Reasons for this apparent apathy were found to lie in problems of illiteracy and feelings of ignorance or inferiority. These conclusions enabled the researcher to make specific recommendations for improving the role and functioning of SGBs. Recommendations were made for improving the role of SGBs as a whole as well as for capacity-building relating to the needs of each stakeholder group. A particular emphasis of these recommendations was on ways in which the unique needs of rural communities can be met. This was seen as a priority in order to improve education in secondary schools in these historically underdeveloped areas and through that, promote the growth of democracy in the rural areas of Northern Province.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika se eerste demokratiese verkiesing op 26 April 1994 het 'n nuwe era vir die onderwys ingelei. Een unitêre en eenvormige geïntergreerde onderwysstelsel is gevestig en 'n program geloods van nuwe wetgewing gerig op die bevordering van demokratiese ideale en praktyke. Van besondere belangrikheid vir skole was die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet (Wet Nr 84 van 1996) wat bepaalde magte aan skole op plaaslike vlak afgewentel het deur die instelling van Skool Beheerliggame (SBLs). Saam met die skoolhoof, was SBLs saamgestel deur verkose verteenwoordigers van vier hoof belanghebbende groepe: opvoeders, nie-opvoederpersoneel, leerders (in Graad 8 of bo) en ouers. Die magte en verantwoordelikhede deur die Wet aan SBLs geallokeer was 'n aanduiding dat die instelling van SBLs verreikende potensiaal gehad het om skooleffektiewiteit te bevorder sowel as 'n belangrike bydrae te maak tot die ontwikkeling van demokrasie in Suid-Afrika. Die skrywer van die studie was 'n opvoeder, woonagtig In die Noordelike Provinsie en met eerstehandse ervaring van onderwys in skole in die landelike gebiede van die provinsie. Hy het ook ervaring gehad as lid van 'n SBL. Sy ondervinding het hom skerp bewus gemaak van die moontlike rol van SBLs in die verbetering en opheffing van skole waarmee hy vertroud was. Die doel van die navorsing was dus om die rol van SBLs in die landelike gebiede van die Noordelike Provinsie te ondersoek. Om die rol van SBLs te evalueer het die navorser besluit om aspekte te ondersoek soos die vestiging van SBLs, bv. of hulle welordentlik gevestig was, o.a. deur die bepaalde verkiesingsprosedures, die persepsies van belanghebbendes oor hulle eie rolle, die tipiese funksies deur SBLs gerig, die rolspelers se eie persepsies van beduidende vordering en/of probleme in die funksionering van hulle SBLs, en enige opvallende behoeftes. Die navorsing het veral gepoog om agter te kom of daar spesifieke eiesoortige behoeftes t.O.V. SBLs in gemeenskappe in landelike gebiede was. Om sulke behoeftes te kon bepaal sou bydrae tot die ontwikkeling van geskikte programme vir kapasiteitsbou by SBLs in landelike gebied. Die ondersoek het uit vier hoofstappe bestaan. Eerstens het In literatuurstudie bygedra tot die ontleding en verduideliking van belangrike konsepte. Tweedens is die wetlike en beleidskonteks beskryf, met besondere verwysing na die raamwerk van spesifieke wetgewing en dokumente wat skoolbeheer in Suid-Afrika bepaal Derdens het die skrywer die konteks van Noordelike Provinsie omskryf, insluitend 'n beskrywing van vier fases in die geskiedenis van onderwysbeheer Daar is ook veralop die eienskappe van landelike gemeenskappe gefokus. Die vierde perpsektief was deur 'n empiriese ondersoek verkry, gebasseer op 'n seleksie van tien sekondêre skole in die landelike en semi-landelike gebied rondom Thohoyandou. Die ondersoek het gebruik gemaak van vraelyste en onderhoude met verteenwoordigers van elkeen van die belanghebbende groepe. Daardeur is gegewens bekom van al vyf belanghebbende groepe by elkeen van die tien skole. Die bevindinge het tot die gevolgtrekking gelei dat SBLs reeds grootendeels gevestig was in die landelike gebiede van Noordelike Provinsie. Dit het geblyk dat SBLs wyd aanvaar was as legitieme instellings, maar dat daar spesifieke behoeftes was vir opleiding en kapasiteitsbou. Moontlik die belangrikste bevinding was dat ouers in die landelike gemeenskappe dit blykbaar baie moeilik vind om betrokke te raak in die opvoedingstaak en lewe van skole en veral skaam is om op SBLs te dien. Redes wat vir hierdie skynbaar apatetiese gedrag aangevoer is, was dat die meerderheid ouers ongeletterd is en dat gevoelens van onkundigheid, onbekwaamheid en minderwaardigheid ouers weerhou om deel te neem .. Bogenoemde gevolgtrekkings van die studie het die navorser in staat gestelom spesifieke aanbevelings te maak t.o.v. die ontwikkeling en verbetering van die funksionering van SBLs. Aanbevelings is gemaak om die rol van die SBL in die algemeen te verbeter, sowel as t.o.v. kapasiteitsbou gerig op die spesifieke behoeftes van bepaalde belanghebbende groepe. Die aanbevelings het in besonder klem laat val op die soeke na wyses waardeur die unieke behoeftes van landelike gemeenskappe aangespreek kan word. Hierdie behoefte word as 'n prioriteit beskou om onderwysverbetering in sekondêre skole in hierdie histories onderontwikkelde gebiede te versnel. Daardeur sou die ontwikkeling van demokrasie in die landelike gebiede van Noordelike Provinsie ook versterk en bevorder word.
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Schäfer, Marc. "Designing and making a difference: an exploration of technology education for rural school teachers." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003372.
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This qualitative study focused on a Technology Education programme for farm school teachers in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. These teachers were faced with the challenge of incorporating Technology Education into their curriculum. The study was conducted within the context of an investigation into the conceptual nature of technology and an exploration of the theoretical underpinnings of Technology Education within both the international and South African context. Technology Education is being introduced into the South African curriculum against a background of educational transformation and the building of capacity to solve real life problems. This calls for a curriculum that will empower learners to be innovative, creative and skilled problem solvers. The introduction and incorporation of Technoiogy Education into the school curriculum poses a formidable challenge to farm schools in particular. Their unique history of neglect and legacy of underqualified teachers has made the introduction of any curriculum innovation process very difficult and challenging. This study analyses how an introductory Technology Education programme for farm school teachers in the Winterberg area of the Eastern Cape impacted~ on the teachers' professional and personal lives. It shows the importance of developing teclpological skills in conjunction with life skills in cO.ntributing to the empowerment, both in the work place and in the wider context, of rural school teachers. It highlights the need for supportive in-service education programmes and strengthens the argument for an integrative and mulitidisciplinary approach to the introduction of Technology Education in farm schools. Data was collected by means of questionnaires, interviews and photographs.
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Rawana, Yolisa. "Primary education and rural community development in King William's Town District." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007750.
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The focus of this research was to investigate the lack of access to primary education in King William's Town district in Eastern Cape which is inhibiting rural community development. The aim of the study was to determine whether geographic location have effects on attendance of school, to perceive gender discrepancy in primary education, to investigate what cost as a factor that contributes to a child's access and attendance to a primary education and to make recommendations to improve the situation. The study followed a descriptive research method. Data was collected by studying relevant existing literature. Document analysis was used to analyse the data and recommendations for improvement were made. The findings revealed that the day to day attendance of learners is below what it should be, which lead to dropouts, non-compliance with legislation, inadequate monitoring and evaluation. There is a need to recruit Department officials with a particular level of education, knowledge, understanding and expertise to minimise the chances of failure. Recommendations are finally made to mitigate the problem situation
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Arends, Jeffrey. "The computer science needs of a rural school : possiblities and pitfalls for service-learning in higher education." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1863.
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Thesis (MTech (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005This research study attempted to identify the computer science needs of a rural school and then attempted to see to what extent a higher education institution could meet those needs and to what extent it could not, through a service-Ieaming project. The study also attempted to develop a framework to guide the implementation of a serviceleaming project in computer science for a rural school. The study was set against the literature on the need for higher education to transform and demonstrate greater responsibility and commitment to social and economic development of society in general, and the need for increased participation, collaboration and partnership formation through service-learning projects in particular. The literature on computer use in schools and best practice for service-learning in higher education was also reviewed. Using qualitative approaches and data production methods the school teachers, learners, students and lecturers in a higher education institution were interviewed in order to establish the computer science needs of the school and to find out how the students and lecturers could address those needs through service-learning. The research findings indicated that the rural school in De Doorns has a serious lack of essential computer-related infrastructure such as the computer laboratory, computers, and well-trained staff in using computers. Other computer science-related needs included proposal writing, technical assistance and security personnel. The research findings also revealed that students and lecturers in the departments of Information Technology, Office Management, Human Resource Management and Education could be involved in the training of staff, enhancement of computer skills and proposal writing. From the research findings, it became evident that the two school community needs, Le. the provision of computer laboratories and security services, could not be addressed through service-Ieaming, but through funding proposals and fundraising that involved the Western Cape Education Department and the private sector. The study therefore demonstrates possible partnerships between schools and higher education institutions and calls for collaborative efforts that include government departments and the private sector in order to make education beneficial to the development of school learners, students in higher education and South African communities in general.
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Van, der Merwe Michelle. "The use of learning support materials in the rural schools of Maputaland, Kwa-Zulu Natal." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003701.
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The African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) was established in 2002 after the discovery of a colony of coelacanths off the Maputaland coast at Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu Natal. The environmental education and awareness sub-programme developed learning support materials (LSM's) for use in schools and the materials were disseminated annually through teacher education workshops. This study aimed to uncover the use of these LSM's in the rural schools of Maputaland. The active learning framework was used to analyse the materials. Collectively, the ACEP materials cover a range of active learning aspects; however alignment with the curriculum has resulted in an increased focus on experiments, accompanied by a loss of environmental content and a narrowing scope for active environmental learning. Workshop questionnaires and four school case studies revealed the patterns of practice of use of materials in schools. The stated use of materials by teachers is not fully realized in the actual classroom practice which centres on learning content and concept definitions. There is no culture of use of materials in the schools following the annual introduction of ACEP materials. It was also found that the marine and coastal knowledge holding power is outside the realm of the teachers' practice and control. The findings of this study come at a time when there is uncertainty over the future of South African education and the curriculum. This research may inform the environmental education and coastal and marine education field as to their role in education and more specifically the development of learning support materials.
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Cherrington, Avivit Miriam. "Research as hope intervention: a visual participatory study with rural South African school children." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8350.
Full textAbstract:
There is a dearth of knowledge on rural South African children’s perspectives of hope, and how their hope can be nurtured, shaped, and strengthened. Guided by a qualitative approach, and located within a critical transformative paradigm, this study explores the following research question: How could visual participatory methodology as ‘research as intervention’ enable rural South African primary school children to explore their conceptualisations of hope, as well as strengthen their hope? To answer this question I pose two sub-questions: Firstly, what are rural primary school children’s conceptualisations of hope? Secondly, how could using visual participatory methodology to explore their hope also strengthen the children’s hope? Hope plays a key role in the lives of people, influencing decisions and behaviour, as well as coping skills and wellbeing. The socio-economic and cultural contexts in which rural South African children find themselves are critical in enabling hope and influencing their psychosocial wellbeing. While international hope research boasts a diversity of theories, there is scarce representation of such research from an African perspective. Unable to turn to an Afrocentric theory of hope this study is framed by two theories from the global-North: Scioli’s (2007) Integrative theory of hope which provides a description of the individual’s hope process, and Prilleltensky and Prilleltensky’s (2007) Framework of psychosocial wellbeing which provides a broader context in which to view this process. Over a period of a year I engaged with twelve purposively selected 9-13 year old Basotho children, beneficiaries of a children’s programme situated in a rural village in the QwaQwa region, Free State, South Africa, to explore their hope. Using visual participatory methodology, data was co-constructed through four visual data generating tools (collage-making, drawing, Mmogo-method®, and photovoice), as well as individual interviews, a group interview, and notes and photographs kept in my research journal. A qualitative thematic analysis was followed, and a literature control conducted to re-contextualise the findings. The results of this study are presented in themes. The first three themes, Hope is having a better life; Hope is community participation and togetherness; and Hope is weakened by others and by one’s environment, combine to represent hope as a multi-layered, multi-dimensional experience towards attaining a better life on a contextual, personal, relational, and collective level. These levels of hope are all inter-related, interdependent, and influenced by cultural factors and the children’s belief system (or worldview). I therefore conclude that, according to these rural South African school children, hope is an internal process of being that develops within the individual, with assistance from external resources, and then extends outwardly through hopeful beliefs, feelings, and behaviours to promote togetherness, care, and respect in one’s community. The last three themes, Strengthened personal hope; Enhanced relational hope; and Mobilised collective hope, show that using visual participatory methodology to engage the participants in an exploration of hope potentially strengthened, enhanced, and mobilised their hope across three inter-related and overlapping levels: Personal, Relational, and Collective. The participants expressed a growing understanding of their hoping process, increased sense of autonomy, and improved coping skills for strengthening their own hope. They also began to refer to themselves as Hope Champions - able to foster hope in others by behaving in a hopeful manner, teaching others about hope, and offering care and support. I therefore conclude that this shifting view of themselves as competent and valuable members of the community mobilised their collective level of hope as they began to formulate ideas of how they could be active citizens in their community, pursuing collective wellbeing for themselves and other members of the community so that everyone could live a better life. The findings have several implications for educational psychologists working with marginalised and vulnerable children’s hope, for fostering hope in school contexts, and for educational hope research with marginalised children in rural South African communities. While this study cannot presume to have achieved long-term social change, it does certainly lay the foundation for proposing that ‘research as intervention’ has promising potential as ‘research as hope-intervention’ in educational contexts. In responding to the research question, I argue that visual participatory research methodology, when focused on hope, is in and of itself a hope-enhancing intervention. Consequently, combining visual participatory methodology with hope-focused explorations enables ‘research as hope-intervention’, facilitating a strengthening of the participants’ hope, and resulting in meaningful personal transformation. I conclude that using ‘research as hope-intervention’ with rural South African children holds many possibilities for mobilising a ‘pedagogy of hope’.
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Jansen, Zenda B. "Tirisano' : die verkenning van uitdagings en meganismes tot vennootskap met drie landelike skole in die Wes-Kaap." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53191.
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Thesis (MEd (Special education))--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The value of partnerships within the South African education system has for many years been emphasised by various researchers. It is only since the first democratic election in South Africa in 1994 that the government was committed to the extension of partnerships between schools, parents, learners and the community on both local and national level. In Article 29 of the Constitution (RSA, 1996a) parents are given the assurance that the state will execute their role as educational partner. The state also gives other partners enough scope to implement their educational partnerships according to their worldview and philosophy of life. The aim of this study was the exploration of challenges and mechanisms for partnership between three rural primary schools and the Department of Educational Psychology and Specialized Education, now referred to as the University of Stellenbosch (US), as tertiary institution. The needs expressed by the particular schools, the social consciousness role of the US within the community and thirdly the empowerment role of partnerships served as motivation for the study. A constructivist, interpretative paradigm was used and the research design can be classified as empirical research with primary data generating textual data. The literature review explored the challenges within systems, mechanisms for partnerships and different systems within partnerships in view of a meta-theoretical frame of reference. The research results regarding challenges within specific systems are summarized under three headings, namely positive findings, negative findings and differences of opinion. Results regarding the exploration of the partnership shows that the researcher throughout the study consistently recognised the uniqueness of each school; trusting relationships were established; the schools were continuously involved in all the processes; a partnership of collaboration was emphasised; the processes were continuously evaluated and the schools were predominantly positive about the collaborative partnership with the US. The findings of this study have important implications for the further exploration of partnerships between schools and persons and/or institutions on both local and national level. The positive results accomplished through this partnership with the three schools acts as motivation for further extension of partnerships. Recommendations serve as foundation for a partnership of consultation, collaboration and teamwork between schools and other systems.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die waarde van vennootskappe binne die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwys is reeds vir jare deur verskeie navorsers beklemtoon. Dit is egter eers sedert Suid-Afrika se eerste demokratiese verkiesing in 1994 dat die regering hom verbind het tot die uitbou van vennootskappe tussen skole, ouers, leerders en die gemeenskap op beide plaaslike en nasionale vlak. In Artikel 29 van die Grondwet (RSA, 1996a) word aan ouers die versekering gegee dat die staat sy rol as opvoedingvennoot sal deurvoer. Die staat gee ook aan ander vennote genoeg ruimte om hulopvoedende vennootskappe volgens hul bepaalde wêreld- en lewensbeskouing in skole uit te leef. Die doel van hierdie studie was die verkenning van uitdagings en meganismes tot vennootskap tussen drie landelike primêre skole en die Departement Opvoedkundige Sielkunde en Spesialiseringsonderwys, voortaan na verwys as die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (US), as tersiêre instelling. Die behoeftes uitgespreek deur die betrokke drie skole, die US se sosiale bewustheidsrol binne die gemeenskap en derdens die bemagtigingsrol wat vennootskappe inhou het as motivering gedien. Daar is vanuit 'n konstruktivistiese, interpretatiewe paradigma gewerk en die navorsingsontwerp kan geklassifiseer word as empiriese navorsing met primêre databronne wat tekstuele data genereer. Die literatuuroorsig het gepoog om aan die hand van 'n meta-teoretiese verwysingsraamwerk ondersoek in te stel na uitdagings binne sisteme, meganismes tot vennootskappe en verskillende sisteme binne vennootskappe. Die navorsingsbevindinge rakende uitdagings binne bepaalde sisteme word bondig saamgevat onder drie hoofde, naamlik positiewe bevindinge, negatiewe bevindinge en meningsverskille. Bevindinge ten opsigte van die verkenning van die vennootskap het aangetoon dat die navorser deurentyd die uniekheid van elke skool erken het; dat In vertrouensverhouding gebou is; dat die skole sover moontlik op In deurlopende basis in al die prosesse betrek is; dat die navorser deurlopend klem gelê het op In vennootskap van samewerking; dat prosesse deurlopend geëvalueer is en dat die skole oorwegend positief was oor die vennootskap van samewerking met die US. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie hou belangrike implikasies in vir die verdere verkenning van vennootskappe tussen skole en persone en/of instansies op beide plaaslike en nasionale vlak. Die positiewe resultate behaal deur hierdie vennootskap met die drie skole moet dien as aansporing vir verdere uitbouing van vennootskappe. Aanbevelings wat dien as grondslag vir 'n vennootskap van samewerking, konsultasie en spanwerk tussen skole en ander sisteme word gedoen.
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Lee, Shong Carmelita. "Exploring first-year, rural students computer acquisition experiences at an urban university in South Africa." Master's thesis, Faculty of Humanities, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32769.
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Higher Education in South Africa still reflects its apartheid past. Historically white institutions of higher learning remaining well resourced, most of their students are white and these institutions still retain their colonial activities. Black students who attend these Higher Education Institutions do not perform as well as their white counterparts as a result of the inequalities that still exist in South Africa. In South Africa, tertiary institutions are tasked with delivering skilled and computer proficient graduates as required by industry. These graduates are key to South Africa's participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which will ensure the country's economic growth. Gaining entry to higher education institutions has improved for black students. However, there are differentiated divides which exist within each aspect of these institutions that limit black students' engagement and full participation at previously white higher education institutions. Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially at historically white institutions, has become a key component of their teaching and learning practice. However, the digital divide is most evident amongst black, rural students who often come into this learning environment with little or no computer experience. Their often, white privileged peers are mostly computer proficient. The study explored how underprivileged students experience the process of acquiring computer skills. It unpacks their perceptions of themselves in relation to their peers, the implications that this has on students' current journey at the University of Cape Town and their future computer use within a learning environment. The case study, focused on first year, rural, black students, involved the use of a mixed method approach. Data were collected using a questionnaire, an observation and interviews. Critical Discourse Analysis is used to understand the data. Foucault's view of Critical Discourse, namely, the concepts of Power/Knowledge, Subject/Trust are used to understand how the structures and waysin which society createslevels of power and being within society are viewed. Credence is given to the opinions of some people in society and not to others through these Power/Knowledge and Subject/Trust discourse. Critical Discourse seeks to explore the social injustices inherent in society and to encourage it to be more equitable. The research shows that the acquisition of computer skills for first year, rural, black students at a historically white university is not easy, especially for those who come with no computer knowledge. They lose their self-worth and may initially become computer averse even though they realise the value of computers. The gap between students who come in without computer skills and the computer proficient students grows as they progress. The lack of computer skills limits students without computer experience from fully benefiting from the array of opportunities computers bring to the learning environment. They only acquire the skills taught at the university, which limits their further acquisition of computer skills. Further research in this area is required to fully understand the rural students' experience.
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Stretton, Natasha Anne. "The political economy of educational provision in "white" commercial farming areas: findings from a case study conducted in the Ugie district in the north eastern Cape." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003043.
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The under-provision of education for black South Africans has reached crisis proportions. While the education for black people in general is discriminatory and unequal, black rural people suffer further deprivations as there is a serious imbalance in the allocation of resources and the provision of education between urban and rural areas. Black education in the rural areas has been historically neglected for political and socio-economic reasons and, as a consequence, rural blacks have limited or no access to education. The purpose of this' study is to examine an aspect of rural education; viz: black farm schools in the 'white' commercial farming areas. It is argued that the provision of farm schools is intricately linked to the labour requirements of farmers and consequently farm schools cannot be understood independently from the social relations within commercial farming areas. The impact of local decision-making on the process of farm schooling is also significant and is an important aspect of this study. This thesis explores the political and socio-economic processes that have structured the provision of education within a small farming community, looking specifically at the effects of particular interest groups on the provision of black farm schools. The study operates on three levels. The first level provides a theoretical framework within which rural education can be better understood. It is argued that the bias towards urban areas is reflected in the current theoretical debates on the role and function of education ·in South Africa. As these theories are generally incapable of explaining rural education, an alternative model is proposed. As education cannot be understood in isolation from the rest of society, the second level of the study locates farm schooling within the broader political and socio-economic systems. This is done from two perspectives. The first perspective focuses on black education in general, tracing aspects of its development and highlighting the impact .of economic interests, white political control and black resistances to this development. The neglect of rural education is also contextualised historically and politically. The second perspective looks at rural education at a macro-level. The historical origins of the farm schools system and the effects of the relationship between agricultural capital and the state, and between farmers and farm workers on the process of farm schooling is examined. The final level of the study focuses on the micro-situation and provides an in-depth analysis of the political and socio-economic dynamics which have impacted upon the provision and process of farm schools within a specific farming community. In an attempt to understand the types of issues effecting farm schooling in this area, the attitudes of farmers, farm workers, farm- children and farm school teachers towards education are investigated. Four main issues were identified and are discussed in depth, viz: I) factors effecting the provision of black farm schools; 2) the relationship between education and the economic structure of the area; 3) the value of education; and 4) socio-economic factors effecting education in the area.
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Rajuili, Khanya. "Women defining the horizons : adult education in a rural community in South Africa, 1979-2000." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/29960.
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There is considerable controversy in the Adult Basic Education (ABE) field over its aims, purposes and relationship to social change. ABE has played an important role in South Africa in redressing past educational inequalities. During the period 1979 to 1990 ABE was particularly important for empowerment of women and youth. The acquisition of basic literacy was considered to be one of the vehicles through which 'formerly excluded' adults could attain greater social, political and economic empowerment. Such assumptions also form the foundation for adult education in post-apartheid South Africa. However, the changes in the sector, most notable after 1994, reflect the form of a 'new' Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) that underpins the policy of life-long learning. The latter aims to promote the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes required for social economic transformation. This is relevant to, and important in the current context of debates about the African Renaissance, which is recognised as a renewal of a vision for a changing nation. Current debates over the 'new' ABET situate this study which seeks to present a perspective on women's emancipation. Through critical analyses of issues connected with gender and power over the past twenty years, it draws attention to adult education as being concerned with universalism, collectivism and communal relationships. The thesis attempts to establish parameters for evaluating the ABET policy and its implementation. The research therefore focuses upon ABET policies to delineate their relevance for women in the rural village of Moutse, in Mpumalanga. Through a case study based upon observations and interviews, an analytical foundation is laid for assessing the impact of adult education and training on female adult learners in this rural community. The experience of Moutse learners has shown that ABET has the potential to empower participants, particularly the female population, by encouraging a sense of ownership and control over their lives and over their communities. The conclusion which emerges is that Adult Basic Education was indeed part of a radical social movement that emerged from and supported a socio-political struggle. However, the 'new' ABET is criticised for focusing on outcomes and skills at the expense of knowledge contained within cultural and traditional practices.
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Ngubane, Weekend Sehlulamanye. "An investigation into the implementation of participative management in a rural school in the Pietermaritzburg district." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003489.
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The primary purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which rural schools understand and perceive the concept of participative management. The concept of participative management has been viewed as an ideal style of leadership and management for school development purposes. In South Africa’s case, it is an educational policy which is expected to reign in all school management bodies. Many theorists envisaged participative management as enhancing active involvement of relevant stakeholders and it has been advocated by many scholars who believe it is the best leadership style in implementing democratic values to education, particularly South African rural education, which is still in a transitional stage. As an interpretive orientated study, this research had an interest in understanding the research participants’ subjective experiences as well as their general perception of participative management. As case-study-driven research, it sought to investigate their understanding of the concept in their natural setting. This included various meanings they aligned with and attached to participative management, their attitudes, their interpretations and feelings towards it. The study employed a focus group data gathering technique in collecting data. The findings of this study suggest that participative management has been embraced by rural school management to a certain extent. There are potentially positive aspects that have been brought by participative management to the school, namely, shared vision, common goals, shared decision-making and general involvement of relevant stakeholders. However, the study has depicted a lack of ethical values on the side of some stakeholders and this hinders the smooth implementation of participative management. The study has also revealed that there are challenges facing rural schools in terms of parental involvement in school governance. Challenges such as lack of commitment to the school, illiteracy among adults and communication breakdown between the school and its parents are still rife in rural schools. Besides these challenges, the blood of participative management is flowing steadily in the veins of the rural school communities.
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Mireku, Akosua Agyakoma. "The impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on effective teaching of environmental education in rural high schools." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5675.
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Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become commonplace entities in all aspects of life. Over the past twenty years, the use of ICTs has drastically changed the procedures of almost all forms of endeavour within business and governance. Additionally, throughout the world there is an awareness of the fundamental role of new ICTs in the field of education. Education is a socially oriented activity, and quality education has traditionally been associated with strong teachers having high degrees of personal contact with learners. The use of ICT in education lends itself to learner-centred learning settings. With the world moving rapidly into digital media and information, the role of ICT in education and the influence of ICT in schools cannot be overemphasised as its utility is changing the way learners learn, teachers teach, and how it supports staff work. Whilst ICT is fully integrated into many schools in the urban areas of South Africa, regrettably the same cannot be said about rural high schools. This has created a digital division between rural and urban high schools. Most of these rural high schools still do not have access to these technological tools and educators have not been given the professional training for them to integrate ICT in their lessons. This study explores the effectiveness of integrating ICT into teaching of Environmental Education in selected rural high schools. The quantitative study adopted survey research design with sample randomly selected for the study. From the findings, it can be concluded that integrating ICT in education cannot be comprehended by exploring the pedagogical orientations at play in the teaching and learning situation. It becomes the basis that teachers use ICTs to achieve the determined goals.
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Labane, Nokubonga. "Planning and managing curriculum implementation in rural schools: an investigation." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/998.
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Fleisch (2002) and Jansen and Christie (1999) hold that implementation of the national school curriculum in post-apartheid South Africa was riddled with uncertainties, ineffective classroom management and a general lack of academic performance by learners, mainly as a result of inadequate training and support (SMTs) to support the implementation process through proper planning and subsequent management of the implementation (Rogan and Grayson, 2003:1172-1195). Middlewood (2003a: 66- 68) thus assigns the primary responsibility of planning, managing and overseeing the curriculum implementation process to the SMT. Research problem and question 1 In the context of this study, the School Management Team (SMT) includes the school principal, the deputy-principal and the head(s) of department(s) or senior teachers. 4 for teachers in the classroom. Having considered the above essential aspects related to curriculum implementation, there is thus reason to be concerned about the effectiveness of curriculum implementation in South African schools, specifically in rural schools. Due to their remoteness, limited resources, and fluctuating quality of teacher expertise, these schools are often more challenged in terms of curriculum implementation (Delport and Mangwaya, 2008:224). Although there are many factors affecting the (in)effectiveness of implementation, this study regards a school’s curriculum implementation plans and the subsequent management of these implementation plans as crucial to ensuring successful implementation of a new curriculum. The central research problem that guided this study thus relates to the planning and subsequent management of curriculum implementation at school level. The above problem has culminated in the formulation of the following research question: How do selected rural schools plan and manage curriculum implementation?.
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Boonzaaier, Petrus Johannes Visser. "Multi-grade rural schools intervention in the West Coast Winelands EMDC : a case study." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2130.
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Thesis (DTech (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008.Multi-grade teaching is a worldwide phenomenon. Meeting the basic needs of rural people in developing countries is a major challenge to achieve the Millennium Development Goals of the Education for All programmes. Situation analyses carried out by Little (1995, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005), Juvane (2005), Taylor and Mulhalll (1997) and Atchoarena and Gasperini (2003) indicate that multi-grade schools are common in impoverished, low population settlements such as remote areas and small villages. Researchers like Berry (2001), Pratt (1986) and Bryk (1994) report evidence that multi-grade schools can be positive places for learners and teachers. Observations done by Rao (2004), McGinn (1996) and McEwan and Benveniste (2001) show that successful models of multi-grade teaching already exist. Examples of addressing the isolation of multi-grade settings are found in Finland and Greece, where ICT is utilized to address this challenge. The "active" pedagogy which researchers like Little (1995, 2003 and 2005), Juvane (2005), Miller (1999) and McEwan and Benveniste (2001) promote for multigrade schools expects teachers to guide activities to be completed, and allows for free activities, which require application of the knowledge gained. It also involves creative exploration and application of regional-specific knowledge and relies upon learners to acquire and construct knowledge for themselves, guided by the teacher. Atchoarena and Gasperini (2005:6) believe in an integrated learning concept which bases its focus on the notion that effective learning is not limited to the classroom, but that, through use of community resources the curricula can "come alive."The "active" pedagogy and the expected participation of communities in the teaching and learning process should not only be for the benefit of the multi-grade class but should also be applicable to teaching and learning in mono-grade classes. This contributes to Bingham's (1995:6) view that a natural community of learners is inclusive of experiences outside school boundaries in the larger world. According to the Ministerial Committee on Rural Education (2005:12), South Africa's first ten years of democracy, are after 1994, characterized by an overwhelming commitment to equality, to treat everyone in the same way no matter what his or her differences are. Hence, the management and funding of rural schools are similar to the principles and formulas of those of urban schools. So too, curriculum and pedagogies of rural schooling are planned to be the same as those found in rural settings. Emerging Voices (2205:12) and Joubert (2005:3) agree that rural education has to provide the means to enable generations to break out of the recurring cycle of unskilled labour and resultant poverty. State education must deliver learners who are able to read, write and are numerate and furthermore deliver trained teachers for the multigrade Irural school system. In the literacy reviewed, it is clear that curricula, learning materials, teacher education and assessment are necessary components of an integrated strategy for learning and teaching in multi-grade settings. Surrounding these strategies is the need for national policies for curriculums, materials, teacher education and assessment that recognize, legitimate and support learners and teachers in multi-grade settings. The researcher identified two interventions, which addressed the above mentioned multi-grade phenomenon in South Africa, namely the Kgatelopele project of the Limpopo Education Department launched in 2000 and the Multi-grade Rural School Intervention (MGRSI) in the Western Cape Province launched in 2001. Both these interventions focused on the needs of multi-grade schools, and ways to address those needs. The MGRSI was structured according to a logic model, which provided the objectives of the intervention and the strategy, which it intended to follow in order to reach the stated outcomes. This study provided the opportunity to do a case study, which revealed the successes and the challenges of the intervention implemented from 2001 to 2006.
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Van, Heerden Marianne. "Uitdagings aan onderwysleiers in gekombineerde skole in die Suid-Kaapse platteland." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53205.
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Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Unique demands are made on management of combined schools in the Southern Cape because it must accommodate seven to eighteen year old learners, each with their specific needs. This includes the adolescent who has to adapt to several changes in his/her own body as well as in the environment. Elementary and middle schools in Japan and the USA have restructured to be more effective by accommodating the specific needs of the learners, as well as the demands which the society in the twenty-first century will make on learners. The success of these schools encouraged high schools to adopt a more personal nature in the relationship between adults and learners and to prepare learners for jobs which would be very different from those of a few years ago. There are quite a few aspects in favour of combined schools, for example, fewer learners, a long relationship with the school and a close relationship between school and community. These aspects should be used to their fullest to ensure that these schools remain the "good" schools they were in the past. Criteria for being effective schools are changing drastically and combined schools cannot just rely on their previous success for growth. A generation of learners with a unique nature and of whom unique demands will be made in the future are entering these schools. Schools will have to provide more than mere subject knowledge. Learners must receive education in character, ethics, self-discipline and stress management. Schools will have to be managed from a new paradigm to accomplish these aspects. Change can only happen when people change and that would create a new culture. When schools are managed from a principle-centered paradigm, people are empowered to experience private and public victories. It is then possible to align the managerial and organizational levels with the values embedded in the school mission.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word besondere eise aan die bestuur van gekombineerde skole in die Suid-Kaapse platteland gestel aangesien leerders van sewejarige tot agtienjarige ouderdom, elk met sy besondere behoeftes, geakkommodeer moet word. Dit sluit ook die adolessente in wat by verskeie veranderings in hulle eie lewens en die omgewing moet aanpas. In Japan en die VSA het veral die laerskole begin herstruktureer om skole meer effektief te maak deur die behoeftes van leerders aan te spreek, veralook ten opsigte van die eise wat die samelewing van die een-en-twintigste eeu aan leerders sal stel. Hulle sukses het ook hoërskole aangespoor om aanpassings te maak, veral ten opsigte van die skepping van In meer persoonlike aard van die verhoudings tussen leerders en volwassenes, en die voorbereiding van leerders vir In arbeidsmark wat drasties verskil van enkele jare gelede. Gekombineerde skole het baie faktore wat kan veroorsaak dat hulle effektiewe skole kan wees, byvoorbeeld min leerders, In lang verbintenis van die met die skool en In sterk band tussen skool en gemeenskap. Daar moet egter doelbewus beplan word om hierdie aspekte te benut sodat verseker kan word dat hulle ook in die toekoms die "goeie" skole kan bly wat hulle in die verlede was. Kriteria vir effektiewe skole is besig om drasties te verander en gekombineerde skole kan nie net op ou suksesse voortbou nie. In Geslag leerders met In unieke aard en aan wie unieke vereistes in die toekoms gestel gaan word, betree nou die skole. Skole moet meer as net vakkennis oordra. Karakteropvoeding, etiek, selfdissipline en streshantering is aspekte wat binne die skoolkurikulum aangespreek moet word. Om bogenoemde suksesvol te laat wees, moet daar vanuit In nuwe paradigma bestuur word. Verandering kan net plaasvind indien mense verander en daar sodoende 'n nuwe kultuur in skole gevestig word. Wanneer daar vanuit 'n beginselgesentreerde paradigma bestuur word, word mense bemagtig om eers privaat oorwinnings en dan publieke oorwinnings te behaal. Dis dan moontlik om die bestuurs- en organisatoriese vlakke in lyn met die waardes van die missie van die skool te bring.
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Pather, Sulochini. "Understanding sustainable inclusive education development : lessons from a school and its communities in rural South Africa." Thesis, University of Kent, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.408429.
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Theunissen, Anna Luttig. "An exploration of the experiences and perceptions of health and allied health care students regarding interprofessional collaboration and education in a rural clinical setting in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/86617.
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Sonn, Brenda Carol. "Teachers' understanding of social justice in rural education schools in the Overberg education district in the Western Cape : a grounded theory approach." University of the Western Cape, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/5460.
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Philosophiae Doctor - PhDSocial justice is embedded in the South African constitution and various policy documents as an important concept and vision for a democratic South Africa. Yet, twenty two years after democracy, South African society reflects the entrenched racial and class divisions of the past. The educational context mirrors the persistence of historical, political and social patterns of advantage and disadvantage. The position taken in this study is that social justice and social injustice are inextricably linked. This study is based on the premise that, in order to understand social justice, social injustice needs to be understood and articulated. This study was situated in a rural education district where past unequal spatial, educational and social stratifications persist. The study was conducted in four rural schools to explore twelve primary school teachers' onto-epistemological assumptions of the world and their interpretations and meanings of social justice and injustice. Three related lenses, social justice, spatial justice and epistemic injustice were used to theoretically frame the study. Teachers' life histories were explored using a grounded theory approach as methodology. A three phased reflective process was used to explore and deepen understandings of social justice. The findings suggest that the perpetuation of past injustices and inequalities are based on deeply held different racialised understandings of social justice and injustice, resulting in racially situated narratives of social justice and injustice. The present narratives of who should be taught by whom, where and what should be taught also contribute to the perpetuation of racially situated narratives and injustices. Through dialogue teachers were able to deepen their understandings of their own experience and gain insight into the experiences of the 'othe'. A further position taken in this study is that in social justice research the researcher is not neutral. This study explored the role of the social justice researcher and drew learnings of the socially just researcher as a reflexive and 'just listener'. The study makes recommendations for further socio-spatial-epistemic justice research and for its inclusion in pre-and in-service teacher courses as extensions of the development of a critical discourse on social justice in South African education.
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Narcy, Deisy. "Accessibility to schooling in South African rural areas." Master's thesis, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33879.
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In developing countries rural communities are normally geographically isolated contributing to both poverty levels and the deficiency in the participation of social and economic activities. Accessibility to education constitutes one of the primordial links between the economic growth of a country and the development of high skilled population. Given South Africa's unique history, divisions throughout the landscape incapacitate inhabitants of rural communities in reaching opportunities and services, therefore, aggravating issues related to social exclusion and inequality. This study aims to determine accessibility levels in South African rural regions by looking at different aspects that entangle the theory behind it, specifically: the zone attractiveness and impedance. With that in mind, the investigations carried out are firstly directed towards accessibility at the provincial level and thereafter a focus area is determined. At the provincial level, it was found that the Northern Cape presented the greatest disadvantages. However, given insufficient resources and data related to this province, the Cape Winelands Municipality District was chosen as the area to extend the investigations. When assessing the focus area, the study deployed a GIS-based analysis wherein potential and real accessibility were determined. Initially using the gravity measure, and subsequently using a survey carried out in the region. The study has revealed that Stellenbosch and Robertson are the towns experiencing high accessibility levels. Notwithstanding, most principal towns still experience critically low accessibility indexes. The findings of this study can, therefore, be useful in indicating areas that need further studies or are experiencing disadvantages regarding accessibility.
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Malan, Sharon Brenda. "The role of the facilitator in implementing an adult basic education and training (ABET) programme in a rural area in the Southern Cape." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52021.
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Thesis (MEd) -- Stellenbosch University, 2000.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is estimated that some 12,5 to 15 million adults in South Africa have had little or no education. Since the first democratic elections in April 1994 the political, economical and social context in South Africa is in the process of transformation. In order to cope with this transformation phase, South Africa is creating structures where the culture of every citizen, irrespective of class, race or gender is acknowledged and respected. One of these structures is the provision of basic education to all South African adults who have historically been deprived of education and training. The changing political situation in South Africa has inevitably influenced the concept of what literacy is for and how it should be taught. This inevitably affects the role performance of facilitators (educators of adults) at grass roots level. Recent policy developments place heavy demands on facilitators without adequately considering the necessary inputs needed to cope with these demands. The purpose of this study is therefore to make a meaningful contribution to the understanding of the challenging and important role of the facilitator in ABET. A qualitative approach which provided a clear description of the roles facilitators are currently performing in a rural area in the Southern Cape was chosen. This revealed the factors having an impact on the role performances of a facilitator. This study revealed the following: • In keeping with international trends the teacher's role in adult basic education in South Africa has been redefined as that of a facilitator of learning. • The attitudes adopted by the literacy organization can directly influence the teaching approach adopted by facilitators during classroom practice. • Facilitators need to exhibit flexibility when using different teaching styles during classroom practice. • Training objectives should encompass the different learning and teaching styles of facilitators. In order to enable facilitators to perform their multiple roles in ABET the preparation and continuing support of facilitators at grass roots level is crucial, especially if ABET is to make a meaningful contribution towards solving the adult literacy problems as experienced in South Africa and to prevent littering the South African landscape with the debris of failed projects
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Na raming het ongeveer 12,5 tot 15 miljoen volwassenes in Suid-Afrika min of geen onderwysonderrig gehad nie. Sedert die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in April 1994, is die politieke, ekonomiese. en sosiale konteks in Suid-Afrika in 'n proses van transformasie. Ten einde hierdie transformasiefase te bowe te kom, is Suid-Afrika besig om strukture te skep waarin die kultuur van elke burger ongeag klas, ras of geslag, erken en gerespekteer word. Een van hierdie strukture is die voorsiening van basiese onderwys aan alle Suid-Afrikaanse volwassenes wat histories onderwys en opleiding ontbeer het. Die veranderende Suid-Afrikaanse politieke situasie het 'n uitwerking gehad op die begrip van die doel van geletterdheid en hoe dit onderrig moet word. Hierdie werklikheid het onvermydelik weer 'n uitwerking op die rolvervulling van fasiliteerders ( onderwysers v1r volwassenes) op grondvlak. Onlangse beleidsontwikkeling stel hoe eise aan fasiliteerders, sonder voldoende oorweging van die noodsaaklike insette wat fasiliteerders moet lewer ten einde aan hierdie eise te voldoen. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om 'n sinvolle hydrae te lewer om die uitdagende en belangrike rol van die fasiliteerder in volwasse basiese onderwys (VBO) te verstaan. 'n K walitatiewe benadering is verkies wat 'n dui de like beskrywing gee van die rolle wat fasiliteerders tans in 'n landelike gebied van die Suid-Kaap vervul en wat die faktore weerspieel wat 'n uitwerking op die rolvervulling van 'n fasiliteerder het. Die studie het die volgende tendense aan die lig gebring: • In ooreenstemming met intemasionale neigings, is die rol van die onderwyser in volwasse basiese onderwys in Suid-Afrika herdefinieer as 'nfasiliteerder van die leerproses. • Die gesindhede wat deur die geletterdheidsorganisasie aanvaar word, kan die onderrigbenadering van die fasiliteerder in die klaskamer direk be"invloed. • Fasiliteerders moet buigsaamheid aan die dag le by die gebruik van verskillende onderrigstyle in die klaskamer. • Opleidingsdoelwitte moet die verskillende leer- en onderrigstyle van fasiliteerders omsluit. Ten einde fasiliteerders in staat te stel om hulle veelvuldige rolle in volwasse basiese onderwys te vervul, is die voorbereiding en deurlopende ondersteuning van fasiliteerders op grondvlak deurslaggewend, veral indien volwasse basiese onderwys en opleiding 'n sinvolle hydrae wil maak tot die oplossing van volwassenes se geletterdheidsprobleme soos dit tans in Suid-Afrika ondervind word en as dit wil verhoed dat die Suid-Afrikaanse landskap met die opdrifsels van mislukte projekte besaai word.
National Research Foundation (NFR)
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Mtshali, Cynthia Sibongiseni. "An investigation of environmental knowledge among two rural black communities in Natal." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003505.
Full textAbstract:
This study elicits and documents knowledge of the natural environment amongst two rural Black communities in Natal namely, the districts of Maphumulo and Ingwavuma.Twenty members of these communities who are older than 60 years of age were interviewed, as older people are considered by the researcher to be important repositories of environmental knowledge. This study records a variety of animals hunted in these communities and discusses various activities associated with this activity. It examines the gathering and the use of wild edible plants like fruits and spinach, and of wild plants alleged to have medicinal value. It reviews indigenous knowledge related to custom beliefs and prohibitions as well as traditional laws associated .with animals and trees. It also considers how this knowledge can contribute towards the development of Environmental Education in South Africa. The data was deduced from the responses elicited from semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed qualitatively.
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Cowan, William Douglas. "Photovoltaics for educational television in rural schools." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21136.
Full textAbstract:
One application for photovoltaic (PV) technology is in providing electricity for educational aids, in developing areas remote from grid supply. Technical, social and economic aspects of this option are investigated, in local context, by examining the use of small PV systems to power educational television and video in secondary schools in Bophuthatswana. Technical performance was assessed through monitoring PV system behaviour and climatic variables over an extended period, using remote data-capture techniques at a demonstration site. Modelling provided for further prediction of performance in nonobserved conditions. Social and educational aspects of the schools television project were investigated through interviews with educationists, planners, project administrators and a limited sample of teachers and pupils in Bophuthatswana. Overall conclusions are that PV systems can provide a reliable and technically appropriate solution to the problem of powering light electrical loads in off-grid schools. Levelised unit energy costs can be acceptable if PV systems are critically sized, and if there is close match between designed capacity and actual load energy demand. If this is not the case - as in Bophuthatswana school systems - unit energy costs may be very high. Organisational features of project implementation and inadequate central resources, particularly for delivering appropriate educational software to schools, have impaired the potential of the project, and the equipment in schools is under-utilised. Proceeding from an inductive performance analysis of the monitored system, a PV system performance model was developed, in order to assess the optimum sizing of components in small stand-alone photovoltaic systems in such applications, and to judge the sizing of the systems installed. The model is based upon critical runs of adverse weather, leading to-wards system loss of power to load. It predicts the minimum insolation required to avoid system loss of power to load over runs of days, and compares this with percentiles for plane-of-array insolation over runs of days, derived from long term · hourly weather station records. The approach allows development of a loss of power probability (LOPP) sizing methodology which preserves the run-length characteristics of local climatic data. Sizing predictions from this method are compared with other sizing methodologies, and are used to indicate design savings possible for the monitored systems. The proposed critical-run LOPP sizing method has potential for incorporation in a microcomputer-based sizing tool, suitable for more accurate design of photovoltaic systems with battery storage in local applications.
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Van, der Wolk Karen Anne. "The development of an effective multi-media distance education programme for in-service teachers." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16135.
Full textAbstract:
Bibliography: pages 136-142.This dissertation is a report of my work in schools in the Eastern Cape while assisting the Primary Education project (PREP) to develop a resource pack for in-service education. In-service education has received much attention in recent years in South Africa. Both the state sector and non-government organisations have provided various in-service interventions in an attempt to improve both the qualifications of teachers and the results of pupils in schools. However, the dismal state of education in ex-DET schools bears witness to the fact that such interventions have by and large been ineffectual. This study shows how one project developed and trialled parts of a distance learning in-service course in conjunction with junior primary farm school teachers. The need for innovative and creative models of distance education is explored and our understanding of the nature of distance learning is detailed. The study goes on to include an analysis of the political economy of farm schools. It also details the constraints acting upon teachers in such schools and shows how these impacted on the study. The research procedures and methods of data collection are outlined and a framework for analysing the data is developed and justified. The actual data generated during the study is then measured against this framework in order to gauge its effectiveness as an in-service intervention. Finally, I draw conclusions and make certain recommendations based on the evidence presented. Whilst these recommendations are tentative, they may have relevance in terms of future in-service education policies and procedures.
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Pade, Caroline Ileje. "An investigation of ICT project management techniques for sustainable ICT projects in rural development." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002769.
Full textAbstract:
Poverty alleviation by means of rural development has become a priority among developing countries. In turn, rural development may be significantly enhanced and supported by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the use of which is highlighted by the emerging importance of information and knowledge as key strategic resources for social and economic development. An analysis of rural case studies where ICTs have been introduced, suggests that there are a number of barriers and constraints that are faced when taking advantage of these technologies. These include access to infrastructure, limited formal education, insufficient training and capacity building, financial and political constraints, and social and cultural challenges. These challenges threaten the success and sustainability of rural ICT projects. Sustainability is key to the effectiveness of a rural ICT project; therefore it is important to understand the concept and categories associated with ICT project sustainability in rural areas. The categories of sustainability which include social and cultural, institutional, economic, political, and technological, reveal critical success factors that need to be considered in the implementation and management of rural ICT projects. The project management discipline acknowledges the importance of understanding the project’s environment, particularly environmental factors associated with rural communities. The complexity of the environment therefore implies the need for a project to be undertaken in phases comprising the project life cycle. Project management practice for rural ICT project sustainability can therefore be examined, adapting the traditional project life cycle to a rural ICT project. A Rural ICT Project Life Cycle (RICT-PLC) that is sensitive to the critical success factors of sustainability is therefore proposed. In order to further investigate the phases of the life cycle of a rural ICT project, two case study investigations are explored: the Dwesa ICT community project, and the Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP) (MathsNet). A multiple case study analysis confirms the practices associated with the RICT-PLC model, and identifies additional characteristics, phases and practices associated with rural ICT projects. Finally, an enhanced RICT-PLC model is developed, that sets sustainability guidelines for ICT project management in rural areas and identifies the people, environments, technologies, systems, and requirements for ICTs to support rural development activities.
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Boqwana, Eleanor Pindiwe. "Fieldwork as a compensatory teaching strategy for rural black senior secondary schools." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003426.
Full textAbstract:
The understanding of geographical concepts and the development of skills requires the use of appropriate teaching strategies. Modern school syllabuses emphasize the development of concepts and skills which are basic to the understanding of geography. Geography provides practical learning opportunities which directly involve the learner. Techniques which directly involve the learner are perceived to be the most valuable. Fieldwork, which embraces a wide range of innovative teaching strategies, is the one best suited to give first-hand experience to the pupils. This study investigates the potential of fieldwork to promote conceptual understanding in geography with special reference to pupils in rural schools. Extensive literature on fieldwork in geographical education was analysed. Surveys of geography teachers and pupils in senior secondary schools were conducted to assess their attitudes towards geography and the use of learner-centred approaches with special reference to fieldwork. The role of fieldwork to promote conceptual understanding was evaluated by exposing two groups of pupils to different field activities. This revealed that fieldwork promotes understanding, stimulates interest and builds up confidence even when first introduced at senior secondary level.
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Gelandt, Jacobus Johannes. "Opvoeders in landelike skole se kennis van onbillike arbeidspraktyke." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1855.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MTech (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009The purpose of this study was to determine the post level I CS-educators' knowledge of their rights and duties in respect of unfair labour practice. The specific aim was to determine educators' knowledge of unfair labour practices in terms of the literature study. The method of research was based on interviews with post level I CS-educators in rural primary schools. The interviews consisted of structured questions of which the format as well as the order was determined beforehand. No coaching was given to respondents because it may have compromised their answers. The sample consists often educators (five males and five females) who teach in rural schools. In this way a fair opportunity was granted to both groups to be included in the sample. The researcher is of the opinion that this is a reasonable representation of the total sub population. From the empirical research it was evident that educators in rural schools had a vague knowledge of unfair labour practices. Shortcomings that were apparent from this study was addressed, recommendations were made, as well as possible future research on related topics was discussed.
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Mathonsi, Adolph Hlalela. "Public-private partnership : a model for improving the quality of education in South African rural communities." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/22760.
Full textAbstract:
Education in South Africa is a key concern because the South African education system is underperforming compared to many other developing countries despite the large capital investment made by the South African government and its private sector. South African children are routinely underachieving and rate not only among the worst in the world, but often among the worst in the Southern African region and in Africa as a whole. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore whether Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a suitable model for improving the quality of education in South African rural communities.The objective of the study was answered in a two-phase approach. The first phase developed an understanding of the challenges that prevents the delivery of quality education in South African rural communities with experts in education. The second phase determined the suitability of PPP to improve the quality of education in South African rural communities and the critical success factors for implementing PPP in education from interviews with PPP practitioners.The findings of the study revealed that PPP is a suitable model to improve the quality of education in South African communities and a PPP framework was proposed by the researcher that indicates the benefits of implementing PPP, the critical success factors of PPP and the barriers of PPP in education. The study also highlighted conditions that must be met to achieve quality education in South African rural communities through PPPs.The research concludes by making recommendations to both the government and the public sector in light of the findings of this research. Limitations for the study were highlighted and other variables to be researched that are important to further understanding of PPP as a model to improve the quality of education in South African rural communities were suggested.Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
unrestricted
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Strauss, E. M. (Elizabeth Magrieta). "'n Kultuurhistoriese en opvoedkundige waardebepaling van plaasskole in die Overberg, in die lig van die uitfasering daarvan." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/51846.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to the great differences of opinion regarding the exact area covered by the Overberg, the following boundaries are stipulated for the purposes of this study: the Hottentots Holland Mountains form the boundary to the west, the Riviersonderend and Langeberg Mountains to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest and the Indian ocean to the southeast. In the east the area stretches up to the Duivenhoks River near Heidelberg. The history of education in South Africa is closely interwoven with the general history of the country. Education in rural areas had to contend with various inhibiting factors during the 18th and 19th centuries. Among these factors were the scarce population, large distances between main centres and a shortage of well-trained teachers. In spite of such limitations, education in farm schools blossomed after the initial period up to approximately 1940, after which time there was a steady decline in the numbers of these schools. The farm schools in the Overberg are not only important regarding the part they play in contributing to the formal education and upbringing of rural children, but also for the important contribution they make to cultural history. The child attending a farm school experiences certain aspects of culture such as folk tales, rhymes, songs, games and the close ties between culture and nature in a unique way, and this has an extremely important influence on the general development and education of these children. In the rural environment the parental horne and the church are two important allies of the farm school. Although there are currently (1999) no formal policies in place for the purposeful phasing out of farm schools, it is, however, a fact that they are forced to close their doors the one after the other. The importance of the cultural contribution these schools make to the upbringing of the child should be taken into consideration by the authorities before the decision is made to close them down.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar heers groot verskil van mening oor waar die grense van die Overberg lê en daarom word die gebied vir die doeleindes van hierdie studie soos volg afgebaken: die Hottentots- Hollandberge as die westelike grens, die Riviersonderend- en Langeberge as die noordelike grens, die Atlantiese oseaan as die suidewestelike en die Indiese oseaan as die suidoostelike grens. Aan die oostekant strek die gebied tot by die Duiwenhoksrivier naby Heidelberg. Die geskiedenis van die onderwys in Suid-Afrika is nou verweef met die algemene geskiedenis van die land. Onderwys op die platteland het in die 18de en 19de eeu met verskeie stremmende faktore te kampe gehad, byvoorbeeld die yl bevolking, groot afstande van die hoofsentra en 'n tekort aan goed opgeleide onderwysers. Ten spyte van dié beperkinge het onderwys in die plaasskole ná die vestigingsperiode 'n bloeitydperk beleef wat vanaf ongeveer 1940 gevolg is deur 'n afuame in die getal plaasskole. Die rol van die plaasskole in die Overberg is nie slegs belangrik as gevolg van hul bydrae tot die formele onderwys en opvoeding van die plattelander nie, maar ook vir die belangrike bydrae wat hulle lewer op die gebied van die kultuurgeskiedenis. Plaasskole is 'n goeie teelaarde vir die volkskultuur en die plaasskoolkind se belewing van sekere aspekte van die kultuur soos byvoorbeeld die volkswoordkuns, speletjies, en die noue band tussen bodem en kultuur, lewer 'n uiters waardevolle bydrae tot hulle algemene opvoeding en vorming. In die plattelandse milieu is die ouerhuis en die kerk besondere bondgenote van die plaasskool. Hoewel daar tans (1999) nie 'n formele beleid bestaan deur middel waarvan plaasskole doelbewus uitgefaseer word nie, gebeur dit wel in realiteit dat die een na die ander skool sy deure moet sluit. Die belang van die kulturele bydrae wat plaasskole maak tot die opvoeding en vorming van die kind, behoort in ag geneem te word voordat skole deur die owerheid gesluit word.
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Reid, Stephen John Young. "Education for rural medical practice." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3951.
Full textAbstract:
In the context of a country and a continent that is largely rural, education for rural medical practice in Africa is relatively undocumented and poorly conceptualized. The arena of medical education in South Africa has been largely unchanged by the transition to democracy, despite intentions of reform. The literature reveals a lack of empirical evidence as well as theory in education for rural health, particularly in developing countries.
This report presents twelve original papers on a range of key issues that represent the author’s contribution to filling this gap in South Africa. It aims to contribute to the development of a discourse in education for rural medical practice in an African context, and culminates in a theoretical paper regarding pedagogy for rural health. A conceptual framework is utilized that is based on the standard chronological steps in the initial career path of medical doctors in South Africa.
Beginning with the literature that is focused around the need to recruit and retain health professionals in rural and underserved areas around the world, the report then addresses the policy context for medical education in South Africa, examining the obstacles to true reform of a transformatory nature. The selection of students of rural origin, and the curricular elements necessary to prepare graduates for rural practice are then investigated, including the actual career choices that medical graduates make in South Africa. Out in the workplace, the educational components of the year of compulsory community service are described, including organizational learning and apprenticeship as novice practitioners, placed under severe pressure in rural hospitals in the South African public health service. A community-oriented type of medical practice is described amongst exemplary individuals, indicating the aspiration towards a different kind of educational outcome.
Finally the thesis as such is presented in the final paper regarding a theoretical basis for education for rural health, consisting of the combined notions of placed-based and critical pedagogy. It is argued that while the geographic elements of rural practice require a pedagogy that is situated in a particular rural context, the developmental imperatives of South Africa demand a critical analysis of health and the health care system, and the conceptual basis of this position is explained.Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.
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Mabunda, Nghenani Peter. "Business involvement with education in the Dzumeri rural community." Diss., 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/17276.
Full textAbstract:
Rural education in South Africa, particularly within the black communities,
has suffered neglect under Apartheid education policies. This has resulted
in an array of problems which continue to beset the country's education
system.
The community, through its various institutions, has a major role to play in
the whole education renewal process. The business sector is one such a
community institution, which is directly affected by the quality of school
education. Countries such as Britain and the U.S. provide excellent
examples of close co-operation between business and schools in an effort to
prepare pupils in accordance with the needs of the workplace.
The qualitative study conducted in schools, within the Dzumeri community,
showed that there is a dire need for business involvement with schools in
order to address important areas of mutual concern. It is finally
recommended that the government must formulate enabling policies, which
will promote business education partnership activities and ensure proper coordination at all administrative levelsEducational Studies
M.Ed. (Comparative Education)
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Nyundu, Andile. "Structural inequalities between Model C and rural schools: the case of Luphisi in Mbombela." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10539/20571.
Full textAbstract:
FEBRUARY, 2016
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning.Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, significant strides have been made in (ensuring equal access to) education. With that Section 29 of the highest law in the land – the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) – has made provision for the realisation of a basic education for all citizens. Moreover, significant portions of the national budget have since been set aside annually in ensuring the realisation of this right. Yet, the quality of education remains unequal across municipal space(s), even against the backdrop of the amalgamation of previously disadvantaged spaces (such as Luphisi) with affluent areas (such as Mbombela/Nelspruit). This has resulted in the persistence of ‘two worlds of education’ within municipalities as in the case of Mbombela Local Municipality. A world of well-resourced schools and exceptional matric pass rates flourish in Nelspruit/Mbombela, while a world of impoverishment and low academic performance rates is experienced in Luphisi. This research refers to this predicament as ‘structural inequalities between Model C and Rural Schools’ resulting in spatial educational inequalities. The research explores the problems re structural inequalities between Model C and Rural Schools, using the case of Sdungeni Secondary School in Mbombela Local Municipality’s Luphisi village to uncover these hindrances. The report departed by focusing on birth location and the socioeconomic background of learners and how this has a great influence in the kind of education a learner is likely to receive. Using the qualitative method of enquiry, which is a multi-layered type of research technique that crosscuts disciplines, fields, and subjects, the study arrived at presenting a cohort and demonstration of multiple truths rather than ‘a single truth’. The research brought to light that whilst the government has made concerted efforts at ensuring the equal structures of education in different municipal spaces, these efforts are still hampered by class (as a residue of apartheid) as well as government’s adoption of neoliberalist policies which further perpetuate the rich-poor divide. It was also noted that the confusion regarding the governance of schools – due in large part to traditional and/or structural issues – may be hindering the upgrading of rural schools with amenities and higher grades. Consequently, schools – by virtue of their location, morphology, still play a significant role in reproducing and perpetuating social class divisions as well as ordering different societies according to their ‘latently prescribed’ nature(s) of function
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Malale, Matome Mathews. "Gender and literacy education in a rural area of Mpumalanga." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5847.
Full textAbstract:
M.Ed.In a country which has just acquired its democracy, education for all citizens is of primary concern. The illiteracy rate in South Africa is high, especially in the rural areas of the country. During this time when South Africa finds itself in a period of transition and of prioritizing items on its agenda, education in general and in particular education of those who had little or no education at all, is high on the priority list. While the government has targeted illiteracy as a major issue, other issues such as gender make the illiteracy situation even more complex, especially in the rural areas where the traditional tenets of the communities are still observed. The aim of this study is to explore the role gender plays in the involvement of adult learners in literacy programmes in the rural Mapulaneng area of Mpumalanga Province, in order to determine the possible implications for literacy programmes in other similar rural areas of South Africa. In order to achieve this aim, an interpretive design is applied and qualitative methods of data—collection are utilized. A literature study which consists of the exploration of the field of Adult Basic Education and gender in global education, with special reference to South African rural areas in particular, forms the theoretical background of the empirical research. Empirical data was obtained through observations and interviews and processed and analyzed by unitizing, categorizing and patterning, resulting in the findings of the research. Lastly, findings of this investigation are discussed in the light of relevant theory. The following are the main research findings: Gender does play a role in the involvement of learners in adult literacy programmes in the rural Mapulaneng area of Mpumalanga. There are learning needs that are specific to females but no particular needs specific to males. However, some needs are not gender—related and are common to both females and males. The main implications of the findings are: Adult literacy classes should be conducted during the evening, in order to accommodate workers, mostly men. There is a need for teacher training of both female and male literacy teachers. Some of the gender—related reasons for non—involvement of adult learners, particularly those that pertain to the dominance of males, would be difficult to address as they are deeply rooted in culture. In order to address the needs of male and female adult learners, a holistic approach should be applied. A holistic approach entails: not only teaching literacy but addressing other needs of the learners; not only addressing the expressed needs of learners (male and female), but also addressing the needs that they are not aware that they have.
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Selane, Lacton Maake. "Integrating computers in a rural South African school." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2027.
Full textAbstract:
M.Ed.The advent of computers and information technology in society has generally contributed to the rethinking of a range of the practices in the education system. Today’s students live in an increasingly complex technological world, and there has been an increase of the importance of technology in the world. The importance of computers in business and the society cannot be overemphasized and there is much need to incorporate them into the school curriculum to assist learners with expected skills. The effect of the global economy has influenced the importance of Information Technology in education. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the integration of computers in a selected rural South African secondary school in the Limpopo Province, situated in the Mopani District, one of the six in the province. Qualitative research approach is used in this study and the research method is a case study method. Data collection techniques for this study were done by means of interviews, observations, conversations and questionnaires. The research findings in this study indicated that learners and educators alike at the selected school are aware of the benefits of computers in education in general. Learners are aware that possessing computer skills might assist them one way or another when they search for employment after they finish their school. However it emerged that they are not provided with adequate opportunities to be able to acquire the necessary skills. Among the factors that emerged as obstacles to computer integration at the selected school were lack of teacher development, lack of government support, shortage of funds and skilled staff. Teacher training emerged as the most important aspect to be addressed because teachers play an important role in the education of learners. Continuous educator development should be a priority of the department of education. It is further recommended that there should be a way to look at the feasibility of policy frameworks.
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Raikane, Neo Elliot. "Prevention and intervention strategies with regard to school dropout in rural black South Africa." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11671.
Full textAbstract:
D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)The problem of high dropout rate or early school leaving is causing widespread concern amongst educators. This study is undertaken as part of a group project on school dropout or premature school leaving, which is undertaken by the Rand Afrikaans University of South Africa (RAU) and the Ben Gurion University of Israel. The purpose of this project is to identify the at-risk pupil, research the causes of school dropout, and identify the consequences of early school leaving in order to determine preventative measures. The following 4 factors have been studied in the profile of the school dropoutsocio- econornic factors social support political factors; and issues relating to the school itself In South Africa the high dropout rate in Black schools especially is a cause for concern. Under the new educational system, desegregation of schools is the ideal. This will, however, probably not be achieved overnight, and the problem of school dropout in Black schools will remain a problem for some time to come. Even if desegregation has been fully achieved, it can be argued that certain causes of dropout will always remain the same because not all causes are school-related. The cultural and home situation of potential dropouts will not necessarily improve on account oftheir being in desegregated schools. The focus of this study, therefore, will remain relevant.
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Blues, Tracy. "Drama as a means of facilitating adult learning in rural areas: South Africa case studies at Akanani." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10539/20855.
Full textAbstract:
A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Education (Coursework and Research Report), University of the Witwatersrand.This research report examines the nature of drama as a means of facilitating adult learning, especially in the South African rural context, by conducting a literature review and by compiling case studies of the use of drama at Akanani, an association. of rural development projects in South Africa where theatre-for-development is the principal methodology employed. The literature review explores the use of drama as a methodology in education and then focuses on how and why theatre-for-development has been used in Africa for community development and empowerment. The international developments in popular theatre are also considered so that as much information as possible can feed into the guidelines which are this report's conclusions. This chapter concludes with a consideration of how drama can be used for adult learning in South Africa. This research was conducted primarily by compiling a number of case studies of the use of drama at Akanani in the far northern Transvaal. Participant observation, illuminative evaluation and semi-structured interviews were used within a Participatory Research apprgach to gather information about Akanani. The researcher spent two periods of time at Akanani conducting the interviews and observing the daily operations as well as the use of drama in various contexts at Akanani. The cases studies were compiled to discover whether drama, as it is used at Akanani, is a successful and appropriate methodology for adult education in the rural areas of South Africa. This research finds drama to be a a very effective means of facilitating learning amongst adults in rural areas and concludes by offering guidelines for the use of drama as a methodology in adult education in South Africa, especially in the rural areas.
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Sefoka, Isaiah Mmatipe. "Accentuating the right to ample access to quality education in rural South Africa : legal analysis." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1993.
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Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016This mini dissertation seeks to articulate the issues and challenges being faced by the rural South Africa pertaining to the aspect of providing ample access to quality education. The structures, policies and programs of the flows of apartheid are therefore compered and contrasted to the post-apartheid (1994) structures, policies and programmes. It further argues that any impediment to the right is in contrast to the spirit and purport of the provisions of the Bill of Rights enshrined in the South African Constitution of 1996 which provides for this constitutional right. Although there was a radical transition in educational policies and programmes from apartheid to postapartheid, till to date there are still numerous challenges within the basic and higher educational sectors within and between institutions. This mini dissertation recommends that government should make education completely free from levels such as primary, tertiary and the postgraduate levels, and to use education as an investment tool. In this regard, government will be investing in youth to contribute in developing solutions to aid the rural masses. It recommends that education be made compulsory from grade 1 to grade 12.
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Wongo, Nomathamsanqa. "Negotiating identities: experiences of rural migrant learners in an urban school in Johannesburg." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10539/20721.
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Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, School of Education, 2016Due to the contextual difference between rural schools and urban school, many rural learners have migrated to urban schools. The rural population movement in the urban contexts has resulted in an increased number of rural learners in urban schools and also contributed in the diversity of cultures, ethnicities and races in urban schools making it difficult for teachers to respond to every learner’s needs. This study hypothesises that rural learners are likely to face challenges in terms of inclusion and negotiating their identities in the new urban schools. This study describes the challenges faced by rural migrant learners in new urban school, and how these migrant learners construct their identities in the new urban context. The study focusses on one primary school in Johannesburg that has a large influx of rural learners over the years. Using the key concepts of social identity, social inclusion and social exclusion, this describes the lived experiences of migrated learners and how they negotiate their identities in a new urban context. Findings show that migrated learners face inclusive challenges both academically and socially and challenges in adapting to the new urban school environment. The factors that caused academic challenges were: language barrier, difficult subjects, and teachers’ intervention. Social challenges were, adapting to a new environment, interacting with other learners and learning a new culture of the school.
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Mashimbye, Nkhensani Mavis. "Problems with regard to school guidance in rural Black schools : an approach for policy makers and teachers." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5855.
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D.Ed.Guidance is essential in a child's development because most traits of human life, with the exclusion of genetic characteristics, are learned (City Press, 1998:7). The learning process raises the question of where and from whom these characteristics are acquired. This, according to Ferron (1990:45), implies that maximum performance of man is a result of good and sound guidance. This may be an oversimplification, but even if it is only partly true, guidance cannot be neglected without detrimental effects for the children involved. Furthermore, the question of school guidance becomes increasingly important as shifts in family structures and values - such as are common today - affect the quality of interaction between parents and children. According to Godbold (1994:6) an increasing number of children face deteriorating family bonds, lack of shelter, out-ofwedlock births, abortion, and drug and alcohol related crimes. Ferron (1991:72) adds bullying, truancy, delinquency, lack of motivation, peer pressure and parental relationship problems to this list. Many children experience grave educational neglect - virtually none of their needs are cared for. There even are rural children who are left alone by parents who have gone to the cities to work, and who have no one to take care of them. They often have no one to turn to for sustenance and advice. As a result guidance teachers must be more than ever involved in helping children with various personal problems (Moraba, 1996:3), which were traditionally handled by parents. When schools fail to address the immediate family and social needs of learners, learning becomes difficult and relatively unimportant (Godbold, 1994:7). According to Chuenyane (1990:10), through the school guidance activities, learners should be assisted to know who they are, to accept themselves, to master selfimprovement and self-direction, and to develop good life skills. With regard to socialisation, they should learn to relate to others by interacting with them and becoming sensitive to their feelings and being appreciative of their views and beliefs. Our youth is seen as our most precious resource and the future leaders; therefore, they must be mature and increase their peaceful co-existence (Chuenyane, 1990:10). Guidance in the secondary school is chiefly concerned with meeting the physical, social, emotional and educational needs of learners (Rooth, 1995:54). Vocational guidance is included in the needs list and is an important facet. The purpose of school guidance is to help each child make a satisfactory adjustment to life, both in school and out. Although Kallaway (1988:1) does not focus explicitly on school guidance, his remark that " ... the crucial relation between schooling and society is often and systematically denied" is of extreme importance. As this subject is ideally suited to emphasise this relation, it is a service that should be provided to all learners, and not only those who have behaviour problems, learning difficulties and emotional disturbances. Normal, well-adjusted learners also need to be guided in their thinking, their attitudes and their personality development. They must be prepared for all challenges in the future job market and life in general. The gifted, talented ones are often also in need of special help in gaining social approval and in finding suitable outlets for their interests (Sowetan, 1996:12). If the school is seen as an agent for change, it must implement career counselling (vocational guidance) to help the child in self-understanding, self-acceptance, interests, aspirations, experiences, as well as in physical, intellectual, psychological and spiritual development (Chuenyane, 1990:46). These are considered important because it helps learners to appreciate and utilize their aptitudes, interests and values (Sedibe, 1991:4). This will help them to gain insight into their limitations with regard to their coping strategies, which concern problems they are confronted with on a daily basis. Furthermore it must be kept in mind that certain elements in the school situation that influence learners can be identified; these include the impact teachers' and peer groups' behaviour has on children. One aspect that comes to mind, for example, is that of substance abuse, especially alcohol. Chuenyane (1991:46) reports that almost 70% - 80% of all learners in his research were drinking and abusing drugs. As drugs and alcohol have a negative effect on the education and health of the learner, and it is indicated by Raikane (1996:28) that drugs and alcohol have a strong relationship to crime, frustration and aggression, such learners need proper guidance and counselling. Adolescents, especially, need guidance and counselling as they are in a difficult developmental phase, and often have negative attitudes towards school (Wiseman, 1991:71).
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"Analysis of the high matric failure rate in rural schools." Thesis, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14236.
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Saloojee, Sheeren. "Portraits of rural schooling : what does it mean to be a teacher in a rural school?" Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3131.
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This research presents an understanding of being a teacher and of teacher's work in schools
which are defined as 'rural'. In asking the question, "What does it mean to be a teacher in a rural
school?" I produced data of their daily practices and social realities that constitute the lived
experiences of teachers within the context of rural education. Employing a critical, emancipatory
framework, I documented the multiple identities and meanings that emerged, and drew attention
to the teachers' need for change. The need to change what rural means, what rural schooling is,
becomes the space to challenge and question oppressive practices and for opportunities of
freedom.
Using a narrative inquiry approach, I produced data of the lives of four teachers who work in two
high schools in the Vulindlela District. The data sources used to produce the data included four
life history interviews, which were conducted as the main methodological strategy, critical
conversations and collages. Through narrative analysis, four reconstructed teachers' stories were
produced.
The storied narratives are reconstructions of lives told by two groupings of teachers: constructed
by teachers that commute to the rural school from one rural area to another, and those that live in
the same area as the school. Through the reconstructed teacher stories, the study makes visible
how gender identities read against the history and traditional coding of rural settings. It also
shows how these identities narrate these individual lives in particular ways, and how the teachers
threaten these spaces to rework their meanings and practices for different ways of thinking,
living and working as teachers in schools in rural settings. The study contributes towards an
understanding of the relationship between 'school life' and 'whole life' .
The study concludes that these teachers' personal and professional identities are negotiated on a
daily basis, shaping and being shaped by particular social spaces in which they live and work,
and make sense of the kind of the teachers they are and want to be. The teaching and learning
choices and judgments they made in their classroom are intertwined with other variables other
than just teaching. Being a teacher in a school within this particular schooling context, they are
challenged with conditions, and have to constantly confront them. Alongside this, teachers
enacted certain practices to disrupt, and challenge stereotypical understandings and meanings
that we have come to adopt about rural schooling.
This study shows that these four teachers in rural schools enacted certain practices 'within the
school' and 'beyond the school'. They were able to cultivate commitment, connectedness and
care. We see how the notion of "Engaged Pedagogy" (Hooks, 1994) plays itself out in rural
schools by teachers who work there. They cultivate this type of pedagogy through constant
reflection and by engaging in practices within the formal teaching time, during lunch breaks and
beyond the formal teaching time. Through ongoing reflection in how they teach and what they
teach they challenge traditional oppressive practices and establish better innovative ways of
thinking and working as teachers. By making the change, rurality is transforming and, therefore,
rural schooling too is being transformed.
The desire expressed by the four teachers to support, care and to express love for learners as a
way of improving the life for the learners in the school opened up opportunities for them to
excel. By learners feeling good about themselves, they were able to perform better and in this
way changed the experience of rural schooling. So to answer my research question, what does it
mean to be a teacher in a rural school? It meant to work 'within the school' and 'beyond the
school'.Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.
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Nonyane, Ivy Khomotso. "Literacy education in a rural area of Mpumalanga." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7094.
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M.Ed.The need to redress the educational deficiencies of the workforce and adult population generally is enormous, especially in the poverty stricken rural areas of the country. While the government has committed itself to redressing adult illiteracy, there are other issues like the language policy which make the situation even more complex. Although the country has eleven official languages, all of which have been recognized and given equal status, it is generally accepted that English will remain an important language of wider communication and of international communication for South Africa. The aim of this study is to explore the teaching of literacy in English as a second language (ESL) in literacy programmes in a rural area of Mapulaneng, in the Mpumalanga Province. For this aim to be achieved, an interpretive design is applied, and qualitative data-collection methods are used, which include the analysis of written documents, observations and interviews. The major finding of this investigation is: The teaching of literacy in ESL is not successful in Mapulaneng, a rural area of the Mpumalanga Province. The main reasons for this are: • The teaching of English literacy is approached inappropriately. Adult learners are not literate in the first language commonly used at the centres - Northern Sotho. The main implications of the findings are: There is a need for the training of literacy teachers in this rural area of Mapulaneng. There is a need for some form of communication between the Department of Education and Culture and all the stakeholders involved in adult education. Although not replacing the other languages, English should remain as the main language of learning.
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Meyerowitz, Gabrielle. "Learning styles of urban and rural black South African children." Thesis, 2014.
Find full textAbstract:
The learning styles of 30 urban and 30 rural black children were rated by their teachers, using
the Learning Style Identification Inventory. The results obtained frtiin the teachers of the rural
sample were found to be inaccurate. It was therefore not possible to make comparisons with
previous findings. The results of the urban sample suggest that, on the Abstract-Concrete
dimension their learning styles tended towards the Concrete end of the dimension, and on the
Verbal-imaginal dimension, their ratings tended towards the Imaginal end of the dimension.
An analysis of variance and Bonferroni / test indicated that these children were rated
significantly more Imaginal than Verbal and significantly more Concrete than Abstract These
findings are in contrast with previous research in other countries and tentatively suggest that
urban children in South Africa are functioning in a manner more consistent with findings
regarding learning styles of rural children in other countries. This has implications for teachers
and the teaching styles of teachers in urban schools.