Expenditure analysis and planning in a changed economy: a case study approach of Gweru City Council, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Kuhudzai, Anesu G
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Mathematical Statistics)
- Identifier: vital:11786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019780 , Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Description: The purpose of this study is to analyse Gweru City Council`s spending pattern and behaviour and to determine if this spending pattern is directed towards poverty reduction and economic development or not. Furthermore, to fit a log-differenced regression model to a historical financial dataset obtained from Gweru City Council Finance Department for the time period July 2009 to September 2012. Regression techniques were used to determine how Gweru City Council`s total income (dependent variable) is affected by its expenditure (independent variables). Econometric modeling techniques were employed for the evaluation of estimate tests, conducted to determine the reliability of the estimated model. The study concludes by providing some recommendations for possible financial plans which could be adopted by Gweru City Council and other local authorities in Zimbabwe for the well-being of Zimbabweans and economic development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Kuhudzai, Anesu G
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Mathematical Statistics)
- Identifier: vital:11786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019780 , Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Description: The purpose of this study is to analyse Gweru City Council`s spending pattern and behaviour and to determine if this spending pattern is directed towards poverty reduction and economic development or not. Furthermore, to fit a log-differenced regression model to a historical financial dataset obtained from Gweru City Council Finance Department for the time period July 2009 to September 2012. Regression techniques were used to determine how Gweru City Council`s total income (dependent variable) is affected by its expenditure (independent variables). Econometric modeling techniques were employed for the evaluation of estimate tests, conducted to determine the reliability of the estimated model. The study concludes by providing some recommendations for possible financial plans which could be adopted by Gweru City Council and other local authorities in Zimbabwe for the well-being of Zimbabweans and economic development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of agency nurses regarding their placement in private hospitals in East London, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Muller, Jennifer
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11911 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016054
- Description: The general Australian workforce is becoming increasingly reliant on agency staff due to the diminishing of full-time jobs and the rise in part-time jobs since the recession of 1991-1992. This pattern is also seen in Western countries such as America and the United Kingdom (Peerson et al., 2002:505). The excessive costs of health service adopting a 100% staffing model has created the use of agency nursing to help meet fluctuating and unpredictable health care demands in Australia and overseas; agency staff are used to meet the shortfalls in staff-patient ratios (Peerson et al., 2002:505). Hurst & Smith (2011:287) agree that agency nurse staffing form a large part of the health service in the UK and state that this was unlikely to change because of recruitment and retention problems, high absenteeism, and staff wanting to work casually. In their study, they identified three types of agency nurses: A bank nurse – the hospital’s own employees or those supplied by NHS Professionals, who work when required, usually at short notice; agency nurses provided by commercial organisations, who are equally flexible but less familiar with the ward patients and procedures; and permanent ward staff working paid overtime. In South Africa, this also remains a problem in public and private institutions. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the minimum ratio for nurses to population is 200:100 000 or 500 people per nurse. According to South African Nursing Council statistics of nursing manpower as at the end of 2008, South Africa has 437 nurses for every 100 000 people. This assumed that all nurses registered with SANC are working in South Africa at the time. Therefore, if the assumed number of staff not working in South Africa is subtracted, the ratio can increase to between 600 and 678 people per nurse (WHO, 2006). Joubert (2009:2) shows that a shortage of nurses contributes to deaths in hospitals in South Africa that would otherwise have been avoidable. The use of agency staff is becoming an appropriate means of providing cost-effectiveness and flexibility to staffing needs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Muller, Jennifer
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11911 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016054
- Description: The general Australian workforce is becoming increasingly reliant on agency staff due to the diminishing of full-time jobs and the rise in part-time jobs since the recession of 1991-1992. This pattern is also seen in Western countries such as America and the United Kingdom (Peerson et al., 2002:505). The excessive costs of health service adopting a 100% staffing model has created the use of agency nursing to help meet fluctuating and unpredictable health care demands in Australia and overseas; agency staff are used to meet the shortfalls in staff-patient ratios (Peerson et al., 2002:505). Hurst & Smith (2011:287) agree that agency nurse staffing form a large part of the health service in the UK and state that this was unlikely to change because of recruitment and retention problems, high absenteeism, and staff wanting to work casually. In their study, they identified three types of agency nurses: A bank nurse – the hospital’s own employees or those supplied by NHS Professionals, who work when required, usually at short notice; agency nurses provided by commercial organisations, who are equally flexible but less familiar with the ward patients and procedures; and permanent ward staff working paid overtime. In South Africa, this also remains a problem in public and private institutions. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the minimum ratio for nurses to population is 200:100 000 or 500 people per nurse. According to South African Nursing Council statistics of nursing manpower as at the end of 2008, South Africa has 437 nurses for every 100 000 people. This assumed that all nurses registered with SANC are working in South Africa at the time. Therefore, if the assumed number of staff not working in South Africa is subtracted, the ratio can increase to between 600 and 678 people per nurse (WHO, 2006). Joubert (2009:2) shows that a shortage of nurses contributes to deaths in hospitals in South Africa that would otherwise have been avoidable. The use of agency staff is becoming an appropriate means of providing cost-effectiveness and flexibility to staffing needs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of college students, regarding the mentoring role of registered nurses in the public services of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Lundall, Kasthuri
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11918 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016159
- Description: Fifty percent of the learning of student nurses takes place within the clinical learning environment. It is in this environment that nursing students are expected to apply their knowledge, learn new skills, and achieve the required learning outcomes and proficiencies. Nursing program Me s differ significantly, so students ‟practice will vary depending on where they are studying and their practice will develop as the level of proficiency increases, and may also vary depending on the context of placement. Gopee (2008:7) elaborates on the fact that mentoring enables student nurses to gain clinical skills during placements and serves a formal role whereby teaching and practice facilitate professional learning within the healthcare system. The study was undertaken with the aim to describe experiences of college students regarding the mentoring role by registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe experiences of college students, regarding the mentoring role of registered nurses in Public Services of the Eastern Cape, to analyse the results and to make suggestions from findings that were obtained. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used for this study to explore and describe the experiences of the college students regarding the mentoring role of registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The researcher studied the population of student nurses in the public nursing college in the Eastern Cape at the East London Campus. Purposive sampling which is referred to as a judgmental approach was used. Data were collected by means of focus group interviews. An interview schedule with an unstructured questionnaire was used to investigate and explore information gained from the participants. This study consisted of a total of five focus groups that were recruited from fourth-year nursing students at the East London campus who volunteered to be part of the study. The total number of participants was 31. Data were analysed using v Tesch‟s method of analysis for qualitative research. Two major themes emerged, revealing positive experiences of students with regard to mentoring and negative experiences of students regarding mentoring. After exploring and describing the experiences of college students regarding the mentoring role played by registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape, it was concluded that that there is a lack of mentoring, coupled with negativity, by registered nurses which results in many challenges. Recommendations included: Motivation for integration and collaboration; interactive working relationships; introducing a well-established orientation programme; a well-structured clinical teaching programme and procedure manuals; reinstatement of clinical preceptors, clinical objectives and time frames; identify in clinical staff who will mentor student nurses; instituting in-service training programmes and workshops; introduction of peer mentoring; and establishment of set times for routine clinical ward rounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Lundall, Kasthuri
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11918 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016159
- Description: Fifty percent of the learning of student nurses takes place within the clinical learning environment. It is in this environment that nursing students are expected to apply their knowledge, learn new skills, and achieve the required learning outcomes and proficiencies. Nursing program Me s differ significantly, so students ‟practice will vary depending on where they are studying and their practice will develop as the level of proficiency increases, and may also vary depending on the context of placement. Gopee (2008:7) elaborates on the fact that mentoring enables student nurses to gain clinical skills during placements and serves a formal role whereby teaching and practice facilitate professional learning within the healthcare system. The study was undertaken with the aim to describe experiences of college students regarding the mentoring role by registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe experiences of college students, regarding the mentoring role of registered nurses in Public Services of the Eastern Cape, to analyse the results and to make suggestions from findings that were obtained. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used for this study to explore and describe the experiences of the college students regarding the mentoring role of registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The researcher studied the population of student nurses in the public nursing college in the Eastern Cape at the East London Campus. Purposive sampling which is referred to as a judgmental approach was used. Data were collected by means of focus group interviews. An interview schedule with an unstructured questionnaire was used to investigate and explore information gained from the participants. This study consisted of a total of five focus groups that were recruited from fourth-year nursing students at the East London campus who volunteered to be part of the study. The total number of participants was 31. Data were analysed using v Tesch‟s method of analysis for qualitative research. Two major themes emerged, revealing positive experiences of students with regard to mentoring and negative experiences of students regarding mentoring. After exploring and describing the experiences of college students regarding the mentoring role played by registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape, it was concluded that that there is a lack of mentoring, coupled with negativity, by registered nurses which results in many challenges. Recommendations included: Motivation for integration and collaboration; interactive working relationships; introducing a well-established orientation programme; a well-structured clinical teaching programme and procedure manuals; reinstatement of clinical preceptors, clinical objectives and time frames; identify in clinical staff who will mentor student nurses; instituting in-service training programmes and workshops; introduction of peer mentoring; and establishment of set times for routine clinical ward rounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of labouring women of the use of the birthing ball
- Authors: Vieira,Melissa Jolene
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Delivery (Obstetrics) , Midwifery -- South Africa Midwives -- South Africa Neonatal nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44088 , vital:37106
- Description: Labour pain seems to be a challenge to the most of the labour wards/units. The birthing pain is non-avoidable but could be managed. Labouring women are sometimes limiting themselves to their beds as they are not coping well with the amount of pain they experience and this behaviour affects the progress of their labour. Different methods of pain relief in labour are available but are sometimes perceived by labouring women and midwives as not effective. Mobility has been noted in several obstetrical and midwifery nursing literature as the best strategy to promote positive progress of labour thus limiting pain. The use of the birthing ball by labouring women appears to be serving the purpose of mobility in labour. The researcher of this study aimed to investigate the experiences related to the use of the birthing ball by the labouring women. The objectives of the study were: To explore and describe the experiences of women in labour related to the use of the birthing ball, and based on the findings of the study, to recommend guidelines for the midwives to manage the first stage of labour through the use of the birthing ball. The research design used was qualitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual in nature, utilizing the phenomenological approach. The research population consisted of women who had made use of the birthing ball during labour. Data collection consisted of one-on-one unstructured interviews and field notes. The question that the participants were asked was: “Tell me, how it was for you when you were using the birthing ball during labour?” Collected data was analysed according to Creswell’s data analysis spiral and the assistance of an independent coder. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities to and differences in comparison between this and previous studies. Lincoln and Guba’s Model of trustworthiness was used in this study to enhance credibility of the findings. The four aspects that were considered were credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. The researcher ensured that the study was ethically correct by observing the principles of informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity and no harm done to participants. Three major themes and sub-themes were identified through analysis of the database. Participants’ experienced the birthing ball as a useful labour tool as: it relieves pain and allows them to relax and be comfortable, it helped to promote mobility during labour. Participants’ experienced the birthing ball as shortening the labour process as: it decreased the number of active pushes during delivery, it increased their contractions and resulted in a quick delivery. Participants experienced the use of the birthing ball as empowering during labour as: it introduces an element of fun which decreases their fear and resulted in a more positive labouring experience it allowed them to feel in control of their labour. Based on the findings of the study, conclusions were drawn, guidelines recommended and recommendations made concerning nursing research, nursing education and clinical practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Vieira,Melissa Jolene
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Delivery (Obstetrics) , Midwifery -- South Africa Midwives -- South Africa Neonatal nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44088 , vital:37106
- Description: Labour pain seems to be a challenge to the most of the labour wards/units. The birthing pain is non-avoidable but could be managed. Labouring women are sometimes limiting themselves to their beds as they are not coping well with the amount of pain they experience and this behaviour affects the progress of their labour. Different methods of pain relief in labour are available but are sometimes perceived by labouring women and midwives as not effective. Mobility has been noted in several obstetrical and midwifery nursing literature as the best strategy to promote positive progress of labour thus limiting pain. The use of the birthing ball by labouring women appears to be serving the purpose of mobility in labour. The researcher of this study aimed to investigate the experiences related to the use of the birthing ball by the labouring women. The objectives of the study were: To explore and describe the experiences of women in labour related to the use of the birthing ball, and based on the findings of the study, to recommend guidelines for the midwives to manage the first stage of labour through the use of the birthing ball. The research design used was qualitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual in nature, utilizing the phenomenological approach. The research population consisted of women who had made use of the birthing ball during labour. Data collection consisted of one-on-one unstructured interviews and field notes. The question that the participants were asked was: “Tell me, how it was for you when you were using the birthing ball during labour?” Collected data was analysed according to Creswell’s data analysis spiral and the assistance of an independent coder. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities to and differences in comparison between this and previous studies. Lincoln and Guba’s Model of trustworthiness was used in this study to enhance credibility of the findings. The four aspects that were considered were credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. The researcher ensured that the study was ethically correct by observing the principles of informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity and no harm done to participants. Three major themes and sub-themes were identified through analysis of the database. Participants’ experienced the birthing ball as a useful labour tool as: it relieves pain and allows them to relax and be comfortable, it helped to promote mobility during labour. Participants’ experienced the birthing ball as shortening the labour process as: it decreased the number of active pushes during delivery, it increased their contractions and resulted in a quick delivery. Participants experienced the use of the birthing ball as empowering during labour as: it introduces an element of fun which decreases their fear and resulted in a more positive labouring experience it allowed them to feel in control of their labour. Based on the findings of the study, conclusions were drawn, guidelines recommended and recommendations made concerning nursing research, nursing education and clinical practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of professional nurses related to caring for chronic mentally ill patients at rural primary healthcare clinics
- Authors: Sam, Noluthando
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Mentally ill -- Rehabilitation , Chronically ill -- Rehabilitation , Hospitals -- Case management services , Mentally ill -- Care
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10068
- Description: Since the deinstitutionalisation of chronic mentally ill patients, there has been an increase in the number of relapsed chronic mentally ill patients who become acutely mentally ill and need to be re-admitted for acute care in psychiatric institutions. Professional nurses working at rural primary healthcare clinics find it difficult to care for these individuals because they lack the necessary knowledge and skills. Chronic mentally ill patients who have been admitted to acute care facilities are stabilised by rendering care, treatment and rehabilitation and then released into the care of the professional nurses working at rural primary healthcare clinics. These patients live in the community and have to make use of the primary healthcare clinics nearest to their homes to provide them with their prescribed medication and care. Furthermore the patients’ mental conditions do not always remain stable, possibly because of a knowledge deficit, at times about their mental status. Patients may become non-compliant, resulting in the recurrence of symptoms, and thus need to be re-admitted to the acute care facility. However, the problem leading to re-admission is not clear for all admissions. It may be that patients do not make use of the primary healthcare clinics. It also seems that the professional nurses in the primary healthcare clinics are unfamiliar in dealing with chronic mentally ill patients living in rural communities. The aim of this study was therefore, to explore and describe the experiences of these professional nurses in caring for chronic mentally ill patients living in a rural community. The researcher used qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual research design. The research population consisted of professional nurses working at primary healthcare clinics. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to identify participants for inclusion in the study. Data collection was conducted using one-on-one, semi structured interviews, observations and field notes and interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was conducted using Tesh’s method of content analysis to identify themes and sub-themes. A literature control was done to compare the findings to the current published research. Trustworthiness was ensured by using Gubas’s model (1985) of trustworthiness. A pilot study, conducted by interviewing a small sample prior to the start of the main study, determined whether the sampling and interviewing techniques of the researcher as well as the research questions were adequate for data collection. The researcher ensured that the study was of a high ethical standard by taking into consideration values that guide the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. The findings of the study was categorised into three main themes and 13 sub-themes. The main themes were as follow: Professional nurses experience problems when they have to take care of psychiatric patients attending rural primary healthcare clinics. This theme had six sub-themes which were discussed in details in chapter three. The second theme was that professional nurses experience that psychiatric patients in rural communities experience problems which affected their well-being. This second theme has got five sub-themes which were discussed further in chapter three. The last theme was that professional nurses have positive experiences when caring for psychiatric patients in rural communities. This theme has got two sub-themes as well discussed further in chapter three.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Sam, Noluthando
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Mentally ill -- Rehabilitation , Chronically ill -- Rehabilitation , Hospitals -- Case management services , Mentally ill -- Care
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10068
- Description: Since the deinstitutionalisation of chronic mentally ill patients, there has been an increase in the number of relapsed chronic mentally ill patients who become acutely mentally ill and need to be re-admitted for acute care in psychiatric institutions. Professional nurses working at rural primary healthcare clinics find it difficult to care for these individuals because they lack the necessary knowledge and skills. Chronic mentally ill patients who have been admitted to acute care facilities are stabilised by rendering care, treatment and rehabilitation and then released into the care of the professional nurses working at rural primary healthcare clinics. These patients live in the community and have to make use of the primary healthcare clinics nearest to their homes to provide them with their prescribed medication and care. Furthermore the patients’ mental conditions do not always remain stable, possibly because of a knowledge deficit, at times about their mental status. Patients may become non-compliant, resulting in the recurrence of symptoms, and thus need to be re-admitted to the acute care facility. However, the problem leading to re-admission is not clear for all admissions. It may be that patients do not make use of the primary healthcare clinics. It also seems that the professional nurses in the primary healthcare clinics are unfamiliar in dealing with chronic mentally ill patients living in rural communities. The aim of this study was therefore, to explore and describe the experiences of these professional nurses in caring for chronic mentally ill patients living in a rural community. The researcher used qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual research design. The research population consisted of professional nurses working at primary healthcare clinics. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to identify participants for inclusion in the study. Data collection was conducted using one-on-one, semi structured interviews, observations and field notes and interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was conducted using Tesh’s method of content analysis to identify themes and sub-themes. A literature control was done to compare the findings to the current published research. Trustworthiness was ensured by using Gubas’s model (1985) of trustworthiness. A pilot study, conducted by interviewing a small sample prior to the start of the main study, determined whether the sampling and interviewing techniques of the researcher as well as the research questions were adequate for data collection. The researcher ensured that the study was of a high ethical standard by taking into consideration values that guide the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. The findings of the study was categorised into three main themes and 13 sub-themes. The main themes were as follow: Professional nurses experience problems when they have to take care of psychiatric patients attending rural primary healthcare clinics. This theme had six sub-themes which were discussed in details in chapter three. The second theme was that professional nurses experience that psychiatric patients in rural communities experience problems which affected their well-being. This second theme has got five sub-themes which were discussed further in chapter three. The last theme was that professional nurses have positive experiences when caring for psychiatric patients in rural communities. This theme has got two sub-themes as well discussed further in chapter three.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of teachers working in a deprived environment, with specific reference to their emotional intelligence
- Authors: Mack, Esmé Judy
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Emotional intelligence , Teachers -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: vital:9572 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1017611
- Description: Against the background of the broad-ranging and significant educational changes introduced in South Africa since 1994, school teachers are challenged to cope with and adapt to difficult working conditions, job stress and large classes. As a result, teaching is now experienced as a more demanding and challenging profession. However, education takes place within the context of a particular community. The role of the environment, as context for education, is therefore also important. As such, a deprived environment can exacerbate the challenges experienced in teaching by teachers. Such an environment is often characterised by high poverty levels, undesirable living conditions, escalating social and health problems, malnutrition, unemployment, parental illiteracy, parental absence or uninvolvement, child abuse, sexual harassment, teenage pregnancies, corruption, crime, conflict, violence, and high TB and HIV infection rates. In schools in a deprived environment, lack of resources and learning materials, overcrowded classes, children dropping out of school, an unattractive, an unsafe physical environment, a lack of electricity, as well as broken windows and leaking roofs, are often the order of the day. These factors increase the burden on the teachers who work in such an unsupportive context. How well teachers cope amidst the broad-ranging transformational changes introduced in post-Apartheid South African education, while teaching in a deprived environment, depends to a large extent on their emotional stability, personal skills and cognitive functioning. Their emotional strengths should enable them to be aware of their own emotions, and the emotions of their learners, as well as to guide those emotions appropriately and form healthy relationships. It should further enable teachers to make provision for the effective learning, development and well-being of the learners in their classrooms. Against this background, the aim of this study was to investigate the following research questions: Primary research question: What are the characteristics of emotional intelligence that teacher is working in a deprived environment display? Secondary research questions: • What is the relationship between the characteristics that the teachers display and the components of emotional intelligence? • What are the implications of the research findings for teacher education? • What guidelines can be provided from the research findings to teachers working in a deprived environment, to further promote their effective teaching? The focus of the study was on the two primary schools and one secondary school located in the Walmer Gqebera Township in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, which are in close proximity to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, being the University’s neighbouring township. Constructivism and interpretivism formed the philosophical foundation of the study, while critical theory and pragmatism also applied.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mack, Esmé Judy
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Emotional intelligence , Teachers -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: vital:9572 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1017611
- Description: Against the background of the broad-ranging and significant educational changes introduced in South Africa since 1994, school teachers are challenged to cope with and adapt to difficult working conditions, job stress and large classes. As a result, teaching is now experienced as a more demanding and challenging profession. However, education takes place within the context of a particular community. The role of the environment, as context for education, is therefore also important. As such, a deprived environment can exacerbate the challenges experienced in teaching by teachers. Such an environment is often characterised by high poverty levels, undesirable living conditions, escalating social and health problems, malnutrition, unemployment, parental illiteracy, parental absence or uninvolvement, child abuse, sexual harassment, teenage pregnancies, corruption, crime, conflict, violence, and high TB and HIV infection rates. In schools in a deprived environment, lack of resources and learning materials, overcrowded classes, children dropping out of school, an unattractive, an unsafe physical environment, a lack of electricity, as well as broken windows and leaking roofs, are often the order of the day. These factors increase the burden on the teachers who work in such an unsupportive context. How well teachers cope amidst the broad-ranging transformational changes introduced in post-Apartheid South African education, while teaching in a deprived environment, depends to a large extent on their emotional stability, personal skills and cognitive functioning. Their emotional strengths should enable them to be aware of their own emotions, and the emotions of their learners, as well as to guide those emotions appropriately and form healthy relationships. It should further enable teachers to make provision for the effective learning, development and well-being of the learners in their classrooms. Against this background, the aim of this study was to investigate the following research questions: Primary research question: What are the characteristics of emotional intelligence that teacher is working in a deprived environment display? Secondary research questions: • What is the relationship between the characteristics that the teachers display and the components of emotional intelligence? • What are the implications of the research findings for teacher education? • What guidelines can be provided from the research findings to teachers working in a deprived environment, to further promote their effective teaching? The focus of the study was on the two primary schools and one secondary school located in the Walmer Gqebera Township in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, which are in close proximity to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, being the University’s neighbouring township. Constructivism and interpretivism formed the philosophical foundation of the study, while critical theory and pragmatism also applied.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploration for sediment-hosted copper mineralization in Kaponda Prospect, Central African Copperbelt, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Authors: Kabunda, Ghislain Mwape
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Copper mines and mining -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Sedimentation -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Prospecting -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Geological mapping -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Geochemistry -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Induced polarization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5061 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013129
- Description: The Kaponda Prospect represents a surface of 915.8 km² located at about 10 km south of the town of Lubumbashi and 33km NW of Kasumbalesa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It lies within Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks of the Katangan Supergroup in the Central African Copperbelt (CACB). In this province, copper mineralization occurs at different stratigraphic level with different associated alteration. Mineralization is of multistage origin from synsedimentary, diagenetic to post orogenic. Since the discovery of the CACB in the early 20th century, several exploration techniques have been used to delineate Cu deposits. A review and application of these methods including remote sensing, geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and drilling, gives an insight of their effectiveness and limitation before analyzing their results from the Kaponda Prospect. The geology and structure of the Prospect is represented by a series of two NW trending disharmonic tight anticlines, locally domal, with cores occupied by either Roan Group or “Grand Conglomerat” Formation. These anticlines are separated by an open syncline made of Kundelungu rocks. Two mains direction of faults are recognized, the NW and NE trending structures. The latter direction are normal transfer faults which can serve as conduit for mineralization. They are related to the late orogenic extension of the Lufilian belt. However NE trending faults are believed to be associated to the climax of Lufilian folding or represents synsedimentary intergrowth faults. Exploration approach for sediment-hosted Cu within Kaponda Prospect, take into account the integration of all information derived from different techniques. Remote sensing is used as aid to geology. Landsat and Google earth images show lineaments that corresponds to lithostratigraphy boundary and domal anticline. Geological mapping identified reduced horizons which can potentially host mineralization, whereas analysis of structure measurements reveals the geometry of fold and direction of its axial plane and hinge. Statistical methods such as the main + 2 standard deviation, the frequency histogram and probability plot, together with experiential method are used to constrain and define Cu and Co thresholds values in soil samples. It appears that in this region, log-probability plot and histogram methods combined with spatial representation and the experience of the region, are the best practice to constrain and separate geochemical background from anomaly data. Ground and airborne magnetic, and radiometric images show specific signatures which map alteration and particularly lithostratigraphy such as “Roan” Group, “Grand Conglomerat” unit, “Nguba” cap carbonates and “Kundelungu” siliciclastic units. Analysis of faults interpreted from geophysical maps identified three major directions: E-W, NE-SW and NW-SE. The E-W faults are also interpreted as normal transfer faults such NE-SW structures, consistent with regional geological map. Although pole-dipole array of induced polarization (IP) survey was directly targeting disseminated Cu sulphide, its results suffer in responding to graphitic rocks and barren pyrite. Only relative small chargeable bodies need to be tested in drilling follow-up. A total of 15 targets have been generated through re-interpretation and integration of both geological mapping and remote sensing, geochemical and geophysical data, as well as existing drilling. Specific recommendations of follow-up works are advised for each type of target.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Kabunda, Ghislain Mwape
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Copper mines and mining -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Sedimentation -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Prospecting -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Geological mapping -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Geochemistry -- Central African Copperbelt (Congo and Zambia) , Induced polarization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5061 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013129
- Description: The Kaponda Prospect represents a surface of 915.8 km² located at about 10 km south of the town of Lubumbashi and 33km NW of Kasumbalesa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It lies within Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks of the Katangan Supergroup in the Central African Copperbelt (CACB). In this province, copper mineralization occurs at different stratigraphic level with different associated alteration. Mineralization is of multistage origin from synsedimentary, diagenetic to post orogenic. Since the discovery of the CACB in the early 20th century, several exploration techniques have been used to delineate Cu deposits. A review and application of these methods including remote sensing, geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and drilling, gives an insight of their effectiveness and limitation before analyzing their results from the Kaponda Prospect. The geology and structure of the Prospect is represented by a series of two NW trending disharmonic tight anticlines, locally domal, with cores occupied by either Roan Group or “Grand Conglomerat” Formation. These anticlines are separated by an open syncline made of Kundelungu rocks. Two mains direction of faults are recognized, the NW and NE trending structures. The latter direction are normal transfer faults which can serve as conduit for mineralization. They are related to the late orogenic extension of the Lufilian belt. However NE trending faults are believed to be associated to the climax of Lufilian folding or represents synsedimentary intergrowth faults. Exploration approach for sediment-hosted Cu within Kaponda Prospect, take into account the integration of all information derived from different techniques. Remote sensing is used as aid to geology. Landsat and Google earth images show lineaments that corresponds to lithostratigraphy boundary and domal anticline. Geological mapping identified reduced horizons which can potentially host mineralization, whereas analysis of structure measurements reveals the geometry of fold and direction of its axial plane and hinge. Statistical methods such as the main + 2 standard deviation, the frequency histogram and probability plot, together with experiential method are used to constrain and define Cu and Co thresholds values in soil samples. It appears that in this region, log-probability plot and histogram methods combined with spatial representation and the experience of the region, are the best practice to constrain and separate geochemical background from anomaly data. Ground and airborne magnetic, and radiometric images show specific signatures which map alteration and particularly lithostratigraphy such as “Roan” Group, “Grand Conglomerat” unit, “Nguba” cap carbonates and “Kundelungu” siliciclastic units. Analysis of faults interpreted from geophysical maps identified three major directions: E-W, NE-SW and NW-SE. The E-W faults are also interpreted as normal transfer faults such NE-SW structures, consistent with regional geological map. Although pole-dipole array of induced polarization (IP) survey was directly targeting disseminated Cu sulphide, its results suffer in responding to graphitic rocks and barren pyrite. Only relative small chargeable bodies need to be tested in drilling follow-up. A total of 15 targets have been generated through re-interpretation and integration of both geological mapping and remote sensing, geochemical and geophysical data, as well as existing drilling. Specific recommendations of follow-up works are advised for each type of target.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploration of indigenous knowledge and practices of the relatives of mental health care users regarding management of mental disorders in Malawi
- Authors: Kavalo, Yasinta
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11933 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021333 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1020173
- Description: Exploration of indigenous knowledge and practices of the relatives of mental health care users regarding the management of mental disorders. This study was conducted to explore the management of mental disorders amongst the indigenous people of the Dedza District in Malawi. The government of Malawi declared public mental health services to be free of charge, as a strategy to reduce the burden of disease to the country. Yet despite the free health care services, the indigenous people of Malawi did not take advantage of these free mental health care services, as they regarded them to be culturally incongruent. Instead they used traditional healing systems for mental disorders and consulted the Western health systems only when the traditional systems had failed, the mental health condition had become worse and the mental health care user had become unmanageable. This study was then conducted to explore what the Malawians regarded as culturally sensitive public mental health services. Method: A qualitative phenomenological research approach was adopted to explore the views of the relatives of mental health care users about culturally sensitive public mental health care services. A purposeful sampling method was used to select information rich participants amongst the relatives of mental health care users of indigenous Malawian origin. An unstructured interview guide was used to gather data through face to face interviews. Saturation of data was reached after interviewing fifteen (15) relatives. The verbatim transcribed data from the participants were content analyzed to identify the themes, categories and subcategories. Themes that emerged were: community beliefs; perceived causes, delayed decision making and health system factors. viii Findings: The community beliefs about the management of mental disorders were on traditional and religious health systems. The traditional healers were consulted in cases where mental illness was believed to be caused by witchcraft and spiritual healers were consulted where mental illness was believed to be caused by ancestral wrath. Even such consultations were delayed as the decisions on the type of healer to be used to manage the mental health care user, had to come from the extended family members. These processes took place during the acute phase of the mental illness and thus explain the delays in consulting with the Western mental health care systems. Such delays had a potential to contribute to the chronicity and the related complications of the illness. The Western health care services were only consulted when the indigenous healing systems were unsuccessful. Yet even the western healing systems were not the best option due to the negative and disrespectful attitudes of health care professionals, the impersonal nature of services, the use of foreign language and delays in service delivery. The recommendations were that the results of this study should be used as guidelines to develop strategies for culturally congruent mental health care services to the indigenous Malawians as the development of the strategies was beyond the scope of this study. The focus of the guidelines to ensure the development of evidence-based nursing practices in rendering culturally congruent mental health services to the indigenous Malawians. Firstly, there should be an integration of both the Western and the traditional healing systems to ensure a holistic patient centered approach to the care of the indigenous people of Malawi; secondly to use the nursing process phases, starting with the assessment, the formulation of the nursing diagnosis, the expected outcomes, the development and implementation of the nursing interventions and the discharge ix plans to incorporate the belief systems of the indigenous Malawians as identified in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Kavalo, Yasinta
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11933 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021333 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1020173
- Description: Exploration of indigenous knowledge and practices of the relatives of mental health care users regarding the management of mental disorders. This study was conducted to explore the management of mental disorders amongst the indigenous people of the Dedza District in Malawi. The government of Malawi declared public mental health services to be free of charge, as a strategy to reduce the burden of disease to the country. Yet despite the free health care services, the indigenous people of Malawi did not take advantage of these free mental health care services, as they regarded them to be culturally incongruent. Instead they used traditional healing systems for mental disorders and consulted the Western health systems only when the traditional systems had failed, the mental health condition had become worse and the mental health care user had become unmanageable. This study was then conducted to explore what the Malawians regarded as culturally sensitive public mental health services. Method: A qualitative phenomenological research approach was adopted to explore the views of the relatives of mental health care users about culturally sensitive public mental health care services. A purposeful sampling method was used to select information rich participants amongst the relatives of mental health care users of indigenous Malawian origin. An unstructured interview guide was used to gather data through face to face interviews. Saturation of data was reached after interviewing fifteen (15) relatives. The verbatim transcribed data from the participants were content analyzed to identify the themes, categories and subcategories. Themes that emerged were: community beliefs; perceived causes, delayed decision making and health system factors. viii Findings: The community beliefs about the management of mental disorders were on traditional and religious health systems. The traditional healers were consulted in cases where mental illness was believed to be caused by witchcraft and spiritual healers were consulted where mental illness was believed to be caused by ancestral wrath. Even such consultations were delayed as the decisions on the type of healer to be used to manage the mental health care user, had to come from the extended family members. These processes took place during the acute phase of the mental illness and thus explain the delays in consulting with the Western mental health care systems. Such delays had a potential to contribute to the chronicity and the related complications of the illness. The Western health care services were only consulted when the indigenous healing systems were unsuccessful. Yet even the western healing systems were not the best option due to the negative and disrespectful attitudes of health care professionals, the impersonal nature of services, the use of foreign language and delays in service delivery. The recommendations were that the results of this study should be used as guidelines to develop strategies for culturally congruent mental health care services to the indigenous Malawians as the development of the strategies was beyond the scope of this study. The focus of the guidelines to ensure the development of evidence-based nursing practices in rendering culturally congruent mental health services to the indigenous Malawians. Firstly, there should be an integration of both the Western and the traditional healing systems to ensure a holistic patient centered approach to the care of the indigenous people of Malawi; secondly to use the nursing process phases, starting with the assessment, the formulation of the nursing diagnosis, the expected outcomes, the development and implementation of the nursing interventions and the discharge ix plans to incorporate the belief systems of the indigenous Malawians as identified in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploration of nursing students’ experiences of learning in a tertiary institution in East London in the Province of Eastern Cape
- Authors: Bulelwa, Cynthia James
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11909 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015526
- Description: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of nursing students learning in a tertiary institution in East London in the Province of the Eastern Cape. Reviewed literature has revealed that the transition from high school to university is a major concern globally and that students start tertiary education with a number of pre-existing problems which influence their experience of learning and their academic performance. A qualitative, contextual approach and phenomenology design was seen as most appropriate to guide this research process in this study. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select the 12 participants. The participants included nursing students from the University of Fort Hare in East London in the Eastern Cape Province who are enrolled in the course leading to registration as a Nurse (General, Psychiatry and Community) and Midwifery. A pilot study was conducted at the University of Fort Hare involving respondents with similar characteristics to the study population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Bulelwa, Cynthia James
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11909 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015526
- Description: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of nursing students learning in a tertiary institution in East London in the Province of the Eastern Cape. Reviewed literature has revealed that the transition from high school to university is a major concern globally and that students start tertiary education with a number of pre-existing problems which influence their experience of learning and their academic performance. A qualitative, contextual approach and phenomenology design was seen as most appropriate to guide this research process in this study. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select the 12 participants. The participants included nursing students from the University of Fort Hare in East London in the Eastern Cape Province who are enrolled in the course leading to registration as a Nurse (General, Psychiatry and Community) and Midwifery. A pilot study was conducted at the University of Fort Hare involving respondents with similar characteristics to the study population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploratory study : how do Somali shop owners (SSO) succeed in running businesses in Soweto : a South African perspective
- Authors: Mokitlane, Ofentse Clifford
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Business enterprises, Foreign -- South Africa , Small business -- Management , Small business -- South Africa , Foreign workers -- South Africa , Employment in foreign countries , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015653
- Description: This is a qualitative study which seeks to understand how Somali shop owners run successful businesses in the township of Soweto in South Africa. This research report has three sections, namely (1) the academic paper which comprises a shortened literature review, the research method, findings, and the discussion; (2) an extended literature review and (3) the research methodology. It is important to mention that these three sections are related and not necessarily stand-alone sections. Despite the hostilities faced by the Somali shop owners from the host communities in South Africa, it is notable that they are successful, small-sized entrepreneurs in most townships of South Africa (SA). Previous research on Somalis has predominantly focused on their assimilation into the societies in their host countries, and on how they are led into self-employment because of the unfavourable labour markets in the host country. In this vein, there is a need to understand how they run successful businesses in the townships of SA. This study seeks to answer the following research question: How Do Somali Shop Owners Succeed in Running Businesses in Soweto, South Africa (SA)? In pursuit of answers to the above research question, this study was confined to three locations in Soweto, namely Orlando West, Chiawelo and Rockville which have a relatively high number of Somali entrepreneurs who have been in operation for longer than three years. This qualitative study explored the multiple perspectives of reality of Somali shop owners. Purposively, 14 Somali shop owners were identified initially using purposive sampling. Subsequently, theoretical sampling was used to identify Somali shop owners who were interviewed regarding how they successfully run their businesses in the locations of Orlando West, Chiawelo and Rockville in the township of Soweto. A total of eighteen semi-structured, in-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted with these shop owners as a means of gathering data to the point of saturating their perspectives. Data collection ceased when new perspectives were no longer evident as interviewees were being repetitive. Open-coding and constant comparison was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study show that ethnicity plays a predominant role in the success of the Somali shop owners. The intra-ethnic networks and trust-based support systems are pivotal to how Somali shop owners run successful businesses in Soweto. The key findings manifested showed that various forms of support came from Somali communities, family and fellow countrymen which were also central to their success. Another key finding showed that Somali shop owners run their businesses by complementing, rather than predominantly competing with the other local businesses, which ultimately differentiates them in this way. The study also revealed that responsiveness to local customer needs by enhancing the value of their business to the locality is also characteristic of how Somali shop owners build customer loyalty. This study contributes to our understanding of how Somali entrepreneurs conduct successful businesses in a hostile host country. The findings have implications for business development training and programmes which support immigrant entrepreneurs. The findings may also be extended to inform how business development programmes would be designed to equally support local entrepreneurs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mokitlane, Ofentse Clifford
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Business enterprises, Foreign -- South Africa , Small business -- Management , Small business -- South Africa , Foreign workers -- South Africa , Employment in foreign countries , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015653
- Description: This is a qualitative study which seeks to understand how Somali shop owners run successful businesses in the township of Soweto in South Africa. This research report has three sections, namely (1) the academic paper which comprises a shortened literature review, the research method, findings, and the discussion; (2) an extended literature review and (3) the research methodology. It is important to mention that these three sections are related and not necessarily stand-alone sections. Despite the hostilities faced by the Somali shop owners from the host communities in South Africa, it is notable that they are successful, small-sized entrepreneurs in most townships of South Africa (SA). Previous research on Somalis has predominantly focused on their assimilation into the societies in their host countries, and on how they are led into self-employment because of the unfavourable labour markets in the host country. In this vein, there is a need to understand how they run successful businesses in the townships of SA. This study seeks to answer the following research question: How Do Somali Shop Owners Succeed in Running Businesses in Soweto, South Africa (SA)? In pursuit of answers to the above research question, this study was confined to three locations in Soweto, namely Orlando West, Chiawelo and Rockville which have a relatively high number of Somali entrepreneurs who have been in operation for longer than three years. This qualitative study explored the multiple perspectives of reality of Somali shop owners. Purposively, 14 Somali shop owners were identified initially using purposive sampling. Subsequently, theoretical sampling was used to identify Somali shop owners who were interviewed regarding how they successfully run their businesses in the locations of Orlando West, Chiawelo and Rockville in the township of Soweto. A total of eighteen semi-structured, in-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted with these shop owners as a means of gathering data to the point of saturating their perspectives. Data collection ceased when new perspectives were no longer evident as interviewees were being repetitive. Open-coding and constant comparison was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study show that ethnicity plays a predominant role in the success of the Somali shop owners. The intra-ethnic networks and trust-based support systems are pivotal to how Somali shop owners run successful businesses in Soweto. The key findings manifested showed that various forms of support came from Somali communities, family and fellow countrymen which were also central to their success. Another key finding showed that Somali shop owners run their businesses by complementing, rather than predominantly competing with the other local businesses, which ultimately differentiates them in this way. The study also revealed that responsiveness to local customer needs by enhancing the value of their business to the locality is also characteristic of how Somali shop owners build customer loyalty. This study contributes to our understanding of how Somali entrepreneurs conduct successful businesses in a hostile host country. The findings have implications for business development training and programmes which support immigrant entrepreneurs. The findings may also be extended to inform how business development programmes would be designed to equally support local entrepreneurs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploratory study of the enablers and challenges of a social entrepreneur : case of Dr Govender in the Gelvandale community, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Mfeketho, Chuma Nqabase Masechaba
- Authors: Mfeketho, Chuma Nqabase Masechaba
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Famhealth Medipark (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) , Businesspeople -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Social entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Nonprofit organizations -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Community development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Social capital (Sociology) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Success in business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:851 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017519
- Description: Social entrepreneurs seek to create social value in various ways in the community. Notably, they encounter not only enabling factors but also face and attempt to deal with a variety of challenges in their endeavor to start and run social ventures. This academic paper adopts a single case study approach with the aims to explore challenges and attempts to deal with them, as well as enablers, in how Dr Govender sought to create social value within the community of Gelvandale in Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Famhealth Medipark was chosen because it is unique and has been considered as an example of successful social entrepreneurship in Port Elizabeth. In the light of this, there has not been any previous study particularly focusing on its challenges and enablers in adding social value in the community through a multi-disciplinary venture. This research is valuable as it builds our understanding of how social entrepreneurs create social value. This qualitative study uses a single case study to focus on incidents of challenges and enabling factors as experienced, recollected and expressed by Dr Govender as a social entrepreneur. A variety of data, such as interview data collected through sampling incidents in nine in-depth initial and follow-up interviews, documents, audio documentaries and emails, were used. Open coding and constant comparison was used to analyze data and induce themes. Findings depict that Dr Govender as a social entrepreneur was propelled by four enablers: (1) strong enthusiasm to create positive change in others within a community, (2) network to resources, (3) a nurturing world view, and (4) consistent self-sacrifice. Dr Govender also revealed that he faced four types of challenges in setting up and operating Famhealth Medipark (FHM) as a vehicle with the sole purpose of creating and adding social value to the community of Gelvandale. Predominantly, (1) limitation of finance, (2) overwhelming effect of multiple roles, (3) negative effects of the non-accredited status of the care-giver training programme, and (4) the predominance of a destructive mindset entrenched within the Gelvandale community were key challenges he faced and attempted to deal with in setting up and operating a social venture to ultimately create social value. Although other types of data have been used, the predominant reliance on primary data collected through in-depth interviews is one of the major limitations of this qualitative study. However, this qualitative and exploratory study provides insights into our understanding of not only challenges encountered by social entrepreneurs but also the various drivers that sustain their social mission. Recommendations were then made, based on the findings from the research conducted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mfeketho, Chuma Nqabase Masechaba
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Famhealth Medipark (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) , Businesspeople -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Social entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Nonprofit organizations -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Community development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Social capital (Sociology) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Success in business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:851 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017519
- Description: Social entrepreneurs seek to create social value in various ways in the community. Notably, they encounter not only enabling factors but also face and attempt to deal with a variety of challenges in their endeavor to start and run social ventures. This academic paper adopts a single case study approach with the aims to explore challenges and attempts to deal with them, as well as enablers, in how Dr Govender sought to create social value within the community of Gelvandale in Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Famhealth Medipark was chosen because it is unique and has been considered as an example of successful social entrepreneurship in Port Elizabeth. In the light of this, there has not been any previous study particularly focusing on its challenges and enablers in adding social value in the community through a multi-disciplinary venture. This research is valuable as it builds our understanding of how social entrepreneurs create social value. This qualitative study uses a single case study to focus on incidents of challenges and enabling factors as experienced, recollected and expressed by Dr Govender as a social entrepreneur. A variety of data, such as interview data collected through sampling incidents in nine in-depth initial and follow-up interviews, documents, audio documentaries and emails, were used. Open coding and constant comparison was used to analyze data and induce themes. Findings depict that Dr Govender as a social entrepreneur was propelled by four enablers: (1) strong enthusiasm to create positive change in others within a community, (2) network to resources, (3) a nurturing world view, and (4) consistent self-sacrifice. Dr Govender also revealed that he faced four types of challenges in setting up and operating Famhealth Medipark (FHM) as a vehicle with the sole purpose of creating and adding social value to the community of Gelvandale. Predominantly, (1) limitation of finance, (2) overwhelming effect of multiple roles, (3) negative effects of the non-accredited status of the care-giver training programme, and (4) the predominance of a destructive mindset entrenched within the Gelvandale community were key challenges he faced and attempted to deal with in setting up and operating a social venture to ultimately create social value. Although other types of data have been used, the predominant reliance on primary data collected through in-depth interviews is one of the major limitations of this qualitative study. However, this qualitative and exploratory study provides insights into our understanding of not only challenges encountered by social entrepreneurs but also the various drivers that sustain their social mission. Recommendations were then made, based on the findings from the research conducted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring a knowledge-focused trajectory for researching environmental learning in the South African curriculum
- Authors: Schudel, Ingrid J
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294375 , vital:57216 , xlink:href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305730521"
- Description: This paper explores the past twenty years of environmental learning in the South African curriculum in order to consider how one might best research a knowledge focus within the Fundisa for Change national teacher education programme. In exploring this knowledge focus, the paper draws on international literature. It also extensively, but not exclusively, draws on two key publications which informed the 2002 and the 2011 curriculum changes in South Africa. The paper draws on social realist curriculum theory, underpinned by critical realism. This theoretical perspective, which includes Bernstein’s pedagogic device and particularly recontextualisation of knowledge across the pedagogical landscape, provides a language of description for critically reviewing knowledge and environmental learning. In particular, the review develops five perspectives on environmental knowledge as it pertains to curriculum which include: Perspective #1) new environmental knowledge in the curriculum; Perspective #2) environmental knowledge in local and global contexts; Perspective # 3) dynamic knowledge for open-ended and futuristic thinking; Perspective #4) depth and complexity of environmental knowledge; and Perspective #5) combining discipline-specific core knowledge and skills with a systems perspective. The paper argues for a re-emphasis and review of new environmental knowledge and learning support materials. It suggests a consideration of context-rich but not context-bound explorations of local and global environmental issues and the need for adopting open-ended and futuristic thinking in the context of the dynamism of environmental knowledge. This involves exploring systems of meaning and structures of knowledge in dealing with the complexity of environmental knowledge and acknowledging the challenges of a transformative ideology within such a complex knowledge system. Additionally, the paper argues for creative ways of working across disciplines to develop better understanding of discipline-specific concepts and their potential to contribute to meaningful learning. The paper concludes by suggesting a research trajectory for future environmental education research in the context of the new South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) extending the emphasis in this paper on the official recontextualising field, to fields across the entire pedagogic device.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Schudel, Ingrid J
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294375 , vital:57216 , xlink:href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305730521"
- Description: This paper explores the past twenty years of environmental learning in the South African curriculum in order to consider how one might best research a knowledge focus within the Fundisa for Change national teacher education programme. In exploring this knowledge focus, the paper draws on international literature. It also extensively, but not exclusively, draws on two key publications which informed the 2002 and the 2011 curriculum changes in South Africa. The paper draws on social realist curriculum theory, underpinned by critical realism. This theoretical perspective, which includes Bernstein’s pedagogic device and particularly recontextualisation of knowledge across the pedagogical landscape, provides a language of description for critically reviewing knowledge and environmental learning. In particular, the review develops five perspectives on environmental knowledge as it pertains to curriculum which include: Perspective #1) new environmental knowledge in the curriculum; Perspective #2) environmental knowledge in local and global contexts; Perspective # 3) dynamic knowledge for open-ended and futuristic thinking; Perspective #4) depth and complexity of environmental knowledge; and Perspective #5) combining discipline-specific core knowledge and skills with a systems perspective. The paper argues for a re-emphasis and review of new environmental knowledge and learning support materials. It suggests a consideration of context-rich but not context-bound explorations of local and global environmental issues and the need for adopting open-ended and futuristic thinking in the context of the dynamism of environmental knowledge. This involves exploring systems of meaning and structures of knowledge in dealing with the complexity of environmental knowledge and acknowledging the challenges of a transformative ideology within such a complex knowledge system. Additionally, the paper argues for creative ways of working across disciplines to develop better understanding of discipline-specific concepts and their potential to contribute to meaningful learning. The paper concludes by suggesting a research trajectory for future environmental education research in the context of the new South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) extending the emphasis in this paper on the official recontextualising field, to fields across the entire pedagogic device.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring a story-based learning design in a grade 4 science and technology classroom
- Authors: Kemp, Hermione
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Classroom environment , Classroom learning centers , Student teaching , Classroom management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9467 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021017
- Description: Stories are a vehicle through which experiences and events are communicated amongst people. Stories have the potential to influence people’s understandings and beliefs, and essentially, promote a societal and cultural change. Grounded in literature pointing to the value of narrative in supporting learning and the need to explore new modes of communicating science, this study explores the potential of narrative in science education. The aim was to explore the use of a Story-Based Learning Design in a Grade 4 Science and Technology classroom. Using a qualitative case study research design the researcher took on the role of participant-observer. Data were collected through observations, learner verbal and written descriptions of a final product and teacher reflective interviews. The findings of this study illustrate the value of stories, as learning tools, in science education. In this regard pertinent conclusions were derived, namely, that stories attract learners and have the potential to be used as a vehicle for learning scientific concepts and the target vocabulary, that stories enable learners to make meaning of abstract concepts and relate it to their world and finally that the use of the imagination assists learners to visualise concepts making learning relevant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Kemp, Hermione
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Classroom environment , Classroom learning centers , Student teaching , Classroom management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9467 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021017
- Description: Stories are a vehicle through which experiences and events are communicated amongst people. Stories have the potential to influence people’s understandings and beliefs, and essentially, promote a societal and cultural change. Grounded in literature pointing to the value of narrative in supporting learning and the need to explore new modes of communicating science, this study explores the potential of narrative in science education. The aim was to explore the use of a Story-Based Learning Design in a Grade 4 Science and Technology classroom. Using a qualitative case study research design the researcher took on the role of participant-observer. Data were collected through observations, learner verbal and written descriptions of a final product and teacher reflective interviews. The findings of this study illustrate the value of stories, as learning tools, in science education. In this regard pertinent conclusions were derived, namely, that stories attract learners and have the potential to be used as a vehicle for learning scientific concepts and the target vocabulary, that stories enable learners to make meaning of abstract concepts and relate it to their world and finally that the use of the imagination assists learners to visualise concepts making learning relevant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring a story-based learning design in a grade 4 science and technology classroom
- Authors: Kemp, Hermione
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Classroom environment , Classroon learning centers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9458 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020083
- Description: Stories are a vehicle through which experiences and events are communicated amongst people. Stories have the potential to influence people’s understandings and beliefs, and essentially, promote a societal and cultural change. Grounded in literature pointing to the value of narrative in supporting learning and the need to explore new modes of communicating science, this study explores the potential of narrative in science education. The aim was to explore the use of a Story-Based Learning Design in a Grade 4 Science and Technology classroom. Using a qualitative case study research design the researcher took on the role of participant-observer. Data were collected through observations, learner verbal and written descriptions of a final product and teacher reflective interviews. The findings of this study illustrate the value of stories, as learning tools, in science education. In this regard pertinent conclusions were derived, namely, that stories attract learners and have the potential to be used as a vehicle for learning scientific concepts and the target vocabulary, that stories enable learners to make meaning of abstract concepts and relate it to their world and finally that the use of the imagination assists learners to visualise concepts making learning relevant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Kemp, Hermione
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Classroom environment , Classroon learning centers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9458 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020083
- Description: Stories are a vehicle through which experiences and events are communicated amongst people. Stories have the potential to influence people’s understandings and beliefs, and essentially, promote a societal and cultural change. Grounded in literature pointing to the value of narrative in supporting learning and the need to explore new modes of communicating science, this study explores the potential of narrative in science education. The aim was to explore the use of a Story-Based Learning Design in a Grade 4 Science and Technology classroom. Using a qualitative case study research design the researcher took on the role of participant-observer. Data were collected through observations, learner verbal and written descriptions of a final product and teacher reflective interviews. The findings of this study illustrate the value of stories, as learning tools, in science education. In this regard pertinent conclusions were derived, namely, that stories attract learners and have the potential to be used as a vehicle for learning scientific concepts and the target vocabulary, that stories enable learners to make meaning of abstract concepts and relate it to their world and finally that the use of the imagination assists learners to visualise concepts making learning relevant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring Community Participation in Decision-Making Processes in Lainya County, South Sudan
- Authors: John, Awate Esther
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11707 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015206
- Description: Community participation has no single definition, but in simple terms it can be defined as a process of empowering the community or citizens by involving them in decision-making processes at all levels of government being from County, Payam and Bomas on all issues of concern that affect them politically, socially and economically. The main aim of this study is to investigate and identify the nature of and extent to which communities are given opportunities to participate in decision-making processes for effective service delivery in Lainya County. The main objectives of the study were to identify the obstacles to community participation in decision-making processes and how communities can be encouraged to participate effectively in decision-making, to meet their needs and interests. It further examines the extent to which communities play a role in promoting effective service delivery through participating in decision-making processes in Lainya County South Sudan. In this study, interviews, focus group discussions and observations were used as the main instruments for data collection on the issue of community participation as a tool for effective service delivery in Lainya County. These instruments are used to determine the extent to which communities are involved in decision-making processes to meet their needs and interests for effective service delivery. Data was collected from County officials comprising of Administrators, Chiefs, Women Associations Youth Associations and opinion leaders using both structured and unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and observations. Emerging from the study is that community participation is an integral part of the County developmental planning process. The study findings suggest that, public meetings, hearings, community workshops and seminars were the main mechanisms for community participation being used by the administrators. The study therefore, recommended among other things that; community participation be encouraged to promote community involvement in decision-making processes for effective service delivery. It also recommended that community participation and involvement be encouraged to initiate community development as it enhances program sustainability and ownership. The study further recommended that the top-down approach to decision making be replaced by bottom-up approaches, which emphasizes seeking communities’ ideas first before any developmental plans take place or are implemented. This study will significantly contribute to effective service delivery in Lainya County in the Republic of South Sudan.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: John, Awate Esther
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11707 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015206
- Description: Community participation has no single definition, but in simple terms it can be defined as a process of empowering the community or citizens by involving them in decision-making processes at all levels of government being from County, Payam and Bomas on all issues of concern that affect them politically, socially and economically. The main aim of this study is to investigate and identify the nature of and extent to which communities are given opportunities to participate in decision-making processes for effective service delivery in Lainya County. The main objectives of the study were to identify the obstacles to community participation in decision-making processes and how communities can be encouraged to participate effectively in decision-making, to meet their needs and interests. It further examines the extent to which communities play a role in promoting effective service delivery through participating in decision-making processes in Lainya County South Sudan. In this study, interviews, focus group discussions and observations were used as the main instruments for data collection on the issue of community participation as a tool for effective service delivery in Lainya County. These instruments are used to determine the extent to which communities are involved in decision-making processes to meet their needs and interests for effective service delivery. Data was collected from County officials comprising of Administrators, Chiefs, Women Associations Youth Associations and opinion leaders using both structured and unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and observations. Emerging from the study is that community participation is an integral part of the County developmental planning process. The study findings suggest that, public meetings, hearings, community workshops and seminars were the main mechanisms for community participation being used by the administrators. The study therefore, recommended among other things that; community participation be encouraged to promote community involvement in decision-making processes for effective service delivery. It also recommended that community participation and involvement be encouraged to initiate community development as it enhances program sustainability and ownership. The study further recommended that the top-down approach to decision making be replaced by bottom-up approaches, which emphasizes seeking communities’ ideas first before any developmental plans take place or are implemented. This study will significantly contribute to effective service delivery in Lainya County in the Republic of South Sudan.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring e-governance effectiveness in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Authors: Sithole-Somfula, Busiswa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Corporate governance -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Metropolitan government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8929 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021178
- Description: E-governance is a comprehensive and well-thought out notion as it brings forth a change in the way governments communicate to citizens and to each other. Since the RSA government relies on regular consultations with the citizens in order to improve service delivery, e-governance approaches inspires citizens to be active agent of local democracy by means of providing information and participation on issues that matters the most to the society. The effectiveness of e-governance takes into account four systemic intentions which are as follows: Increased government accountability; Increased government transparency; Increased government efficiency and; Increased citizen’s trust In order for the RSA government, more particularly at the local level, to ensure quality of life to the citizens, the modernisation of government services and operations is very important. E-governance can now be considered as a source or tool for sharing ideas and initiatives that deliver a mutual enrichment. In other words, the citizens are the determining factor and actors for the rules and the role of the local bureaucrats as well as for the corresponding ICT tools persist to be developed. This treatise undertakes a strategic view and an evaluation of e- governance in local municipalities as the means of improving and transforming the delivery of services and access to information for citizens. Consequently this paper affords an exploratory analysis between e-governance and the six core elements of technology (i.e. e-strategy, e-skills development, e-services, IT governance and ICT infrastructure and e-leadership) believed to contribute positively in the effectiveness of e-governance. Finally, recommendations are made as a result of analysing the literature study and empirical study to ensure the implementation of the key initiatives of e-governance that can add value to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Sithole-Somfula, Busiswa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Corporate governance -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Metropolitan government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8929 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021178
- Description: E-governance is a comprehensive and well-thought out notion as it brings forth a change in the way governments communicate to citizens and to each other. Since the RSA government relies on regular consultations with the citizens in order to improve service delivery, e-governance approaches inspires citizens to be active agent of local democracy by means of providing information and participation on issues that matters the most to the society. The effectiveness of e-governance takes into account four systemic intentions which are as follows: Increased government accountability; Increased government transparency; Increased government efficiency and; Increased citizen’s trust In order for the RSA government, more particularly at the local level, to ensure quality of life to the citizens, the modernisation of government services and operations is very important. E-governance can now be considered as a source or tool for sharing ideas and initiatives that deliver a mutual enrichment. In other words, the citizens are the determining factor and actors for the rules and the role of the local bureaucrats as well as for the corresponding ICT tools persist to be developed. This treatise undertakes a strategic view and an evaluation of e- governance in local municipalities as the means of improving and transforming the delivery of services and access to information for citizens. Consequently this paper affords an exploratory analysis between e-governance and the six core elements of technology (i.e. e-strategy, e-skills development, e-services, IT governance and ICT infrastructure and e-leadership) believed to contribute positively in the effectiveness of e-governance. Finally, recommendations are made as a result of analysing the literature study and empirical study to ensure the implementation of the key initiatives of e-governance that can add value to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring Teacher Assessment Practices in The General Education and Training Level in Junior Secondary Schools in Mthatha Education District
- Authors: Xolile, Stwebile
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/2933 , vital:43116
- Description: This dissertation is a report of the study that was conducted in rural and urban periphery schools of Mthatha City within Mthatha Education District in the Eastern Cape, a province of South Africa. The study explored teacher-assessment practices in two selected junior secondary schools. The utmost purpose was to determine the nature of teacher-assessment practices in these junior secondary schools. This study involved mainly a quantitative research design and later supplemented by qualitative research design. The target population was made up of 63 teachers from both schools. Sampling entailed simple random sampling for quantitative approach and purposeful sampling for qualitative. Instrumentation involved questionnaires and focus group interviews to gather data for these two different research paradigms used. The data was analysed by means of SPSS for quantitative and thematically for qualitative. The results of this study from both instruments were crystallized, and indicated that teachers were grappling with difficulty in strategies and procedures of assessment due to an ever changing curriculum and overload of work. The main findings were: assessment based on content knowledge of learners, negative impact of teacher re-deployment on assessment, stress accumulated by various challenges such as overload of work and frequent curriculum changes as well as lack of data organisation and gathering. The recommendations were: workshops and training programmes on assessment to be provided to teachers; teachers should use various information sources for conducting assessment; more teachers need to be recruited for understaffing and overloading problems as well as pragmatic assessment strategies should be used for learners assessment. Teachers should be included in matters of curriculum changes and be exposed to in-service training. , Thesis (MMED) -- Faculty of Educational Sciences, 2014
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Xolile, Stwebile
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/2933 , vital:43116
- Description: This dissertation is a report of the study that was conducted in rural and urban periphery schools of Mthatha City within Mthatha Education District in the Eastern Cape, a province of South Africa. The study explored teacher-assessment practices in two selected junior secondary schools. The utmost purpose was to determine the nature of teacher-assessment practices in these junior secondary schools. This study involved mainly a quantitative research design and later supplemented by qualitative research design. The target population was made up of 63 teachers from both schools. Sampling entailed simple random sampling for quantitative approach and purposeful sampling for qualitative. Instrumentation involved questionnaires and focus group interviews to gather data for these two different research paradigms used. The data was analysed by means of SPSS for quantitative and thematically for qualitative. The results of this study from both instruments were crystallized, and indicated that teachers were grappling with difficulty in strategies and procedures of assessment due to an ever changing curriculum and overload of work. The main findings were: assessment based on content knowledge of learners, negative impact of teacher re-deployment on assessment, stress accumulated by various challenges such as overload of work and frequent curriculum changes as well as lack of data organisation and gathering. The recommendations were: workshops and training programmes on assessment to be provided to teachers; teachers should use various information sources for conducting assessment; more teachers need to be recruited for understaffing and overloading problems as well as pragmatic assessment strategies should be used for learners assessment. Teachers should be included in matters of curriculum changes and be exposed to in-service training. , Thesis (MMED) -- Faculty of Educational Sciences, 2014
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring teaching proficiency in geometry of selected effective mathematics teachers in Namibia
- Stephanus, Gervasius Hivengwa
- Authors: Stephanus, Gervasius Hivengwa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Geometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Effective teaching -- Namibia , Mathematics teachers -- Education (Secondary) -- Namibia , Education, Secondary -- Namibia , Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1976 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013012
- Description: Quality mathematics education relies on effective pedagogy which offers students appropriate and rich opportunities to develop their mathematical proficiency (MP) and intellectual autonomy in learning mathematics. This qualitative case study aimed to explore and analyse selected effective mathematics teachers' proficiency in the area of geometry in five secondary schools in five different Namibia educational regions. The sample was purposefully selected and comprised five mathematics teachers, identified locally as being effective practitioners by their peers, Education Ministry officials and the staff of the University of Namibia (UNAM). The schools where the selected teachers taught were all high performing Namibian schools in terms of students' mathematics performance in the annual national examinations. The general picture of students' poor performance in mathematics in Namibia is no different to other sub-Saharan countries and it is the teachers who unfortunately bear the brunt of the criticism. There are, however, beacons of excellence in Namibia and these often go unnoticed and are seldom written about. It is the purpose of this study to focus on these high achievers and analyse the practices of these teachers so that the rest of Namibia can learn from their practices and experience what is possible in the Namibian context. The mathematical content and context focus of this study was geometry. This qualitative study adopted a multiple case study approach and was framed within an interpretive paradigm. The data were collected through individual questionnaires, classroom lesson observations and in-depth open-ended and semi-structured interviews with the participating teachers. These interviews took the form of post lesson reflective and stimulated recall analysis sessions. An adapted framework based on the Kilpatrick, Swafford and Findell's (2001) five strands of teaching for MP was developed as a conceptual and analytical lens to analyse the selected teachers' practice. The developed coding and the descriptive narrative vignettes of their teaching enabled a qualitative analysis of what teachers said contributed to their effectiveness and how they developed MP in students. An enactivist theoretical lens was used to complement the Kilpatrick et al.'s (2001) analytical framework. This enabled a deeper analysis of teacher teaching practice in terms of their embodied mathematical knowledge, actions and interactions with students. procedural fluency (PF) and productive disposition (PD), were addressed regularly by all five participating teachers. Evidence of addressing either the development of students' strategic competence (SC) or adaptive reasoning (AR) appeared rarely. Of particular interest in this study was that the strand of PD was the glue that held the other four strands of MP together. PD was manifested in many different ways in varying degrees. PD was characterised by a high level of content knowledge, rich personal experience, sustained commitment, effective and careful preparation for lessons, high expectations of themselves and learners, collegiality, passion for mathematics and an excellent work ethic. In addition, the teachers' geometry teaching practices were characterised by making use of real-world connections, manipulatives and representations, encouraging a collaborative approach and working together to show that geometry constituted a bridge between the concrete and abstract. The findings of the study have led me, the author, to suggest a ten (10) principles framework and seven (7) key interrelated factors for effective teaching, as a practical guide for teachers. This study argues that the instructional practices enacted by the participating teachers, who were perceived to be effective, aligned well with practices informed by the five strands of the Kilpatrick et al.'s (2001) model and the four concepts of autopoesis, co-emergence, structural determinism and embodiment of the enactivist approach. The study concludes with recommendations for effective pedagogical practices in the teaching of geometry, and opportunities for further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Stephanus, Gervasius Hivengwa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Geometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Effective teaching -- Namibia , Mathematics teachers -- Education (Secondary) -- Namibia , Education, Secondary -- Namibia , Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1976 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013012
- Description: Quality mathematics education relies on effective pedagogy which offers students appropriate and rich opportunities to develop their mathematical proficiency (MP) and intellectual autonomy in learning mathematics. This qualitative case study aimed to explore and analyse selected effective mathematics teachers' proficiency in the area of geometry in five secondary schools in five different Namibia educational regions. The sample was purposefully selected and comprised five mathematics teachers, identified locally as being effective practitioners by their peers, Education Ministry officials and the staff of the University of Namibia (UNAM). The schools where the selected teachers taught were all high performing Namibian schools in terms of students' mathematics performance in the annual national examinations. The general picture of students' poor performance in mathematics in Namibia is no different to other sub-Saharan countries and it is the teachers who unfortunately bear the brunt of the criticism. There are, however, beacons of excellence in Namibia and these often go unnoticed and are seldom written about. It is the purpose of this study to focus on these high achievers and analyse the practices of these teachers so that the rest of Namibia can learn from their practices and experience what is possible in the Namibian context. The mathematical content and context focus of this study was geometry. This qualitative study adopted a multiple case study approach and was framed within an interpretive paradigm. The data were collected through individual questionnaires, classroom lesson observations and in-depth open-ended and semi-structured interviews with the participating teachers. These interviews took the form of post lesson reflective and stimulated recall analysis sessions. An adapted framework based on the Kilpatrick, Swafford and Findell's (2001) five strands of teaching for MP was developed as a conceptual and analytical lens to analyse the selected teachers' practice. The developed coding and the descriptive narrative vignettes of their teaching enabled a qualitative analysis of what teachers said contributed to their effectiveness and how they developed MP in students. An enactivist theoretical lens was used to complement the Kilpatrick et al.'s (2001) analytical framework. This enabled a deeper analysis of teacher teaching practice in terms of their embodied mathematical knowledge, actions and interactions with students. procedural fluency (PF) and productive disposition (PD), were addressed regularly by all five participating teachers. Evidence of addressing either the development of students' strategic competence (SC) or adaptive reasoning (AR) appeared rarely. Of particular interest in this study was that the strand of PD was the glue that held the other four strands of MP together. PD was manifested in many different ways in varying degrees. PD was characterised by a high level of content knowledge, rich personal experience, sustained commitment, effective and careful preparation for lessons, high expectations of themselves and learners, collegiality, passion for mathematics and an excellent work ethic. In addition, the teachers' geometry teaching practices were characterised by making use of real-world connections, manipulatives and representations, encouraging a collaborative approach and working together to show that geometry constituted a bridge between the concrete and abstract. The findings of the study have led me, the author, to suggest a ten (10) principles framework and seven (7) key interrelated factors for effective teaching, as a practical guide for teachers. This study argues that the instructional practices enacted by the participating teachers, who were perceived to be effective, aligned well with practices informed by the five strands of the Kilpatrick et al.'s (2001) model and the four concepts of autopoesis, co-emergence, structural determinism and embodiment of the enactivist approach. The study concludes with recommendations for effective pedagogical practices in the teaching of geometry, and opportunities for further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring the fertiliser potential of biosolids from algae integrated wastewater treatment systems
- Authors: Mlambo, Patricia Zanele
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants , Sewage sludge as fertilizer , Algae -- Biotechnology , Sewage -- Purification -- Anaerobic treatment , Plant regulators , Biofertilizers , Microalgae -- Biotechnology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5957 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013342
- Description: High rate algae oxidation ponds (HRAOP) for domestic wastewater treatment generate biosolids that are predominantly microalgae. Consequently, HRAOP biosolids are enriched with minerals, amino acids, nutrients and possibly contain plant growth regulator (PGR)-like substances, which makes HRAOP biosolids attractive as fertiliser or PGR. This study investigated HRAOP biosolids as a starting material for a natural, cost-effective and readily-available eco-friendly organic fertiliser and/or PGRs. Various HRAOP extract formulations were prepared and their effect on plant growth and development was evaluated using selected bioassays. Initial screening included assessing the effect on change in specific leaf area, radish cotyledon expansion as an indicator of PGR-like activity, and seed germination index (GI). More detailed studies on fertiliser efficacy and PGR-like activity utilised bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. Combined effects of sonicated (S) and 40% v/v methanol (M) extract (5:1 SM) had impressive plant responses, comparable to Hoagland solution (HS). Other potentially fertiliser formulations included 0.5% M, 1% M, 2.5% S and 5% S formulations. The 5:1 SM and 5% S showed greater PGR-like activity, promoting cotyledon expansion by 459 ± 0.02% and 362 ± 0.01%, respectively. GI data showed that none of the formulations negatively impacted germination. Further investigation showed that the 5% S formulation increased leaf length, width and area by 6.69 ± 0.24, 6.21 ± 0.2 mm and 41.55 ± 0.2 mm². All formulated fertiliser extracts had no adverse effect on chlorophyll content and plant nutrient balance as indicated by C:N (8-10:1) ratio. In addition, plants appeared to actively mobilise nutrients to regions where needed as evidenced by a shift in shoot: root ratio depending on C, N and water availability. Furthermore, 5% S caused a 75% increase in tomato productivity and had no effect on bean productivity. Whereas, 5:1 SM and 1% M formulation improved bean pod production by 33.3% and 11%, respectively but did not affect tomato production. Harvest index (HI) however indicated a 3% reduction in tomato productivity with 5:1 SM and little or no enhancement in bean productivity with both 5:1 SM and 5% S treatments. Bean plants treated with 5:1 SM and 5% S produced larger fruits, which could be an indication of the presence of a PGR effect. Overall, HRAOP biosolids extracts prepared and investigated in this study demonstrated both fertiliser characteristics and PGR-like activity with performances comparable and in some cases exceeding that of commercial products. However additional research is needed to confirm presence of PGR-like activities and fertiliser efficacy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mlambo, Patricia Zanele
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants , Sewage sludge as fertilizer , Algae -- Biotechnology , Sewage -- Purification -- Anaerobic treatment , Plant regulators , Biofertilizers , Microalgae -- Biotechnology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5957 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013342
- Description: High rate algae oxidation ponds (HRAOP) for domestic wastewater treatment generate biosolids that are predominantly microalgae. Consequently, HRAOP biosolids are enriched with minerals, amino acids, nutrients and possibly contain plant growth regulator (PGR)-like substances, which makes HRAOP biosolids attractive as fertiliser or PGR. This study investigated HRAOP biosolids as a starting material for a natural, cost-effective and readily-available eco-friendly organic fertiliser and/or PGRs. Various HRAOP extract formulations were prepared and their effect on plant growth and development was evaluated using selected bioassays. Initial screening included assessing the effect on change in specific leaf area, radish cotyledon expansion as an indicator of PGR-like activity, and seed germination index (GI). More detailed studies on fertiliser efficacy and PGR-like activity utilised bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. Combined effects of sonicated (S) and 40% v/v methanol (M) extract (5:1 SM) had impressive plant responses, comparable to Hoagland solution (HS). Other potentially fertiliser formulations included 0.5% M, 1% M, 2.5% S and 5% S formulations. The 5:1 SM and 5% S showed greater PGR-like activity, promoting cotyledon expansion by 459 ± 0.02% and 362 ± 0.01%, respectively. GI data showed that none of the formulations negatively impacted germination. Further investigation showed that the 5% S formulation increased leaf length, width and area by 6.69 ± 0.24, 6.21 ± 0.2 mm and 41.55 ± 0.2 mm². All formulated fertiliser extracts had no adverse effect on chlorophyll content and plant nutrient balance as indicated by C:N (8-10:1) ratio. In addition, plants appeared to actively mobilise nutrients to regions where needed as evidenced by a shift in shoot: root ratio depending on C, N and water availability. Furthermore, 5% S caused a 75% increase in tomato productivity and had no effect on bean productivity. Whereas, 5:1 SM and 1% M formulation improved bean pod production by 33.3% and 11%, respectively but did not affect tomato production. Harvest index (HI) however indicated a 3% reduction in tomato productivity with 5:1 SM and little or no enhancement in bean productivity with both 5:1 SM and 5% S treatments. Bean plants treated with 5:1 SM and 5% S produced larger fruits, which could be an indication of the presence of a PGR effect. Overall, HRAOP biosolids extracts prepared and investigated in this study demonstrated both fertiliser characteristics and PGR-like activity with performances comparable and in some cases exceeding that of commercial products. However additional research is needed to confirm presence of PGR-like activities and fertiliser efficacy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring the impact of agricultural project and income generation in Uitenhage
- Authors: Kwesaba, Xolelwa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Uitenhage , Community development -- South Africa -- Uitenhage , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Uitenhage
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021076
- Description: An income generating project signifies an unemployment strategy and an attempt at upliftment of living standards This study tries to explore the impact of agricultural and income generating projects on poverty alleviation in the Uitenhage area .The research topic tries to establish whether these poverty alleviation projectshave impacted sufficiently and contributed to socio-economic development and eradication of poverty . A sample of 15 respondents involved in an income generating project funded by the Department of Social Development was drawn from 1 Tinarha Agricultural Tourism Initiative. A purposive samplingmethod was used for thisstudy. Data was gathered through semi-structured questionnaires. Related literature that focuses on income generating projects for poverty alleviation has been reviewed. Various recommendations based on the findings of the study have also been made. The findings of the study indicate that the income generation project, has not impacted and contributed significantly to the process of eradicating poverty for the project members. It also indicates that project members were not empowered sufficiently with financial management skills needed to equip them to make substantial profits from their small business enterprises. It also emerged that the members were not able to secure markets for their products. This remains a key challenge for attainingsustainability. The research findings indicated clearly that the strategies that were used by the Departments were not effective enough to achieve the desired goals of poverty alleviation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Kwesaba, Xolelwa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Uitenhage , Community development -- South Africa -- Uitenhage , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Uitenhage
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021076
- Description: An income generating project signifies an unemployment strategy and an attempt at upliftment of living standards This study tries to explore the impact of agricultural and income generating projects on poverty alleviation in the Uitenhage area .The research topic tries to establish whether these poverty alleviation projectshave impacted sufficiently and contributed to socio-economic development and eradication of poverty . A sample of 15 respondents involved in an income generating project funded by the Department of Social Development was drawn from 1 Tinarha Agricultural Tourism Initiative. A purposive samplingmethod was used for thisstudy. Data was gathered through semi-structured questionnaires. Related literature that focuses on income generating projects for poverty alleviation has been reviewed. Various recommendations based on the findings of the study have also been made. The findings of the study indicate that the income generation project, has not impacted and contributed significantly to the process of eradicating poverty for the project members. It also indicates that project members were not empowered sufficiently with financial management skills needed to equip them to make substantial profits from their small business enterprises. It also emerged that the members were not able to secure markets for their products. This remains a key challenge for attainingsustainability. The research findings indicated clearly that the strategies that were used by the Departments were not effective enough to achieve the desired goals of poverty alleviation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014