The impact of Malawi’s National Strategy on Inclusive Education: a case study analysis of two schools
- Authors: Kaunda, Bridget
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436499 , vital:73277
- Description: Using a qualitative case study approach, this study analysed the impact of Malawi’s National Strategy on Inclusive Education (NSIE) on inclusive education (IE) in two inclusive schools. IE is a global education reform for accommodating learners with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in mainstream schools. Malawi developed the NSIE in 2017 to guide IE implementation while working on the actual policy. This study aimed to analyse how NSIE has impacted IE during its first five years of implementation. This was done by examining how the NIES goals were designed, enacted, and implemented, the perceptions of system users, who include teachers, learners, and parents towards IE, and the enabling and constraining factors on its implementation. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of the democratic theory of education and systems theory, this study argues that NSIE has ameliorated IE implementation by putting in place a structural implementation system. However, the implementation is marred by several constraining factors both at the management and implementation (schools) levels. Secondly, there is a disjuncture between NSIE as intended and as implemented in the sampled schools. Thirdly, the IE system lacks effective communication and responsive decision-making, especially in the monitoring process and school involvement. Fourthly, the study shows that IE implementation depends on a functional and well-stocked resource centre (RC) and the availability of enough qualified staff. It was also observed that poor teacher motivation resulting from lack of incentives such as promotions and training were major obstacles to the successful implementation of IE at the school level. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Primary and Early Childhood Education, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
Phytoplankton communities provide insight into ecosystem functioning of the Agulhas Current system
- Authors: Gibb, Ross-Lynne Alida
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422646 , vital:71965
- Description: Access restricted. Embargoed until 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-31
An investigation into the force-EMG relationship for static and dynamic exertions
- Authors: Koekemoer, Wesley Agosthinho
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Electromyography , Force and energy , Muscles Physiology , Biomechanics , Muscle contraction , Isometric exercise , Isotonic exercise , Static and dynamic exertions
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/291076 , vital:56816
- Description: The force-EMG relationship has multiple applications in varying fields of study and practice. One such application is the development of safety guidelines and regulations. Current guidelines are based on static muscle actions even though the majority of tasks encountered in industry are dynamic in nature. This may have negative implications for the health, safety, and productivity of workers as regulations based on static muscle actions may place higher force demands on manual labourers compared to what would be expected if regulations were based on dynamic muscle actions. Regulations based on dynamic muscle actions may be more effective in worker safety as the nature of the regulation matches that of the demand. Few studies have investigated the force-EMG relationship during dynamic muscle actions and the few that do exist have reported contradictory / mixed results. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to: 1) gain an understanding of EMG responses at different load levels, and 2) show how the relationship differs between static and dynamic muscle actions. A two-factorial repeated-measures experiment was developed for this study. Eighteen experimental conditions, utilizing six load levels (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of maximum voluntary force) for each of the three muscle actions (isometric, concentric and eccentric). Surface EMG responses were obtained under these conditions by repeatedly dorsiflexing and plantarflexing the foot, thus activating the soleus muscle. A maximum voluntary exertion on an isokinetic dynamometer determined the maximum force level, based on which the sub-maximal loads were calculated and added to a pulley system. 31 student participants were recruited for this experiment which was conducted over two sessions – one information and habituation session, and one experimental session. The EMG data recorded were processed and checked for normality and outliers. The data was then analysed via a General Linear Model analysis to determine the effect of exertion type and of load level on the muscle activity. Significant differences were identified at p<0.05 and followed by a Tukey post-hoc test. Correlation analyses were also conducted to determine the relationship between the force and EMG at all three exertion types. All dependent measures showed that as the load level increased so did the sEMG amplitude for all muscle actions. Muscle actions differed significantly between majority of six force levels. Correlations between the load levels and sEMG amplitude for each muscle action indicated a significant correlation with a moderate strength. The conclusion draws from this study that there is a positive correlation between force and sEMG amplitude, at all load levels, with a moderate strength. However, the muscle actions differed significantly from each other. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-06