KovsieJournals - University of the Free State (UFS)
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Psychology and culture: the politics of recognition
Get PDFIn chis article it is suggested that the cwo main ontological assumptions prevalent in mainstream Western psychology (acomism and holism) are accompanied by implicit moral ideals as well as concomitant constructions of selves, notions of good and political directives. A case is made for viewing present trends in psychology cowards the accommodation of culture as representative of a holistic ideal and of a concomitant politics of recognition of difference. This ontological and political perspective may be seen as a corrective of atomistic liberalism in the direction communitarian liberalism. The latter position is neither collectivise nor ethnocentric in orientation but liberal in the original sense of the word
An introduction to catchment runoff models with specific reference to ACRU, WASHMO and NPS
Get PDFCatchment runoff models have been developed for widely differing purposes and are able to accommodate very different degrees of availability of hydrological data. The models are classified in three categories, namely as stochastic, empirical or deterministic models. This general orientation is followed by a more detailed discussion of three models; the model of the Agricultural Catchment Research Unit (ACRU), the Watershed Storm Hydrograph Multiple Options model (WASHMO) and the Non-Point Source model (NPS)
Die langtermyndoeltreffendheid van \u27n universiteitsoorbruggingsprogram
Get PDFAan die UOVS is die Career Preparation Programme (CPP) sederr 1993 in werking om as gereedmakings- en toelatingsmeganisme die oorgang tot tersiere onderrig van studente van histories swart hoerskole te vergemaklik. Hierdie arcikel !ewer verslag oar \u27n ondersoek na die langrermyndoeltreffendheid van die CPP. Verskeie prestasieindekse van die 1993- en 1994-innames van CPP-studenre is met die ooreenscemmende indekse van swart studente war onderskeidelik in 1994 en 1995 regstreeks tot die UOVS toegelaat is, vergelyk na groepverskille in vorige akademiese prestasie (matriekpunte) srarisries in berekening gebring is. Die prestasie-indekse wac aangewend is, was die gemiddelde kurrikulumpersentasiepunte en die getal verwerfde krediete (in die afsonderlike studiejare, sowel as kumulatief) en die srudiescakings- en gradueringskoerse. Die resultate suggereer dat die CPP-scudente aan die hand van geen van hierdie operasionaliserings van akademiese prestasie enigsi ns beter gevaar het as wat op grand van hul swak matriekprestasie voorspel sou kon word nie
The perceived efficacy of western and traditional health care in an urban population in the Northern province, South Africa
Get PDFThe aim of the srudy was to examine the perceived efficacy of five different cypes of therapies (traditional herbalists, diviners, and prophets, western medicine and psychology) in treating 25 common complaints ranging from AIDS to diarrhoea. Participants were interviewed face-to-face with a questionnaire measuring their state of health, their experience of traditional therapies, their sources of infurmation about cradicional therapies, and their perception of the efficacy of traditional and western therapies in the treatment of each condition. The majority of the participants clearly saw medical therapy as more effective in the treatment of most (18) complaints. Traditional therapy (practised by herbalists and diviners) was perceived as being more effective for traditional illn~ and equally effective for infertility, venereal disease, mental illness, and epilepsy, as well as equally ineffective for AIDS. Overall, western therapies were seen as signifiamdy more effective than traditional therapies
Basiese wetenskapsbeoefening in die geesteswetenskappe: uitdagings, verwagtinge en knelpunte
Get PDFTeen die agtergrond van \u27n oorsigtelike skets van die ontstaan van die moderne universireic as instelling word meer aandag geskenk aan die opkoms van die geesteswetenskappe. Hierdie ontwikkelingsgang word geskets in terme van die inherenre spanning war die onrwikkeling van die moderne filosofie kenmerk met name die spanning war bestaan tussen \u27n decerministiese nacuurwerenskaplike orienrering enersyds en \u27n paging om \u27n domein van menslike vryheid re open aan die ander kant. Oft her gelei tot die twee uiterstes van \u27n empiristiese en \u27n historieshermeneutiese merodologie - \u27n prentjie war verder gekompliseer word deur resente \u27posrmoderne\u27 aansprake. As alternadef word die aandag gevra vir \u27n integrale werklikheidsversraan wat die impasse van wederkerig-uirsluirende metodologiee te bowe gaan
The scope of reasonable cultural and religious accommodation in public schools in South Africa, with a focus on ancestral callings experienced by learners
Get PDFThis article examines the scope of reasonable cultural and religious accommodation in South African public schools, with a focus on ancestral callings experienced by learners. It analyses the relevant legislative framework and key court decisions shaping jurisprudence on this issue. The authors argue that schools must balance protecting sincerely held beliefs against maintaining an effective learning environment for all students. They recommend formal exemption procedures and a consultative approach involving parents, cultural leaders, and education authorities to determine appropriate accommodations, particularly for complex situations such as ancestral callings. The article concludes that reasonable efforts should be made to accommodate diversity in schools without imposing undue burdens
The individual in the gig society: is the gig economy exploitative of the informal economy, or a means of empowerment?
Get PDFThis article argues that the gig economy is an exploitative extension of the informal economy. With its decentralised promise of individual entrepreneurship, I will argue that it places undue burdens on the worker as an ‘independent contractor’ that would otherwise be upheld by the employer. I will do so by applying a Marcusian analysis of the gig economy, highlighting two primary concerns. First, Marcuse’s critique of ‘industrial rationality’ explains how industrial rationality creates the framework for – and justification of – exploitation within the gig economy. Second, as Wendy Brown notes, following Marcuse, the gig economy promotes the neoliberal notion of ‘self-care’ as a means of absolving corporations from any duty towards their employees. More specifically, ‘self-care’ within the gig economy forms part of the exploitation of workers within the informal economy which is often viewed as a buffer to absorb the unemployed within a neoliberal society. Building on this critique, I refer to the work of Byung-Chul Han and his concept of ‘self-exploitation,’ arguing that the gig economy should be considered an extension of an informal economy, in which workers are left in a perpetual state of servitude
Exploring school support stakeholders’ perceptions in identifying learning barriers: the case study of selected rural schools in the Eastern Cape
Get PDFIdentification of learning barriers is a critical issue for support provision in inclusive classes, as it informs individualised support plans for each learner who experiences barriers to learning. However, the school support stakeholders in Quintile 1 rural schools in South Africa face challenges in identifying learning barriers experienced by learners in their classes. Quintile 1 is a socially based ranking given to schools in poverty-stricken communities where most people are unemployed. This study focuses on identifying the perceptions of school support stakeholders in the identification of learning barriers in Quintile 1 rural schools. In this qualitative research study, a multiple case study design was used and 15 participants from three categories (teachers, principals, and school-based support team coordinators) were purposively sampled from three secondary and two primary rural schools due to the different roles expected from each category in the identification of learning barriers. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings revealed insufficient knowledge about the identification of learning barriers; lack of support in identifying learning barriers; lack of continuous in-service training on inclusive practices and education policies as barriers to the identification of learning barriers, which led teachers to perceive their roles in identifying learning barriers in a negative way. In general, this article contributes to understanding the complexities surrounding the identification of learning barriers for support provision in rural settings. It highlights areas for improvement in inclusive practices and supports structures to enhance the inclusivity and effectiveness of rural education systems
School violence and its impact on teachers’ well-being
Get PDFAs a signatory to the United Nations, South Africa is obliged to ensure that all children have access to quality education. The reality though is that there are many barriers which make access to education difficult if not impossible. School violence, an escalating worldwide phenomenon, is widely cited as one of the challenges that are faced by schools. The problem, as research has shown, is most prevalent and disruptive in poor communities. Many teachers are reportedly leaving the profession because they fear school violence or after being victims of violent attacks in their schools.
In this article we demonstrate that violence in schools can have a debilitating effect on teachers as experienced by a case of two teachers. An interpretative phenomenological design was used to examine closely the participants’ experiences of school violence. The study was framed around the concepts of care and support in order to understand how sustainable development goals 3 (good health and wellbeing) and 4 (quality education) in relation to teachers’ health are important pillars for inclusive teaching-learning environments for all school members. Data was collected through narratives which were thematically analysed. The findings reveal that school violence has a negative impact on the general wellbeing of teachers and can produce what we call narratives of disillusionment
The testing of Abraham in Genesis 22 and the testing of Job
Get PDFThis article analyses and compares the testing of Abraham and that of Job. The analysis of Genesis 22 examines the meaning of God testing Abraham in comparison to other instances of God testing individuals in the Bible and draws parallels with the book of Job. Both positive and negative interpretations of human sacrifice are considered with reference to Jewish sources. The tension between the narrative and the poetic part of the book of Job is understood as a correction of a fatalistic, obedient world view. Such critical thinking is lacking in Genesis 22 and is only part of the reception history