Promoting healthy and safe school environments : the role of school governance - a study in the East London and Butterworth educational districts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Napier, Astrid
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School children -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape School hygiene -- South Africa Environmental risk assessment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9489 , vital:34356
- Description: This thesis investigated how school governance promoted healthy and safe school environments and focussed on elements that make the school environment unhealthy and unsafe. These elements were spatial density, sanitation, ventilation, visibility, the acoustic element of the school environment, the aesthetic element and the psychosocial school environment. These are very important elements, and the neglect thereof could lead to ill health. The study excluded elements such as violence and substance use, as well as HIV/ AIDS. The research was conducted at six schools in the Butterworth and East London Educational Districts, as well as the district office in each of these two educational districts of the Eastern Cape. The design was a case study, and a qualitative methodology was used. The sample consisted of members from the school governing bodies, that is, the principal, one other member of the school governing body and a member of the school management team, as well as one official from each educational district, totalling twenty participants. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was used. The instrument was semi-structured interviews and document analyses. The researcher also made use of photographic evidence. Findings indicated that although support services were in place, promoting a healthy and safe school environment was a challenge at all of the schools. Various contributing factors such as the lack of support from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for schools and district officials, non – implementation of policies, lack of infrastructure, lack of human and other resources, lack of security personnel and vandalism, prohibited the promotion of healthy and safe school environments. It is recommended that the DBE pays urgent attention to these elements that make the school environment unhealthy and unsafe; that the DBE fills the gap that exists between the national, provincial and district offices that hamper the flow of infrastructure and the supply of human and other resources. There is also a need for workshops on policy writing and implementation thereof. A workshop focussing on these elements that make the school environment unhealthy and unsafe would also be beneficial.
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- Date Issued: 2018
An investigation into the efficacy of English language literacy support for students at the Ibika campus of the Walter Sisulu University.
- Authors: Napier, Astrid
- Date: 2011-01
- Subjects: English Language , Study and Teaching , Information Literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23851 , vital:60919
- Description: Institutions of higher learning are experiencing high failure rates, and this according to Scott, Yeld and Hendry (2007) can partly be attributed to the lack of adequate support for students after they have been admitted. Adequate support is very necessary, since research has shown that many students, especially those from former Department of Education and Training, are underprepared for tertiary institutions. Students at the Ibika Campus, the site where the research took place, are predominately from the former Department of Education and Training. The objective of this study therefore was to investigate why students at the Ibika Campus of the Walter Sisulu University seem to encounter problems with English mastery even though English language support services have been instituted; to discover what the perceptions of the WSU students and staff were with regard to the English support services; to determine what challenges the support services had , if any, in providing best service and to ascertain whether the English support services could be enhanced. The research was conducted at the Ibika Campus of the WSU. The design was that of the case study and a mixed method methodology was used. A total sample of 142 students, 5 staff members from the library, 1 staff member from the WC and 5 staff members from computer laboratories, as well as 12 staff members from the Ibika campus participated. A non probability sampling method was used. Students were selected from 1st year, second year and third year of their respective studies, ranging across the 14 departments at Ibika campus. Lecturing staff members were also selected across these departments. The instruments were structured questionnaires and interviews. The findings indicated that the English support services faced many challenges in their endeavor to provide services to students and the conclusion is that the English Language support services were therefore not as effective as it could be in giving support to students. It is recommended that the English Language support services immediately be improved in terms of space, since the venues for all three support services are too small, human resources and resources that support Teaching and Learning. It is further recommended that the university authorities seriously consider implementing an assessment test for all new entrants to the university, in order to establish who were in need of English Language support, and that these students be immersed in a programme that will assist them to improve their English Language proficiency. Finally, it is recommended that students complete a graduation threshold English proficiency examination in order that the institution can have confidence that students are proficient in English. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2011
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011-01
An investigation into the efficacy of English language literacy support for students at the Ibika campus of the Walter Sisulu university.
- Authors: Napier, Astrid
- Date: 2011_01
- Subjects: Study and Teaching , Information Literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23498 , vital:57953
- Description: Institutions of higher learning are experiencing high failure rates, and this according to Scott, Yeld and Hendry (2007) can partly be attributed to the lack of adequate support for students after they have been admitted. Adequate support is very necessary, since research has shown that many students, especially those from former Department of Education and Training, are underprepared for tertiary institutions. Students at the Ibika Campus, the site where the research took place, are predominately from the former Department of Education and Training. The objective of this study therefore was to investigate why students at the Ibika Campus of the Walter Sisulu University seem to encounter problems with English mastery even though English language support services have been instituted; to discover what the perceptions of the WSU students and staff were with regard to the English support services; to determine what challenges the support services had , if any, in providing best service and to ascertain whether the English support services could be enhanced. The research was conducted at the Ibika Campus of the WSU. The design was that of the case study and a mixed method methodology was used. A total sample of 142 students, 5 staff members from the library, 1 staff member from the WC and 5 staff members from computer laboratories, as well as 12 staff members from the Ibika campus participated. A non probability sampling method was used. Students were selected from 1st year, second year and third year of their respective studies, ranging across the 14 departments at Ibika campus. Lecturing staff members were also selected across these departments. The instruments were structured questionnaires and interviews. The findings indicated that the English support services faced many challenges in their endeavor to provide services to students and the conclusion is that the English Language support services were therefore not as effective as it could be in giving support to students. It is recommended that the English Language support services immediately be improved in terms of space, since the venues for all three support services are too small, human resources and resources that support Teaching and Learning. It is further recommended that the university authorities seriously consider implementing an assessment test for all new entrants to the university, in order to establish who were in need of English Language support, and that these students be immersed in a programme that will assist them to improve their English Language proficiency. Finally, it is recommended that students complete a graduation threshold English proficiency examination in order that the institution can have confidence that students are proficient in English. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Education, 2011
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- Date Issued: 2011_01