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Natural Science teaching in grade 8 and 9
No full textA Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Mathematics, Science, Technology Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2023].This study investigated the experiences of novice teachers teaching the subject of Natural Sciences to Grade 8 and 9, within Pietermaritzburg secondary schools. Qualitative methods were used in this study, specifically semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants, principals of secondary schools, sciences Head of Departments and novice teachers. Data was collected and analysed thematically.
The findings obtained in this study revealed that irrespective of school location, secondary schools within Pietermaritzburg were identified as having inadequate facilities for science education. As such, conducive classrooms and laboratory facilities were inadequate. For science practical sessions, there were not always enough chemicals and reagents to go around for all the learners. Hence, teachers sometimes split the learners into different groups. The foregoing of these practical sessions made the teaching of natural science a difficult task, especially for novice teachers in rural secondary schools. It can be deduced that due to a lack of physical infrastructure and scientific materials, it may be difficult for novice natural science teachers to effectively and efficiently convey to learners the needed scientific knowledge.
Overcrowding remains one of the key challenges faced in schools these days. Population growth, teacher shortages, inadequate funding, and enrolment patterns, among other things, have been some of the causative factors of this. Overcrowded classrooms can have a harmful effect on both teachers and learners, particularly in science laboratories.
Some of the participants were of the perception that they had limited opportunities to attend professional development trainings, organized by the Department of Basic Education at district level; this was due to the distant location of the rural schools that they attended. Most novice teachers could not even remember the name of the subject advisor from this department. This points to the very big gap between the district planning and what is happening in schools. This is a clear indication of the fact that the vision held by the Department of Basic Education may never succeed, as long as teachers do not share it with them
The use of biotic indices to assess the effect of fish farming in Richards Bay Harbour
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Department of Zoology at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2023]
Assessing the impact of library services on teachers in schools using the uKhahlamba Teacher Development Centre in KwaZulu-Natal
Get PDFA research project submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Information Science to the Department of Information Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa.District Teachers' Development Centres serve as hubs for delivering professional teacher development programmes and ICT support for teachers for information, knowledge and skills. As such, the Teacher Development Centres have a role to play in the careers of educators, particularly in this information age led by the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The study aimed to assess the impact of information services on teachers' teaching practices in schools using the Okhahlamba Teacher Development Centre in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The research objectives of the study were to determine the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of the 21st-century teachers in schools supported by the Okhahlamba Teacher Development Centre, establish the information services and resources available and accessible by teachers at the Okhahlamba Teacher Development Centre, ascertain the competencies of teachers in using information services and resources at the Okhahlamba Teacher Development Centre and find out the challenges teachers face in using information services of the Okhahlamba Teacher Development Centre. The study employed a post-positivism research paradigm. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used in this study. The research designs used were a survey and a case study research designs. The target population was 306 teachers and one librarian. The sampling methods were purposive sampling method for the librarian and systematic sampling method for the teachers. Semi-structured interview schedules and self-administered questionnaires were used as data collection instruments for the librarian and teachers respectively in this study. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, and quantitative data were analysed using descriptive analysis. The study used the Cognitivism Learning (CL) Theory and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as theoretical support. The findings revealed that the teachers’ needs are information for their schoolwork or teaching, personal reading, study and discussion space, job applications and internet access. The findings also revealed that the teachers search for information in the library and prefer to access information on the internet. The findings on information and knowledge services and facilities available and accessible for teachers revealed that there are computer services, search services, photocopying services, and training services. The findings also revealed the competencies teachers must be able to access the information services and resources; teachers can use computers and are also able to access information on the internet. Regarding the challenges teachers face when accessing information services and resources revealed are the absence of mobile library services that used to serve them in their schools, shortage of books, shortage of relevant information materials relevant to their curriculum as well as their development; they need stable internet access and more computers as they are teaching in the 4th industrial revolution; they need to be notified by the librarian about availability of new resources and all library materials available, accessible and relevant to their work, for their developmental skills, for them to create study rooms for kids in their schools, make internet accessible at the libraries in schools
The fiction of migrant to South African and Zimbabwean fiction
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of English at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2023].This study foregrounds the links between migrant masculinities and spatial transformation in recent South African and Zimbabwean fiction written by women authors. Using various postcolonial theories dealing with masculinity, I argue that the authors of the selected novels suggest that changes in the performance of masculinity by their main male characters are linked with movement between different socio-cultural spaces. This means that the male character’s sense of self and his performance of masculinity are influenced by the status of his migrancy. The novels reveal that various degrees of migrancy influence the performance of masculinities both in private and public spaces. Migrancy between two cities in the same country, between rural and urban spaces in the same country, between one urban space in one country to another country, are determinants of the resultant masculinities constructed and performed in the respective spaces. Using Nkealah’s (2014) idea of absented presences, I also demonstrate the ways in which the chosen texts foreground the performance of masculinities by women in households headed by single women where there are no men. The major significance of the study is its uses of literary and cultural analysis to shed light on the endemic crisis of problematic masculinities currently facing communities across South Africa and Zimbabwe
Media Technology for entrepreneurship development
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Communication Science in the Department of Communication Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2023].This study investigated the use of New Media Technology (NMT) to support entrepreneurship development (ED) and its possible contribution to helping small businesses to be sustainable and to grow, and further create employment, especially among youth and unemployed graduates within the Nkomazi Local Municipality. For this purpose, the study used one of the government agencies mandated to support and promote SMMEs in Nkomazi to assess how the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) would use NMT for entrepreneurship development programmes for its existing clients and aspiring young entrepreneurs. The study set three objectives: to assess the relevancy of the current new media platform used by SEDA for entrepreneurship development among its employees, existing clients, and aspiring young entrepreneurs, to determine the challenges SEDA employees, existing clients, and aspiring young entrepreneurs face when using NMT for entrepreneurship development; and to ascertain the possibilities of SEDA fully utilising NMT for promoting entrepreneurship development programmes among its existing clients and aspiring young entrepreneurs. The two conceptual frameworks were used, namely the AIDA Model and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), to assess how NMT would be accepted by rural communities in Nkomazi Local Municipality and determine whether SEDA stakeholders perceive NMT usefulness and ease of use. The study adopted mixed-method research, which allowed the use of both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. The design of the study was convergent mixed method design. The sample of the study included convenience sampling for quantitative data and purposive (judgmental) sampling for qualitative data. The sampling method of the study was non-probability sampling. As such, the results were obtained using both online closed and open-ended questionnaires to collect data from SEDA Nkomazi branch practitioners, existing clients, and aspiring young entrepreneurs. The results were administered through MoonStats and thematic data analysis. The results revealed that the majority of both SEDA Nkomazi practitioners and clients found the current NMT for SEDA to be relevant; however, the study revealed that poor internet connection and data cost are two of the challenges faced by SEDA Nkomazi clients. The study further established that SEDA Nkomazi's clients believed SEDA should share their entrepreneurship development programmes using images, videos, and graphic content, easy language to understand, simplify online application processes and procedures and allow online consultation options daily or at least 2-3 times a week. The study concluded that the challenges of poor internet connection and data cost can be attributed to poor ICT infrastructure and the cost of data in South Africa. Therefore, the study recommended the implementation of zero-rated access to the Internet for SEDA clients to access their services online, to reduce or remove the high data burden faced by many clients, and lastly, to use images, videos, and graphic content in easy language to understand, simplify online application processes and procedures, and allow online consultation options daily or at least 2-3 times a week
nitrogen fertilizer rates and plant population on growth
No full textA Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2023].Solanum scabrum is a nutritious African leafy vegetable scarcely known in South Africa but consumed in other African countries. Very little is known about the agronomic requirements of this crop, including optimum fertilizer rates and plant population. This study focused on the effect of N fertilizer application and plant population on the growth, phenology, yield, and nutritional composition of S. scabrum.
A field experiment was conducted at the University of Zululand farm in which S. scabrum was grown under 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha-1 N (as limestone ammonium nitrate) and 100 000, 160 000, 220 000, and 280 000 plants per hectare in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Five randomly selected plants from the inner rows of each plot were marked and used to take measurements of vegetative traits (on plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf area, and the number of leaves and branches) 35 days after transplanting. Phenological development of reproductive traits was recorded as duration (days after transplanting) to 50% flowering, fruit formation, and fruit maturity, using plants from the border rows. Plants from inner rows were harvested to measure marketable and non-marketable yield in fresh and dry mass (g). Ten centimetre long shoot tips were harvested for marketable yield at 35 and 56 days after transplanting. However, the non-marketable yield was determined from all aboveground parts harvested at 5 cm above soil level at the termination date. The same shoot tips were analysed for their N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe content.
Plant height and leaf area generally increased, but leaf chlorophyll content and the number of branches and leaves were inconsistent with an increase in N application. The effect of population size on plant height, the number of branches and leaves, leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll content were inconsistent. Nitrogen application of 300 and 400 kg ha-1 N and a low plant population (100 000 plants ha-1) increased the days to 50% flowering. Generally, applying N resulted in higher values for all yield parameters measured in this study. Further, yield parameters were higher at the lowest plant population (100 000 plants ha-1). Nitrogen application did not affect N, K, and Ca content, but reduced P content of the shoots. Its effect on the shoot Mg content was variable. Application of N had an inconsistent effect on the shoots’ Na, Zn, Cu, and Fe content. However, it reduced and increased the shoots’ Al and Mn content, respectively. Variation in plant population did not affect the macronutrients, whereas the application of N had an inconsistent effect on some micronutrients. The application of 300 kg ha– 1 was the optimum range for N fertilizer application, and 100 000 plants ha-1 was the optimum plant population relative to shoot fresh mass. This indicates potential for improving the crop through N fertilization, thereby contributing to food security and balanced diets in rural households in South Africa
Public works program in job creation
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa.South Africa has been plagued with numerous socioeconomic problems which stem from the racial disparities during the apartheid era. Among these, is the unemployment challenge which has mostly affected black Africans, especially youth, women and the disabled. In light of that, the South African government introduced the Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) program to minimise the unemployment challenge, specifically targeting the previously disadvantaged. This study’s aim was to examine the effectiveness and challenges of the EPWP program in job creation for the people of UMhlabuyalingana Municipality. Therefore, to collect adequate data to examine this aim, both a literature study and an empirical investigation based on the qualitative research design was employed. This was done to find their perception of the effectiveness of EPWP towards job creation in Umhlabuyalingana Municipality. The study used semi- structured interviews to obtain relevant information from stakeholders, management, staff and coordinators of EPWP in uMhlabuyalingana Municipality. A total of 8 participants were interviewed through semi-structured interviews comprising of 4 female and 4 male participants. The findings revealed that administration was one of the most central operation points identified in the EPWP projects implemented in uMhlabuyalingana particularly the financial management, record keeping, reporting, and dissemination of instructions. This shows how the administration is key to the success of every government project. However, there were certain challenges identified which could lead to slow progress and little significance of this program such as, low salary of program recipients, payment delays, nepotism and lack of proper administration, which could hinder the program aim of creating employment and reducing poverty. Therefore, proper administrative work is the recipe in implementing government projects to achieve targeted goals. It was also suggested that budgets should be increased in programs such as this and introduce fair recruitment policies as well as eliminating the role of politicians in the appointment process
Experiences of Teaching Reading in IsiZulu in Grade 3 in Ilembe District Schools
Get PDFDissertation Submitted in Accordance With The Requirements for The Master’s Degree in Education at the University Of ZululandThere is much concern regarding learners who struggle with reading. The study aimed to look into teachers' experiences teaching reading in isiZulu in Grade 3 in iLembe District schools. All of the learners spoke isiZulu as their home language. The research was conducted qualitatively. The interpretive paradigm was the study's paradigmatic position. Individual teacher interviews, classroom observations, and content analysis were used to gather data. After the interviews were taped, transcribed, and analyzed, the data were grouped into themes. Three schools were chosen, each with three Grade 3 classes. Learners participated because the primary goal was to observe teachers' experiences teaching reading in isiZulu. The purpose of this study was to learn more about the teachers' experiences teaching reading in IsiZulu in Grade 3 classrooms, rather than to assess learners' performance. The goal of this study was to find out how teachers in isiZulu classrooms teach reading. The study's findings suggested that the teachers who took part had a weak understanding of reading skills. They saw teaching reading as a difficult task because they had no idea what reading tactics were or how to use them. Teachers spent little time with learners discussing reading, and there was no consistent approach to teaching reading among them. Teachers also demonstrated a lack of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in teaching reading skills, which leads to teachers adopting a negative attitude toward their learners (who struggle to read). Although the participating teachers claimed to understand reading, interviews and classroom observations demonstrated no correlation between what they stated and what they performed in practice in their classes. Teaching reading has been an ongoing challenge in Grade 3 classrooms. These findings revealed that teachers' classroom practice was not consistent with current best practice and the modern theories of teaching reading. This factor negatively affects their expertise in teaching reading using the CAPS (2011) recommended reading methodologies in general. The challenges faced by applying different reading methodologies might be the reason for learners' inability to achieve successful reading outcomes in Grade 3 classrooms. They felt forgotten because the instructions were only in English and not African languages like isiZulu. As a result, there are no isiZulu teachings for teachers with isiZulu examples. Workshops had also been ineffective for isiZulu teachers. In other schools, the survey found a dearth of learning v | P a g e support tools, a scarcity of books, and a lack of a variety of reading materials for learners
The confusion of work and real life.
No full textThesis submitted .............Society seems to think work is what makes a human being..........................
Assessing the implementation of neoliberal policies in the city of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality: challenges of service delivery
No full textDissertation submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Public Administration in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2023].Johannesburg has been strategically critical in South Africa as it has been an economic powerhouse of the country. The economic importance of Johannesburg began during the colonial era, well into apartheid and the democratic era. At the demise of apartheid, South Africa adopted neoliberalism, which eventually amplified colonial and apartheid-era inequalities while thwarting social justice. This study investigates the implementation of neoliberal policies in local government, intending to establish the nexus between neoliberalism as an economical approach with service delivery protests; insecurities linked to protest violence and police brutality; and governance with a specific focus on the townships and informal settlements (urban peripheries), specifically focusing on the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. The City of Johannesburg has faced the challenge of protest action against the local government proportionally more often compared to other municipalities.
Using a qualitative approach, the primary data was collected via interviews and focus group discussions with officials responsible for implementing policies, residents in the urban peripheries, selected government departments and academic experts, while secondary data was collected through policy documents and a literature survey. The study finds that adopting neoliberalism in local government has increased economic inequality, and that the City of Johannesburg has the highest inequality compared to other municipalities. Although there was resistance in the form of protests against neoliberalism in the early years of democracy, protests changed and were directed towards local government service provision. Further, neoliberalism is associated with creating new peripheries, creating a distinction between the core and peripheries and is thus associated with insecurities from the peripheries. The study recommends improved governance, extensive stakeholder engagement, improved monitoring and evaluation, and a modification of neoliberalism for South Africa