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A theological-historical investigation of the reception of the Church Order of Dort (1619) and the General Regulation (1816) in the church orders of reformed churches in South Africa
No full textEnglish: The study on the reception of the Church Order of Dort (1619) and the General Regulation
(1618) in South African Church Orders revealed that the NGK, NHKA and APK Church Orders
differ from the Church Order of Dort (1619), despite the popular assumption that these Church
Orders correspond with the Church Order of Dort (1619). The Church Order of Dort (1619) is not
to be blamed for these differences, as it is clear that the Church Orders of the NGK, NHKA and
APK formally acknowledge and agree to the Church Order of Dort (1619), but materially, with
respect to their application, the status assigned to them as documents of authority and identity,
etc., the spirit, legacy and tradition of the General Regulation determine. The General Regulation
(1816) holds the key to explaining the coherence in the Church Orders of the NGK, NHKA and
APK, despite their differences with the Church Order of Dort (1619). These Church Orders are
much in line with the underlying scope of the General Regulation (1816) and echoes the same
spirit and intention and departs from the same understanding of the church. Despite their appeals
to adhere to the Church Order of Dort (1619) and their shared ecclesial history in South Africa,
the Church Orders of the NGK, NHKA and APK incorporated the replacement of the Church
Order of Dort (1618) with the General Regulation (1816). Even the GKSA interprets its Church Order through the lens of the principles of the Regulation. These Church Orders are therefore
modern versions of the General Regulation (1816). They stand in the shadow of Dort (1619), but
proceeds from the light of the Regulation (1816).Afrikaans: Die studie aangaande die resepsie van die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) en die Algemene Reglement
(1816) in Suid-Afrikaanse Kerkordes het aan die lig gebring dat die Kerkordes van die NGK,
NHKA en APK verskil met dié van Dordt (1619), ten spyte van die populêre aanname dat hierdie
Kerkordes met die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) ooreenstem. Die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) is egter
nie te blameer vir hierdie verskille nie, aangesien dit duidelik is dat die Kerkordes van die NGK,
NHKA en APK die Dortse Kerkorde (1619) wel formeel erken en ooreenstem, maar materieel ten
opsigte van die aanwending, die status wat aan die dokument in terme van gesag en identiteit
toegeken word, die gees en tradisie van die Algemene Reglement adem. Die Algemene Reglement
(1816) hou die sleutel om nie net die verskil van hierdie Kerkordes met die van Dordt (1619) te
verduidelik nie, maar ook die koherensie tussen die Kerkordes van die NGK, NHKA en APK.
Hierdie Kerkordes staan in die lyn van en getuig van dieselfde gees en kerkbegrip soos beliggaam
in die Algemene Reglement (1816). Ten spyte van hierdie Kerkordes se beroep dat hulle in
ooreenstemming is met die Dordtse Kerkorde (1619) en hulle gedeelde kerkregtelike geskiedenis
aan die suidpunt van Afrika, het die NGK, NHKA en APK die skuif vanaf die Dordtse Kerkorde
(1619) na die Algemene Reglement (1816) in hulle Kerkordes opgeneem. Selfs die GKSA interpreteer hulle Kerkorde deur die lens van die Reglement. Hierdie Kerkordes kan daarom
beskryf word as moderne weergawes van die Algemene Reglement (1816). Hulle staan in die
skadu van Dort (1619), maar gaan voort uit die lig van die Reglement (1816)
Improving the implementation of policy on screening, identification, assessment and support with teacher training
No full textThis study aims at improving implementation of Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS) policy with teacher training at selected schools, where challenges have been identified. The challenges surrounding the implementation of SIAS policy include support to learners and teachers, teacher training in SIAS policy, knowledge and understanding of SIAS, attitudes towards SIAS, involvement of other officials in SIAS have been identified. These challenges surrounding the implementation of SIAS policy have led to infringement on the educational rights of many learners, especially at numerous disadvantaged schools. These schools end up being categorised as under-performing schools, due to the poor results of learners. Effective schools are educationally inclusive schools, in which the teaching, learning, achievements, attitudes and well-being of every person matters. This is shown not only in their performance, but also in their ethos and willingness to offer new opportunities to learners who may have experienced previous difficulties. This research is underpinned by the Social Development Theory (SDT). SDT is suitable for this study as it provides orientation to the epistemological and methodological choices that will help improve implementation of SIAS, so that teachers might be able to address the barriers which thwart the learning of LSEN. The SDT suggests that teachers should take part in developing themselves further, in order to fill the gaps that may be found to hinder the performing of their roles and responsibilities. Therefore, in order for them to improve or gain knowledge on how to implement inclusive policies, social interaction with their leaders, supervisors or advisors is required. Participatory Action Research design has, thus, been employed in this study, with the selection of three schools of Motheo District. What yielded the data for this study was the utilisation of focus group discussions with teachers and School Based Support Team (SBST) co-ordinators, as well as group discussions with district officials, including the Learning Support Advisor (LSA) from the District Based Support Team (DBST), the Subject Advisor (SA) and the Circuit Manager (CM). The key finding of this study is that Inclusive Education policies, SIAS in particular, are not effectively nor successfully implemented because the SAs and CMs are not involved as Curriculum, Governance and Management officials. This renders teacher training from Inclusive Section a futile exercise because there will never be effective implementation thereafter, because teachers are not accounting to Inclusive Section Officials. As such, this study strongly recommends participation and involvement of SAs and CMs in the implementation of SIAS policy, and the best way to do that is to train teachers together with LSFs from the Inclusive Education Section
An integrated framework for enhanced staff well-being at South African public higher education institutions
No full textThis study entailed an inquiry into the well-being programmes applied by South African public higher education institutions. The existence and focus of these programmes were explored, as well as whether these programmes are offered in an integrated manner, as opposed to a fragmented manner. The aim was to identify the strengths and possible gaps related to South African public higher education institutions’ well-being programmes. The rationale for this study was a lack of the existence of an integrated employee well-being framework for South African public higher education institutions to guide their employee well-being programmes. South African public higher education institutions cannot afford to neglect their employees’ well-being, or to address it in a fragmented manner, as such negligence has severe implications for employees’ performance, as well as the financial sustainability of these institutions. The lack of integrated employee well-being programmes offered at these institutions was confirmed during both a pilot study and the empirical research conducted. This implied the need for a well-being framework, which could guide universities in approaching employee well-being in a more effective and integrated manner, geared to their enhanced well-being. This rationale ensued in the formulation of the primary research question and six secondary research questions, which guided the study. The primary research question was: How can employees of SA public HEIs’ well-being be enhanced by means of an integrated well-being framework, aimed at addressing their well-being holistically? An extensive literature review was conducted to address the purpose and objectives of the study. Furthermore, a document analysis was performed. A qualitative research approach was followed. The empirical study involved a survey conducted amongst eleven South African public higher education institutions. Seven components related to employees’ well-being (with several sub-components each), which are regarded as important for the enhancement of their well-being, emerged from the literature and during the empirical research. These relate to defining the concept of well-being; the nine dimensions of well-being (i.e. physical, emotional, psychological, social, financial, spiritual, environmental, intellectual and occupational well-being); and the importance of SA public HEIs having policies and procedures, strategies and programmes in place to guide and enhance their employees’ well-being. Another aspect addressed was the importance of establishing an institutional culture and values that create an enabling environment for employees to flourish; as well as having a clear understanding of the different role players in employee well-being, and more specifically, the role of South African public higher education institutions in this regard. These mentioned components of well-being were utilised to design an integrated employee well-being framework for these institutions, aimed at enhancing their employees’ well-being. This was accomplished by integrating relevant well-being theories and the research findings, that is, the results of the pilot study, literature review, document analysis and the empirical study. The proposed well-being framework was validated by a panel of experts in the disciplines of industrial and educational psychology, higher education, organizational development and employee well-being, by means of a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire. First, a pilot validation was performed, followed by a validation by a panel of experts. The inputs of experts gained from both rounds of the validation were analysed and, where applicable and confirmed by the literature, incorporated into a final employee well-being framework for South African public higher education institutions. This integrated employee well-being framework will assist South African public higher education institutions in addressing their employees’ well-being holistically and in an integrated manner. Thus, the framework will benefit South African public higher education institutions and their employees, as it might positively impact employees’ well-being, and consequently, the financial sustainability of these institutions and the outputs produced by their employees. Nuanced guidelines for the implementation of the framework were designed as part of the integrated employee well-being framework
Mixture failure rate modeling with applications
No full textThis thesis is mostly on mixture failure rate modeling with some applications. The topic is very important in the modern statistical analysis of real world populations, as mixtures is the tool for modeling heterogeneous populations. Neglecting heterogeneity can result in serious errors in analyzing the corresponding statistical data. Many populations are heterogeneous in nature and the homogeneous modeling can be considered as some approximation. It is well known that the failure (mortality) rate in heterogeneous populations tends (as time increases) to that of the strongest subpopulation. However, this basic result had to be considered in a much more generality dealing with the shape of the failure rate and the corresponding properties for other reliability indices as well. This is done in the dissertation, which is (we believe), its main theoretical contribution which can have practical implications as well. We focus on describing aging characteristics for heterogeneous populations. A meaningful case of a population which consists of two subpopulations, which we believe was not sufficiently studied in the literature, is considered. It is shown that the mixture failure rate can decrease or be a bathtub (BT) shaped: initially decreasing to some minimum point and eventually increasing as t or show the reversed pattern (UBT). Otherwise, the IFR property is preserved. The mean residual life’s (MRL) ‘shape properties’ are analyzed and some relations with the failure rate are highlighted. We show that this function for some specific cases with, e.g., IFR or UBT shaped failure rates is decreasing for certain values of parameters, whereas it is UBT for other values. Some findings on the bending properties of the mixture failure rates are presented. It follows from conditioning on survival in the past interval of time that the mixture failure rate is majorized by the unconditional one. These results are extended to other main reliability indices. The mixture failure rate before and after a shock for ordered heterogeneous populations are compared. It turns out that the failure rate after the shock is smaller than the one without a shock, which means that shocks under some assumptions can improve the probabilities of survival for items in a heterogeneous population. We show that the population failure/mortality rate decreases with age and, even tend to reach a plateau for some specific cases of mortality (hazard) rate process induced by the non-homogeneous Poisson process of shocks. Our model can be used to model and analyze the damage accumulated by organisms experiencing external shocks. In this case, the cumulated damage is reflected by jumps in the failure rate. The focus in the literature has been mostly on the study of expectations for mixtures, however, the obtained results show that the variability characteristics in heterogeneous populations may change dynamically
Predictors of coping amongst male incarcerated offenders in a private maximum-security correctional centre
No full textYoung adult male incarcerated offenders tend to lack adequate coping skills when addressing their personal problems within a correctional environment. Young adult male incarcerated offenders also tend to acquire problematic coping skills in order to survive in the correctional environment, which is marked by overcrowding, deviant subcultures, victimisation, role stripping, loss of goods and loss of autonomy. Although previous research has been conducted on the coping strategies of young adult male incarcerated offenders, relatively few studies have been done on the predictors of coping amongst South African young adult male incarcerated offenders in a private maximum-security correctional centre. There are several variables that can be utilised to predict coping in maximum-security correctional centres and the predictor variables included in this study were offender aggression, decision-making skills, type of offence and age.
The goal of this research study was to determine which variable(s) or set of variables explain the highest variance in coping amongst young adult male incarcerated offenders in a private South African maximum-security correctional centre. Within this study, 187 literate young adult male incarcerated offenders between the ages of 21 and 25 years, with long-term sentences, were randomly selected by using the systematic random sampling technique which is a probability sampling method. The sample of this study included participants between 21 and 25 years of age from all ethnic groups, with various types of offences and differing sentence lengths.
The results of the hierarchical regression analyses indicated that the combination of all the independent (predictor) variables (Type of Crime, Age, Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Hostility, Vigilance, Avoidance, Procrastination and Hyper-Vigilance) statistically and practically significantly predicted Social Support, Problem-Solving and Avoidance amongst young adult male incarcerated offenders. However, Vigilance (MDMQ subscale) was the only independent (predictor) variable that had a statistically and practically significant influence on the explanation of the variance in the young adult male incarcerated offenders’ Social Support and Problem-Solving. This finding implies that young adult offenders that are more vigilant regarding decision-making, are more inclined to solve problems better and to make use of social support in order to cope better
Factors influencing the design of an occupational therapy stroke program in primary health care
No full textIntroduction and background: The ideal of making health care services accessible to all people within South Africa, is envisioned through the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI). The rendering of Primary Health Care (PHC) services is set to form the heartbeat of NHI and therefore a renewed focus is placed on the re- engineering of PHC services. Occupational therapy plays a vital role in the rendering of rehabilitation services within PHC, especially to stroke survivors. Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability globally and it is furthermore one of the top 10 non- communicable diseases in Thabo-Mofutsanyana Health District (TMHD) in the Free State province. Due to the limited availability of district hospitals in the TMHD, most stroke survivors are dependent on receiving occupational therapy services at the PHC clinics. Due to poor staffing norms, occupational therapy services are, however, often out of reach to the majority of stroke survivors within the TMHD. The need to design and develop renewed service delivery models for occupational therapy was identified to ensure that services are accessible to the stroke survivor.
Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the factors that will influence the relevance and feasibility in the design of an occupational therapy program for stroke survivors within a rural PHC setting in the TMHD.
Design and methods: A design science research (DSR) methodology was used for this study. Only phase one of DSR was implemented and both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed. A total of five activities were executed, namely a document review of public health care documentation, structural observations at PHC clinics within the TMHD, structured interviews with community health care workers (CHWs), semi-structured interviews with stroke survivors as well as a focus group with permanently employed occupational therapists within the TMHD.
Findings: Four groups of factors were identified that will influence the relevance and feasibility in the design of an occupational therapy stroke program for the PHC setting. Structural factors were identified that included the exclusion of occupational therapy in relevant public health care documentation as well as the inaccessibility of PHC clinics. The second group of factors that were identified are procedural factors and include the lack of outcome measures and standards of practice for occupational therapy services to stroke survivors within PHC, the possible inclusion of CHWs in the presentation of an occupational therapy stroke program as well as the possible design of a group therapy program. The third group of factors identified related to the challenges that stroke survivors experience while seeking occupational therapy services within PHC and include the physical and emotional distress post stroke, a lack of knowledge on the benefits of occupational therapy post stroke as well as transportation challenges. The last group of factors that have been identified is the content factors that might be considered for the future design of an occupational therapy stroke program for the PHC setting.
Conclusions: Renewed ways of thinking are needed to overcome the challenges faced within PHC in order to ensure that occupational therapy services are relevant and accessible to stroke survivors. Derived from the factors that have been identified, a framework was designed to assist with the future design of an occupational therapy stroke program for the PHC setting
Prevalence of thrombocytopaenia in neonates admitted in neonatal high care unit of Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital Bloemfontein between January 2017 and June 2017
No full textBACKGROUND: Thrombocytopaenia is the most common haematological abnormality, besides anaemia, found in the neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. Even though most cases are mild or moderate, requiring minimal or no intervention, and resolving spontaneously within the first week of life; a few infants, especially the very sick ones or the extremely low birth weights (72h of life). According to severity, neonatal thrombocytopaenia were predominantly mild, 51.9% (n=56). Twenty infants (18.5%) were diagnosed with sepsis based on a positive blood culture (bacterial and fungal), including 4 infants (20%) who demised. Of these, gram negative sepsis was the most common, 55% (n=11), with a mortality rate of 36.4% (n=4). Six infants (5.6%) had confirmed congenital abnormality with thrombocytopaenia. 3 of these infants (50%) were confirmed Trisomy 21. Sixteen (14.8%) of the infants diagnosed with thrombocytopaenia developed IVH. 43.8% (n=7) of these infants demised. NEC was seen in 15.7% (n=17), with 3 deaths (17.6%) occurring in this group. Of the 108 infants confirmed with thrombocytopaenia, only 3.7% (n=4) received a platelet transfusion in our unit, including 3 (75%) who demised. The most common maternal conditions were PET 29.6% (n=32), and PIH 21.3% (n=23). The study showed that chorioamnionitis was not a common maternal variable found in babies diagnosed with thrombocytopaenia in our unit, as only 0.93% (n=1) of this variable was identified during the study. Other main outcome measures identified were number of infants with thrombocytopenia discharged alive 87% (n=94) vs those who demised 13% (n=14). An equal gender distribution for mortality was seen with 50% mortality occurring in male and female infants. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of neonatal thrombocytopaenia in NHCU of PTH between January 2017 and June 2017 was 15.6%. The thrombocytopaenia which were mostly mild (51.9%), occurred slightly more in female infants than their male counterparts (50.9% vs 49.1%). Of these, the low birth weight infants were mostly affected (41.7%). The study confirms thrombocytopaenia is a common problem in our unit, thus physicians caring for the infants must be aware of this in order to curb the morbidity and mortality burden thereof
Internship for the emergency care practitioner (ECP) paramedic in South Africa: a needs analysis
No full textINTRODUCTION: An in-depth study was done with a view to determine the necessity for an internship for Emergency Care Practitioners in South Africa to enhance their autonomous practice in the profession, as indicated by the participants taking part in this study.
AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the need for an internship for the ECP paramedics in South Africa.
METHODOLOGY: A qualitative research design was used for this study. After ethical approval was obtained (UFS-HSD 2017/0047), semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 qualified Emergency Care Practitioners who scored most on a matrix developed by the researcher, in order to report on the experiences of individuals and their understanding of the specific topic.
RESULTS: A significant number of participants (67%) indicated that with a mentorship/ internship programme after tertiary studies, the transition to the world of work would be gentler and that their professional confidence would have benefitted. When prompted during the semi-structured interviews, 50% of the participants were of the opinion that with additional training, medico-legal implications would not be mitigated, 38% of the participants stated that to a large degree the medico legal implications would subside or be eliminated, and 13% that the number of medico legal implications would decrease.
Forty percent (40%) of the participants in the study were of the opinion that simulation training would be beneficial as part of the training during an internship, as 13% of the participants were against simulation training, while 33% of the participants were not very positive towards additional simulation training. Thirteen percent (13%) of the participants did not provide feedback regarding simulation training during an internship.
With regard to the duration of an internship programme, 50% stated that a period longer than six (6) months and less than twelve (12) months would be sufficient, 31% stated that the internship should be more than three (3) months, but not longer than six (6) months. Six percent (6%) of the participants mentioned that the duration of the internship should be determined by the area in which they would be completing their internship period.
CONCLUSION: The introduction of an education and training programme for internship as part of the pedagogy in emergency medical care training will add a new dimension to teaching and learning of the emergency medical care students.
The development of an internship education and training programme for newly graduate emergency medical care practitioners as medium of instruction, which portrays sound pedagogical principles, will enrich the training of the highest qualified registered pre-hospital practitioners in South Africa. Consequently, an internship programme could have the potential to prepare and produce better-equipped professionals who will render an optimal service to the patients and the community
The relationship between African traditional religion and governance in South Africa
No full textAbstract not availabl
An explorative evaluation of food insecurity at higher education institutions: the case of first-year students at the University of the Free State
No full textThe purpose of this study was to assess and measure the extent of food insecurity at higher education institutions, specifically amongst first-year students at the University of the Free State in South Africa. To be able to excel academically, students need to be healthy and without major stressors, but the reality is that many South African students face a daily struggle to manage hunger. Higher education students from under-resourced areas often face the dilemma of having to make a choice between using their money to pay for transport to the university campus or to buy something to eat. The study aimed to explore the current situation regarding food insecurity amongst first-year students at the UFS, and based on these findings, possible solutions could be suggested to the challenges experienced by students facing food insecurity in South African higher education institutions and specifically at the University of the Free State. The research findings provide a general picture of the state of students’ food security status from gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic perspectives. Furthermore, the study provides baseline information from which UFS management, student affairs, and practitioners can assist students in need and contribute to the existing support structures. A non-experimental, quantitative, cross-sectional design was adopted to obtain and analyse the data. A sample of 269 first-year students was obtained via Blackboard, with all first-year students having been granted the opportunity to complete the questionnaire in this way. Furthermore, data were also obtained through the distribution of a hard-copy survey. The questionnaire used a five-point Likert-type scale and was administered, using EvaSys, an automated survey software system. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data exported from EvaSys