Towards a broader socio-ecological education : a case study of school based curricular reform
- Authors: Cimma, Gary Martin
- Date: 2002
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:20973 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5763
- Description: This work documents and analyses an action research project that the researcher undertook in conjunction with colleagues at an independent Catholic high school in Johannesburg. The main objective was to try to expand the existing curriculum in operation at the time of starting the research to one, which was more socio-ecologically sensitive. One of the key references during the action research was the recently drafted ‘Vision Statement’ document, which detailed the educational ideals of the school. Some of the key findings that emerged as the research proceeded, were that the levels of socio-ecological sensitivity displayed by the learners were influenced by the backgrounds from which they came, and that these background environments were often not comfortable with the changes taking place in the educational and greater South African environments. The Participatory Action Research mode of research which was used proved to be problematic in that only a handful of the educators actually got involved in participating in the project. The failure of many of educators to get involved was, in the opinion of the researcher, due to their lack of understanding how important the development of social and ecological sensitivity are to the necessary change capacity required in present day South African society. The need to be involved in the ongoing development of curriculum as required by Curriculum 2005 as a form of Outcomes Based Education was also problematic as some educators were not familiar with their role in this regard. The limited time-span of the research was also a limiting factor as the development of a socio-ecologically sensitive curriculum required changes in some fundamental attitudes and approaches to education and the environment.
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Towards the performer-creator in contemporary mime, with specific reference to the physical theatre of Andrew Buckland, 1988-2000
- Authors: Murray, Robert Ian
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Buckland, Andrew , Mime , Mimes -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2158 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007720
- Description: Part one of this thesis investigates the conceptualisation of the performer-creator and its relevance in late twentieth century physical performance by examining some of the theoretical, but mainly artistic, traditions that suggest a movement towards this. Chapter one tackles the question of definition, linking mime within a wider physical theatre phenomenon. Chapter two looks at the importance of mime training for contemporary performance. This requires a focus on selected theatre practitioners who have significantly advanced the development of mime training and performance during the twentieth century. Chapter three examines the issue of silence in mime and questions a potential liberation of the word and language in contemporary performance and consequently how this affects the role of the performer, particularly in South Africa. Chapter four investigates the figure of the theatrical clown and how this late twentieth century development is playing an increasingly important role in contemporary performance. Chapter five then wraps up part one by pulling the preceding chapters together and thereby providing a working conceptualisation of the performer-creator, locating it within an overall appreciation of contemporary mime. Part two then tests the notion of the performer-creator by focussing on a case study through the investigation of Andrew Buckland to develop this idea. Andrew Buckland, and his work under the ethos of Mouthpeace from 1988-2000, provides a clear and unique example of this movement in contemporary South African performance. Trained as an actor and in classical illusion-based mime technique, as well as many dance forms such as ballet, contemporary and jazz, he has virtually single-handedly created and shaped a particular performance trend that is in line with contemporary international trends but retains a distinctive South African flavour. There is no space to attempt a definitive or exhaustive examination of his works, and nor is the intent to do so; rather, the aim is to draw from his work their essences that reveal his development as an artist: as both a creator and a performer.
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Traditional leaders in post-1996 South Africa, with particular reference to the Eastern Cape
- Authors: De Sas Kropiwnicki, Zosa Olenka
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Tribal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2857 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007479 , Tribal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Politics and government
- Description: The failure of democracy in Africa can be partially attributed to the Eurocentric assumptions that belie Western recommendations for Africa. This thesis focuses on the failure of the modernisation school to account for the resiliency of tradition in the modern African state, which is described by Sklar (1991) as amounting to a form of 'mixed government', combining the traditional with the modern to create a uniquely African form of governance. This notion of a 'mixed government' is addressed from the vantage point of traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape. It maps the vacillating relationship between the chiefs, the people and the government through colonialism, Apartheid and democratisation. It concludes that although the Eastern Cape provincial government has subordinated the chiefs, this does not signify a victory for modernity over tradition because the chiefs are not a spent force. History has shown that when the government fails to act in the interests of the people, they seek an alternative authority namely, the chiefs. The ANC government's centralising tendencies have negative implications for democracy and consequently for the people. This opens up space for the chiefs to assert themselves provided they play an active role in furthering democracy, development and modernisation in the interests of the people. Hence, although ' mixed' government in the post-1996 South Africa is currently on the ANC's terms, traditional leaders may someday play a vital role in the modern democratic state.
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Valuation of intellectual capital in South African companies: a comparative study of three valuation methods
- Authors: Maree, Kevin W
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Accounting
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:877 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001631
- Description: This study discusses three valuation methods for intellectual capital and considers two of these (Tobin’s “q” and CIV) as suitable valuation methods.
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Voluntary associations as schools for democracy? : a case study of the Sibanye Development Project
- Authors: Siwahla, Lindiwe Lillian
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Sibanye Development Project , Non-governmental organizations , Political participation , Non-governmental organizations--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004778 , Sibanye Development Project , Non-governmental organizations , Political participation , Non-governmental organizations--South Africa
- Description: This is an empirical study of a voluntary association with a view to interrogate the theories of civil society and participation and their practice. These theories came to dominate debate on African politics and democratisation following disappointment with structural approaches to development and democracy. Disenchantment with the state whose role was emphasised by the structural approach led analysts and technocrats to turn their attention to human agency; hence the salience of the idea of popular participation in the public domain, and preoccupation with the idea of strengthening civil society. This trend gained momentum after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and demise of the communist block, and was accompanied by anti-statist sentiments on a global scale. Civil society organisations are seen as schools for democracy and agents of democratic consolidation, and are accordingly expected to perform two major tasks, namely instilling and disseminating a democratic political culture in and among participants and society at large, and promoting good governance. The aim therefore is to take advantage of the supposed intrinsic and utilitarian benefits of participation. As evident in a number of policy documents and legislation, the incumbent South African government embraces the idea of participatory democracy. However, not all analysts share this confidence in the capacity of civil society to perform these tasks. For some analysts public participation does not always have positive intrinsic benefits. Public participation may instead lead to a corrupted political culture deriving from the participants' attempts to survive in a public sphere characterised by manipulation and subtle political control, and it is civil society organisations lacking in organisational strength that are particularly vulnerable. The study revealed that unity between practice and theories of participation and civil society is a complex matter fraught with a number of ambiguities and contradictions. It revealed that though participation in the voluntary association in question does have educative benefits, those benefits do not extend to all the participants. In addition, the quality of that education is contingent upon a number of factors, some internal, others external. The internal and external factors reinforce one another. The internal factors pertain to the organisational dynamics of the voluntary association itself, and the external factors to the nature of the relationship between the voluntary association concerned and public authorities and other civil society organisations. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Women in paid domestic work and their children : an exploratory study
- Authors: Maqungu, Nomzamo Florence
- Date: 2002 , 2013-05-16
- Subjects: Household employees -- South Africa , Women, Black -- Employment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:711 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007476 , Household employees -- South Africa , Women, Black -- Employment -- South Africa
- Description: This study explores the views and experiences of domestic workers with regard to service conditions of their occupation, the arrangements they make for the care of their own children and the frequency of contact they make with their children. Data was obtained through use of pre - coded self administered questionnaires which were employed to 50 domestic women who are working in East London and its suburbs and have children under the age of 16 years. Semi-structured interviews were tape recorded and transcribed and the analysis process looked at general trends where qualitative data was obtained. Quantitative data was tabulated in frequency tables and interpreted by means of graphs. The study is pioneering efforts in the Eastern Cape and South Africa in general as well as setting a way forward for further exploration of this subject. It is hoped that the study will make a worthwhile contribution and bring upfront valuable information that could be used when addressing issues of domestic workers. The study also indirectly challenges those professions and disciplines who have been advocating on behalf of domestic workers to mobilize these workers towards taking part in the uplifting of their standards and to fInish up the good work they had already started until their aims have been achieved. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Workshop theatre in post-apartheid South Africa : a case study
- Authors: Copteros, Athina
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Theater -- South Africa , Theater -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2156 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007477
- Description: This is a qualitative study exploring the use of workshop theatre in post-apartheid South Africa, with the objective of making a contribution to the knowledge-base regarding its use in current times. Workshop theatre is changing in response to a new socio-political reality and emerging trends in theatre practice. The case study, of developing a play on Oystercatchers with a Grahamstown group of artists, revealed the difficulties and challenges of using workshop theatre in this dynamic context. Data collection included a focus group, observation, reflective discussion and in-depth interviews that were analysed in relation to available literature on workshop theatre in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. It is proposed that workshop theatre has continued relevance in post -apartheid South Africa. The process of creating workshop theatre with diverse artists has great potential to transform relationships, address issues of personal identity and to provide an underlying purpose to a workshop theatre -making context.
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