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Strategies for teaching leaners transiting from foundation phase to intermediate phase in rural arears of the Vhembe East District of the Limpopo Province
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 philosophy of Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2022Teaching transition learners from Foundation Phase to Intermediate Phase is still a
national academic catastrophe in the Department of Basic Education. Teachers
teaching in the Intermediate Phase in rural schools find it difficult to meet the
curriculum demands when teaching them. This study aimed to investigate strategies
teachers use to teach learners who are transiting from the Foundation Phase to
Intermediate Phase in rural areas. The study was conducted through a mixed methods approach. Simple random and purposive sampling procedures were
followed to select teachers who took part in the study. Results showed that teachers
are using different forms of teaching strategies to teach learners who are transiting
from Foundation Phase to Intermediate Phase in Vhembe East District. Strategies
used include code-switching to elaborate a point to make learners understand
aspects of subjects taught in English. Group work is found as an effective teaching
strategy that impacts the learning outcomes of transiting learners. There are however
challenges that teachers and learners face when these teaching strategies are
applied. The study recommends that teachers should use strategies that link Grade
3 content with that of Grade 4 to assist learners to know the current content. A model
was developed to assist teachers with possible teaching strategies when assisting
learners to perform well
The development of a support framework for informal entrepreneurship in uMhlathuze Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
No full textDissertation submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law in accordance with the requirements for the doctorate degree in commerce in the Department of Business Management, at the University of Zululand, 2022.The significance of informal entrepreneurship and the value of informal entrepreneurs have been widely acknowledged considering South Africa’s socio-economic challenges and the country’s economy’s incapacity to generate formal employment opportunities. These challenges emanates from several factors, which includes the legacy of apartheid, poor education system, Covid-19 regulations, and corruption on economic system. South Africa's extreme poverty and high unemployment rates have made it more necessary than ever for unemployed people to engage in informal entrepreneurship to support themselves and provide for their households. The South African government recognises the significance of small businesses in the economy and has set up both financial and non-financial support measures to support them become self-sustaining. However, research seems to indicate that there is still room for improvement, particularly regarding informal enterprises. This study argues that they is little scholarly attention that has been given to support mechanism for rural informal entrepreneurship. This constitutes a research gap, which this study seeks to address. It is against this background that the aim of the study is to develop a support framework for informal entrepreneurship in KwaZulu-Natal focusing on uMhlathuze Local Municipality. To achieve this purpose, a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was adopted. The study administered 256 questionnaires to informal entrepreneurs at uMhlathuze local municipality and 4 officials from financial development institutions (FDIs) were sampled and interviewed using in-depth format. The findings indicate that most informal enterprises in uMhlathuze local municipality are owned by black females who are motivated by the high unemployment rate to engage in informal entrepreneurship. The study further discovered that lack of government support is the main challenge facing informal entrepreneurs in uMhlathuze local municipality. The study recommends a support framework for informal entrepreneurship in uMhlathuze local municipality whose goal is to help informal enterprises become sustainable and generate employment opportunities
South African Study into Healing Planetary Pollution
Get PDFSouth African Study into Healing Planetary PollutionThe accelerating destructive effects of pollution threaten the existence of all inhabitants
of planet earth. Health promotion interventions inevitably include a dynamic harmony
of various interacting planetary components and contexts, bio-psycho-social as well as
spiritual, cultural and ecological. This study was based on a broad research question
as to what would best heal polluted planet earth. As with most countries, South Africa
is slowly recovering from the effects of COVID-19. It seemed timeous to investigate
a local sample of knowledgeable and experienced persons with regard to their views
on pollution prevention and health promotion. Sixteen local KwaZulu-Natal persons
responded to an online google questionnaire. There were 5 men and 11 women, with
a mean age of 55 and age range from 25 to 73 years. Data analysis using NVivo12
software indicated that participants’ responses generally coalesced into a coherent
health promotion theme including subthemes of awareness, education, regulation, and
action to prevent human destructiveness, promote healing and the holistic integrity of
nature. Unique local findings as well as those similar to other studies are discussed.
Further research could include formal scales with larger local and international samples
in interconnected, ecological and health promotion initiatives
Embedding digital preservation strategies in the management of institutional repositories in South Africa
Get PDFEmbedding digital preservation strategies in the management
of institutional repositories in South AfricaInstitutional repositories (IRs) have received substantial consideration from various
researchers across disciplines and around the world. Universities have considered
prioritising the IR’s functionality by putting in place various measures to make IRs
more efficient. This paper focuses on issues of institutional repositories and digital
preservation in South Africa. The study drew from the secondary source of
information in the African context and around the globe to have a sound argument
that is more systematic towards IRs. The paper shows that in the past, various studies
have focused on the field of preservation of cultural heritage in general. The gap
identified by literature was that there was very little provision of reliable long-term
digital repositories in Africa. The literature further revealed that most institutions of
higher learning in South Africa are now migrating to have full implementation of
digital preservation for their IRs. It is recommended that digital preservation strategies
should be embedded in institutional repositories in South Africa
Knowledge and practice of grade 2 educators in enhancing conceptual development when teaching multiplication in Thabina circuit, Mopani West district
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2022Teaching the multiplication concept is a challenge to Foundation Phase educators.
This study focused on Foundation Phase educators‟ Pedagogical Content Knowledge
in teaching multiplication to Grade 2 learners. The study was done qualitatively. The
use of this research methodology resulted in the incorporation of the conceptual
framework for the development of multiplication concepts at Grade 2 level. The said
conceptual framework was informed by both Vygotsky‟s (1978) socio-cultural and the
educators‟ Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) development theories as outlined
by Loughran, Mulhall, and Berry (2004). This study relied on the educators‟ knowledge
and practice in teaching multiplication concepts at Grade 2 level. Data was obtained
from the educators who teach Grade 2 classes. Interviews were conducted
telephonically given the current COVID 19 pandemic regulations and restrictions. The
collected data were analysed using the thematic analysis method. Three themes
developed as the data were analysed, and its discussions centre around these
themes. These findings revealed that Grade 2 educators lacked the knowledge on
how young learners should learn multiplication concepts. This was exemplified by
their omission of procedures such as changing visual diagrams into numerals (and
multiplication operation) and vice versa, and their failure to use number lines to
represent numbers. The results were consistent with literature on how educators
should enhance the development of multiplication concepts in the Foundation Phas
Assessing coping strategies of female street traders during COVID-19 in the City of UMhlathuze, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Get PDFThesis submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements of the Master of Arts degree in Geography in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zululand.The informal economy is an essential part of the Global South. Over the years it has provided an opportunity for many to become essential economic and social actors, a majority of these being women. Street traders are susceptible to, among others, socio economic shocks, crime, and income irregularity. This means in the case of a disturbance to normal operations; street traders must adapt to ensure that they retain their livelihoods. Against this backdrop, this study assesses the coping strategies of female street traders during the COVID-19 pandemic in the City of UMhlathuze, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The specific objectives of the study are to, a) analyse street trading operations of female informal economic operators in the City of UMhlathuze, b) examine the capital, infrastructural and political challenges experienced by female street traders as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of UMhlathuze, c) analyse the coping strategies used by female street traders during the COVID-19 pandemic in the City of UMhlathuze, and d) assess the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on female street traders in the study area. This research uses Feminist Marxism and Feminist Intersectionality as the theoretical lenses to critically analyse the coping strategies of FSTs in the City of UMhlathuze during the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of methodology, the study employed a qualitative approach with 43 purposively sampled Female Street Traders (FSTs) interviewed at KwaDlangezwa, Empangeni CBD, and Alkantstrand Beach. The study found that in the City of UMhlathuze the nature of street trading operations for FSTs includes trading in second-hand clothes, cooked food, fruit, and vegetables. The findings of this study also show that within the City of UMhlathuze, FSTs faced capital, operational and political challenges which impacted their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges included increased procurement prices, inadequate infrastructure, and the lack of street trading permits. In response to these challenges, FSTs had to modify their operations by becoming mobile, altering the nature of their trade or in some instances working together. This study proposes that FSTs should form networks that can be beneficial to them in times of crisis. The research also recommends that government departments should consider the needs of FSTs in disaster management so that future policies and responses do not marginalize FSTs
Exploring the factors that contribute to high failure rate among final year students in public higher education institutions in the kingdom of eSwatini.
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 philosophy of Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2022.In Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the Kingdom of Eswatini there are students who fail their final year of study. The focus of this study is on students who failed their final year of study in HEI in Eswatini. The rationale is that a number of studies focus on failure and retention of first year students, yet students fail even in successive years, including their final year. The aim of this research is to develop a strategy to mitigate failure of students in their final year of study in Higher Education Institutions in Eswatini. There is lack of information in the country on students who fail their final year in HEI, yet failure in final year is a reality. There is limited research based literature on failure of final year students. Failure in final year send students back to their communities with a stigma attached to them. Communities are concerned about students who fail in their final year of study. They are a population that is hard to identify because they do not want to be seen and judged as failures. The study, therefore aim to address the gap by exploring the factors contributing to failure and developing a substantive theory to mitigate failure in final year of study in Eswatini. The study employed qualitative research methodology using Constructivist Ground Theory. It used snowballing and theoretical sampling. The participant were students who failed their final year of study. Data was collected through in-depth semi structured interviews conducted face to face and through telephone calls. Consent forms were sent through emails for student who were interviewed through telephone call due to COVID 19 restriction. Data analysis was directed by CGT, which involves memoing, data generation and analysis concurrently. The findings revealed that institutions contributed a lot to the failure of final year students. The Substantive theory developed to mitigate failure is a holistic strategy that will make an innovative and worthwhile contribution by offering a new insight into how to mitigate failure in final year in HEI in Eswatini. The substantive theory will address challenges from both the institution and the students. The theory consists of three components, namely the pre-entry courses, professional development and students support services.
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Recommendations of the study were preparatory courses for students and refresher courses for the staff in HEI. The study explored failure in the final year of study through the lens of students. It advocates that the voice of the students deserves to be heard in order to mitigate failure in the final year of study
An appraisal of Gunther Wittenberg's Theology of hope in post-1994 South Africa
No full textAn appraisal of Gunther Wittenberg's Theology of hope in post-1994 South AfricaSouth Africa's reluctance to deploy religion in the public sphere can be understood in terms of the country's political and socioeconomic trajectories from the apartheid era. Theology has always featured in the struggle history of the majority of the Black population but has been neglected by most historians and theologians in the face of crises facing the country today. This article examines Wittenberg's theocratisation of the "theology of hope" as a means of redressing this apparent neglect, highlighting the invaluable role of the church in the struggle against apartheid. During the early 1990s, Wittenberg' s ideas became a force to reckon with in challenging the negative impact of apartheid policies on Black people. I focus on Wittenberg because of his rich experience and knowledge of Lutheran theology. The main aim of this article, therefore, is to elaborate on the significance of the theology of hope in the context of a democratic South Africa amid unprecedented political and socioeconomic crises. I have adopted secondary data analysis and experientialism as research approaches for this pape
Comprehensive comparative analysis of cytochrome P450s and those associated with secondary metabolism in Salinispora species
Get PDFA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, at the University of Zululand, 2022.Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs/P450s) are heme thiolate proteins present in species across the biological kingdoms. By virtue of their broad substrate promiscuity and regio- and stereo-selectivity, these enzymes enhance or attribute diversity to the secondary metabolites. Actinomycetes species are well-known producers of secondary metabolites, especially Salinispora species. Despite the importance of P450s, a comprehensive comparative analysis of P450s and their role in secondary metabolism in Salinispora species is not reported. Thus, P450s analysis in 126 strains from three different species Salinispora arenicola, S. pacifica, and S. tropica is carried out in this study. The study revealed the presence of 2643 P450s that can be grouped into 45 families and 103 subfamilies. CYP107 and CYP125 families are conserved, and CYP105 and CYP107 families are bloomed (a P450 family with many members) across Salinispora species. Analysis of P450s that are part of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (smBGCs) revealed Salinispora species have an unprecedented number of P450s (1236 P450s-47%) part of smBGCs compared to other bacterial species belonging to the genera Streptomyces (23%) and Mycobacterium (11%), phyla Cyanobacteria (8%) and Firmicutes (18%) and the classes Alphaproteobacteria (2%) and Gammaproteobacteria (18%). A peculiar characteristic of up to six P450s in smBGCs was observed in Salinispora species. Future characterization Salinispora species P450s and their smBGCs have the potential for discovering novel secondary metabolite
Examining the impact of distributed leadership practices on learner performance in selected secondary schools in the Zululand district
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfillment of the academic requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Foundations of Education in the Faculty of Education, University of Zululand, 2022.This study sought to examine the impact of distributed leadership practices on learner performance in selected secondary schools in the Zululand District. The activity theory was the lens for the study. A qualitative research design underpinned by an interpretive paradigm was used in this study. Purposeful sampling design was used to select sixteen participants, who were secondary school principals. Data were generated by means of semi-structured interviews, and data analysis emerged with themes and sub themes. Data were analysed thematically and using themes and sub-themes. The study found that distributed leadership practices not only motivate teachers, but requires them to recognised their own strengths, and contribute to school leadership by taking on roles that interest them. The study also revealed that some factors promote the enactment of distributed leadership practices, such as enhanced collegiality, trust, joint decision-making, data dialogues, promotion of democracy and distribution of power. This study revealed that school leaders must effectively harness each teacher's talents to address complex challenges that permeate through the school community. The study further revealed that teachers should be given time to take on leadership duties and participate in decision-making. The study recommends teamwork, consultation, capacity development, execution of plans and reflective meetings to be encouraged in schools. It further recommends that principals should support teacher leaders and conduct on-the-job workshops to upskill teachers in their areas of interests. A distributed leadership model of practice was designed with the purpose to be presented during the adoption of the practical distributed leadership process