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The challenges facing the technical and vocational Education and Training (TVET) Curriculum in addressing the skills shortage gap in the rural areas of Northern KwaZulu-Natal
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021The main aim of the study was to investigate the challenges facing the TVET
curriculum in addressing the skills shortage gap in the rural areas of Northern Kwa Zulu Natal. The objectives of the study were; (a) to explore the TVET curriculum in
an attempt to address the skills shortage gap in the rural areas of Northern Kwa Zulu Natal, (b) to investigate the challenges facing the TVET curriculum in
addressing the skills shortage gap in the rural areas of Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal,
(c) to determine possible alternative ways for the TVET curriculum to address the
skills shortage gap in the rural areas of Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. Accordingly, this
study employed the human capital theory its theoretical framework, while relating
the literature to the theory. To achieve the study objectives, the researcher
employed post-positivism as well as the relevant paradigms using a convergent
parallel mixed-methods design. In addition, quantitative data analysis was used to
quantify the phenomena and to analyse patterns and trends. Furthermore,
qualitative thematic data analysis was used to group similar themes. These two
approaches were used concurrently; hence, this study was a convergent parallel
study in which the findings from the two approaches were compared, and the
results were related to each other. One hundred and twenty (120) lecturers
responded to the questionnaire and six campus senior personnel, in their
respective portfolios, participated in the in-depth interviews. The findings identified
a lack of trained lecturers, the poor design of the TVET curriculum, curriculum
fragmentation, weak institutional structures and poor infrastructure. The findings
also noted the poor funding norms, poor policy frameworks, lack of active support
by the stakeholders as well as a poor relationship with the TVET partners.
Furthermore, poor technological advancement, the nature of the students enrolled,
the misappropriation of the curriculum, poor programme design and inadequate
student guidance and counselling were also identified in the findings. There is need
for the stake holders of the TVET sector to take a centre stage in skills
development through education and training via vocational studies
Octupole degrees of freedom in Uranium-230
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Science in the Department of Physics at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021.The nuclei230U and232U were considered to possibly have tetrahedral shape because their negative-parity bands lacked in-band E2 transitions. From a study about the implications of tetrahedral shapein230U and232U [7], it was discovered that these bands were better described as octupole vibrations.This was concluded from the observation of the in-band E2 transitions from the negative-paritybands which contradicted the idea of tetrahedral shape. However, more in-band E2 transitions wereobserved in232U compared with230U where only one in-band E2 transition was observed.This study seeks to observe in-band E2 transitions from the low-lying negative-parity states of230U.The nucleus230U was produced and studied at iThemba LABS using the reaction232Th(α, 6n)230Uat 63 MeV beam energy. Gamma-rays from230U were detected and measured with AFRODITEcoupled to a recoil detector. The recoil detector was an essential tool in this measurement as ithelps to suppress fission background that is associated with this type of reaction. The negative-parity band was extended with two new tentative states. No in-band E2 transtions were observed inthe low-lying negative-parity states, and only one new tentative in-band E2 transition was observedfrom the new levels. Intrinsic dipole moments, energies of the observed states, and transitions arecompared to systematics of neighboring nuclei. Related similarities in the intrinsic dipole moments,and energies are noticed in the systematics. These results still support octupole deformation ratherthan tetrahedral deformation.National ResearchFoundation (NRF
The provision of malaria health education by nurses/midwives to HIV infected pregnant women during antenatal clinic visits at lower Manya Krobo district of Ghana
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Nursing, in the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Zululand, 2021.Introduction: Malaria infection during pregnancy is a significant public health problem, with substantial risks for the mother, foetus, or neonate. HIV infection and malaria represent a double burden for pregnant women. The prevention of malaria among HIV infected pregnant women through health education by nurses/midwives during antenatal clinic visits presents a strategic opportunity to reduce and possibly eliminate malaria among these vulnerable individuals.
Aim: To investigate the malaria health education nurses/midwives provide to HIV infected pregnant women during antenatal clinic visits at selected hospitals in the Lower Manya Krobo District of Ghana.
Methods: A convergent parallel mixed method within an Interpretivist’s methodological design was used to concurrently collect qualitative and quantitative data separately. Quantitative data were collected from 110 HIV infected pregnant women visiting the antenatal clinics through administered questionnaires and analysed with SPSS, IBM version 27. The qualitative data were obtained from three nurses/midwives through interviews and analysed in Nvivo 12. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test and Pearson’s correlation were used for quantitative analysis. A narrative weaving approach was used to integrate the two data.
Results: The study indicated that the respondents had a high knowledge of malaria. The primary malaria preventive practices include a clean environment, insecticide-treated mosquito net, spray/coils and repellent use. The content of malaria education provided by nurses/midwives included what malaria is, the cause of malaria, the effect of malaria on pregnancy, their susceptibility to and consequences of malaria in pregnancy, and available preventive strategies. The factors affecting the effective delivery of malaria health education were: staff shortage, long waiting time, and noncompliance. An integrated Malaria Health Educational Intervention Framework emerged from the study.
Conclusion: The appropriate malaria health education integration in routine antenatal clinic visits and delivery by nurses/midwives represents a great strategy to prevent malaria among vulnerable HIV infected pregnant women
Isolation, screening, identification, and optimization of microorganisms with bioflocculant-production potential from kombucha tea scobies and its application in wastewater treatment
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 Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021Microorganisms excrete metabolites during growth. Extracellular polysaccharides
such as, glycoproteins, proteins, and nucleic acids contributes to the synthesis of
bioflocculants. Through formation of bridges between suspended particles in a
solution, bioflocculants assist with increase in flocculation, leading to particles
precipitation. It is noteworthy that when impurities are flocculated into flocs, they tend
to settle down and can easily be removed. In this study, the ability of the yeast Pichia
kudriavzevii from Kombucha teas Scoby to produce a bioflocculant was investigated.
A Kombucha tea Scoby was brought from Pine Town, KwaZulu-Natal Province of
South Africa, and bioflocculant-producing microorganisms were isolated from the
Scoby. Dilutions of the samples were made and cultivated in nutirents agar plates to
obtain pure cultures. Pure cultures were screened for bioflocculant-production
potential against kaolin clay suspension (4 g/L) as the test material. The isolate with
better bioflocculant production potential was selected for the bioflocculant
production. The isolate showed the highest flocculating activity of 84.93% against
kaolin clay suspension. The identification of the organism using 16S rRNA showed
the organism to have 99% similarities with the yeast Pichia kudriavzevii with
accession number MH545928.1. The strain was capable of producing a bioflocculant
under the optimal production conditions of 1% (v/v) inoculum size, glucose (92%) as
carbon source, peptone (94%) as a source of nitrogen, at a temperature of 35 ºC
(97%). At an initial pH 7 of the medium, the maximum flocculating activity (91%) was
achieved and the shaking speed of 140 rpm (96%) resulted into an optimum
production of a bioflocculant by P. kudriavzevii. A bioflocculant yield of 2.836 g was
produced from 1 L fermentation broth after 60 hours of incubation at 35 ºC. The
colour of a produced bioflocculant was milky-white and in a powdered form. The
purified bioflocculant obtained had the highest flocculating activity of 80% at a
dosage size of 0.4 mg/mL against kaolin suspension. The purified bioflocculant was
cation-dependent with Al3+ (72%) as the most favourable cation. The purified
bioflocculant was able to retain about 70% flocculating activity when exposed to 121
º C temperatures for 15 minutes, which confirmed the thermostability of the
bioflocculant. After the Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis of the purified
bioflocculant, it was revealed that hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, thiocynates, alkynes,
furan functional groups are present in the molecular chain of a bioflocculant and are
responsible for its best flocculation ability. The chemical composition of the purified
bioflocculant showed the presence of sugar (69%), protein (11%), and uronic acid
(16%) with carbohydrates as main component and responsible for its thermal
stability characteristics. A cumulus-like structure of the bioflocculant was revealed
using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the weight fractions from the
elemental analysis of the purified bioflocculant were C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K,
Ca, which accounts for 16.92: 1.03: 43:76: 0.18: 0.40: 0.80: 14.44: 1.48: 0.31: 0.34:
20.35 (%wt), respectively. The XRD analysis of the purified bioflocculant showed that
the bioflocculant have bigger particles with diffraction peaks at 10º and 40º indicating
the crystallinity of the purified bioflocculant. The produced bioflocculant is highly
effective at 5 g/L salt concentration with flocculating activity of 81%. Increasing the
salt concentration inhibibed the flocculating activity. The produced bioflocculant
showed highest removal efficiencies compared to the conventional chemical
flocculants (Fe3+ and alum) used in the study. The purified bioflocculant exhibited a
remarkable removal efficiency in both domestic and industrial (coal mine)
wastewater for COD, BOD, phosphorus, sulfate, nitrate, and total nitrogen with
removal efficiency of 49% and 43% (COD), 79% and 64% (BOD), 46% and 48%
(phosphorus), 79% and 73% (sulphate), 61% and 71% (nitrate), and 50% (total
nitrogen), respectively. The bioflocculant also revealed strong dye removal ability
with the removal efficiency of 81% (Congo red), 81% (nigrosine), 73% (methylene
blue), and 74% (safranin).
In conclusion, this bioflocculant from P. kudriavzevii seems to have a potential in the
removal of different impurities from various wastewater especially in the domestic
and industrial wastewater
The role of SABC Television Locally Produced Programmes in transforming society through edutainment: A case study of Ulundi
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters of Arts in the Department of Communication Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021.The study examined the role of SABC television’s locally produced programmes in transforming
society through edutainment. The focus was on the possible influence of the role of SABC in
converting societal behaviour through entertainment-education (edutainment) in locally produced
TV programmes. The following theories were used to conceptualise this research: agenda-setting
theory (AST) and technology acceptance model (TAM). The study explored the possible
modification brought by watching television programmes aired by the South African
Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) television.
A mixed method research approach was employed to compare the attitude and social behaviour
of TV viewers after watching the locally produced TV programmes on SABC 1, SABC 2 and
SABC 3. It investigated the role of SABC locally produced programmes in changing society. A
sample of 384 respondents and interviewees participated in the research. A self-administered
questionnaire with open and close-ended questions was employed to extrapolate information
from participants of this study. The study focused more on respondents that were located in the
city of Heritage (Ulundi), KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa. Simple random sampling was applied
to select 384 viewers, and 20 interviews were conducted. The analysis and interpretation of the
data embraced an exploration of evolving themes which formed the fundamental of the research
findings.
The findings suggest that moderated TV programmes are more educative, informative, and
inspiring; they may be more effective than books or audiotapes when it comes to general
teaching viewers about life. The study also reveals that most participants indicated that SABC
television programmes lessons are positive though there are also negative lessons derived from
them. The study further exposes that most of the characters become relevant to the audiences’
lifestyles. The findings show that most of the potential audiences of SABC television
edutainment programmes from deep rural areas are media illiteracy. The recommendations were
iv
made to assist the elevation of the individuals and whole society as follows: minimising the
broadcasting of criminal and sexual content on these locally produced programmes, as they
promote crime and teenage pregnancy in the society; and give motivation to the production
teams of the SABC TV programme-makers who are using local content. The redirection of
foreign heritages that are dominating and eroding the local content, native heritages such as
native languages, clothing and lifestyle of local societies
The flow and sediment of the Mlalazi estuary in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
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 hydrology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021.The catchments and estuaries are fragile systems that are prone to serious degradation from
many different anthropogenic impacts (e.g. flow abstraction/diversion, sand mining, soil
erosion etc.). In South Africa, many of the anthropogenic impacts on estuarine systems are
generally derived from subjective expert opinions that are not supported by hydrodynamic data
(Rasifudi, 2019). River flow is one of the main factor that control the dynamics of many
estuaries worldwide (Zhou et al., 2014). It is important to understand the water flow depth,
direction and velocity in estuaries since they affect and control the erosion, transport and
deposition processes of alluvial sediment and nutrients.
The Mlalazi Estuary is one of the best conserved estuaries situated along the eastern shoreline
of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). This Estuary is
classified as a Temporarily Open/Closed Estuary (TOCE). There is limited observe
hydrological data that can be use to improve the decision making process within the Mlalazi
Estuary in future. Therefore, a numerical model is useful tool to derive best estimates of flow
dynamics and sediment transport.
This study investigated the flow dynamics associated with fluvial events within the Mlalazi
Estuary resulting from Q2yr, Q10yr, Q20yr, Q50yr and Q100yr flood return periods. The hydraulic
modelling software, HEC-RAS (version 5.0) flow model, aided by GIS (HEC-geoRAS), was
used to obtain estimates of the flow velocity and water level (depth) within the Mlalazi Estuary
and floodplain.
Available geometric data (DEM + bathymetry) was used to generate 174 river cross-section
profiles at different interval spaces ranging from 60m to 200m along the Mlalazi Estuary. The
Mlalazi run-off data simulated from the hydrologic model HEC-HMS (Rasifudi, 2019) was
used as an upstream boundary condition. The model was calibrated and validated using the
historical data from the 1987 flood survey and continuous water level data from monitoring
sites established in 2015 by the Hydrological Research Unit of the University of Zululand. The
hydraulic model gave satisfactory performance statistics for high flood events during
calibration and validation periods. The model overestimated the Q2yr stage and velocity event
in the upper estuary channel and underestimated the stage and velocity in the lower estuary
channel. The simulated velocity and Hjulström-Sundborg diagram were used to analyse the
fluvial sediments distribution in the estuary channel and floodplains. The inundation maps of
different storm sizes revealed that erosion occurs mainly in the active estuary channel and
deposition of alluvial sediment takes place on the floodplains.
The study concluded that a physically based, numerical flow model is best method for
providing reliable estimates for hydrodynamic data and information in estuaries with limited
observed data like the Mlalazi Estuary. The study will also provide essential flow information
needed to set up the Mlalazi Mouth Model, which will help to determine the ‘flow reserve’ of
the Mlalazi Estuary
Analysis of the biophysical and in silico exploration of the interaction between small ribonucleoprotein G and the RING finger domain of retinoblastoma binding protein 6 for the identification of protein anti-cancer compounds
No full textThesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, at the University Of Zululand, 2021.Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally after cardiovascular diseases, killing more people than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, which makes it a major public health concern. Increasing cancer morbidity and mortality rates has partly been due to the lack of specificity and side effects associated with most cancer drugs; hence over the years tremendous efforts have been linked to finding solutions to address these challenges. Novel techniques to design and develop cancer treatment methods using protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have become promising targets for therapeutic discovery. Suggestive evidence has proposed putative interactions between Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide G (SNRPG) (also referred to as SmG in this study) and retinoblastoma binding protein 6 (RBBP6), which have been identified as potential diagnostic markers for cancer treatment. The broad focus of this study was to investigate the putative interactions between these two proteins. In-silico analysis and characterisation of the proteins using Autodock Vina revealed the binding and interaction patterns of SNRPG with the RBBP6 RING Finger domain with a docking score of 3.40kcal/mol. Using I-TASSER, a potential inhibitor known as (2R)-2-[(2-methyl-5-phenylpyrazol-3-yl) carbonyl amino]-3-napthalen-2-yl-propanoic acid) (4FI) was identified and MM/GBSA binding free energy analysis revealed a spontaneous reaction of SNRPG~RING Finger domain in complex with the inhibitor, due to a binding energy of -27.96kcal/mol. Some of the amino acid residues involved in the binding include Val222, Pro101 and Met194. Biophysical studies using MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) confirmed the putative SNRPG~RING Finger domain interaction, and determined that the binding affinity was a Kdvalue of 3.1596 nM under aqueous buffer conditions. The overall results from this study suggest the potential druggability of the SNRPG~RING Finger domain PPI. These findings will enhance our understanding in selective identification of small molecule inhibitors or peptides, which could be developed as novel therapeutic candidates in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer
Implementation of the Policy Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support by Teachers in Selected Primary Schools in King Cetshwayo District
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021.The study is about the implementation of the Screening, Identification, Assessment,
and Support (SIAS) policy. This study is underpinned by the Bio-Ecological systems
Theory (BEST). The bio-ecological systems theory outlines the importance of the
surroundings and the interaction of the surrounding in the social and cognitive
development of a child. The development involves personal characteristics, reciprocal
relations of those within the systems and how they affect the child concerned, and
what support is needed from all the systems to nourish the development of the child.
These systems include mostly the participation of parents, and teachers who are
considered to be within the microsystem of the child.
In the application of BEST in this study, three primary schools and district officials from
King Cetshwayo District participated in the study. The data were collected through
survey questionnaires and focus groups from teachers who teach from Grade R to
Grade 7 and from two district officials respectively.
The implementation of the SIAS policy was identified in three schools that participated
in the study. There were many challenges identified in the implementation of the policy,
which resulted in ineffective way of implementing the SIAS policy. The SIAS policy by
the Department of Basic Education requires that the teacher interact with the parents
and the School-Based Support Team (SBST) when implementing support. The SBST
should interact with the District-Based Support Team (DBST) which needs to provide
adequate support to the schools in response to the learners’ needs. The DBST is
responsible for strengthening the etiquette and all the structures that ensure the
coherent implementation of the policy within the schools through provincial and
national regulations.
The key findings of the study revealed that SIAS policy of inclusive education is not
effectively implemented. This is due to teachers not prepared enough in terms of skills
and confidence in working with learners with learning problems. Therefore, the
research recommends that training development needs to be effected for teachers to
align themselves with SIAS policy in working with learners with learning barriers
The Features of Single-fathers in Father-daughter Relationships in Shakespear's King Lear, The Merchant of Venice and The Tempest
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Department of English in fulfillment of the Requirements for a Master of Arts in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zululand, 2021.The scholarship by most of the feminist Shakespearean critics, especially during the post-modern
era, has promoted the idea of Shakespeare’s male single parents as ‘tyrannous’, ‘cruel’, ‘violent’
and ‘murderous.’ Some of these critics are Shin (2010), Callaghan (2000, 2002 and 2016), and
Leventen (1991). Not only do some of the critics find ‘all’ Shakespeare’s single fathers
‘tyrannous,’ ‘cruel,’ ‘violent’ and ‘murderous’, some even claim that by such characterization of
single fathers, Shakespeare was deliberately promoting these unethical behaviours of his era. This
research seeks to test these views against alternative readings of Shakespeare’s single fathers, the
alternative view, that not ‘all…single fathers’ are ‘tyrannous,’ ‘cruel,’ ‘violent’ and ‘murderous’
in their relationships with their children, particularly their female children. Through a close reading
of father-daughter relationships in Shakespeare’s King Lear, The Merchant of Venice and The Tempest,’ this paper will investigate the existence of good male single parents: those who demonstrate positive qualities in playing their paternal roles in the lives of their daughters, in particular
PERSISTANCE OF CHILD MARRIAGES IN ZIMBABWE: A TIME TO TREAT THE CAUSE AND NOT THE SYMPTOMS
Get PDFPERSISTANCE OF CHILD MARRIAGES IN ZIMBABWE: A TIME TO TREAT THE CAUSE AND NOT THE SYMPTOMSThe problem of child marriages is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and the UNICEF has estimated that more
than 37 per cent of girls get married before reaching the age of 18 year, while more than11 per cent get married before
the reaching the age of 15 years. Zimbabwe has enacted progressive legislation to address the dilemma of child
marriages. However the problem of child marriages still persists and this paper shows that it is easy to change the law but not easy to change the society. This paper argues that legislative change is the first step to the right direction but a multi-pronged strategy is necessary to address child marriages. It is suggested that it is crucial to deal directly with the root causes of child marriages in addition to legislative change. The causes are, inter alia, poverty, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy and lack of education. One of the major causes is rooted in culture and religion such as the practice of kuzvarira and kuripa ngozi. Kuripa ngozi is practiced in order to appease the avenging spirit of a murdered person by compensating his family with a virgin bride and there is a general belief that failure to appease it might attract bad luck and even death for the entire family of the perpetrator. Over the years custom has influenced the attitude and behavior
of people. Therefore to change the law without changing the mind-set of the people through educational campaigns would be tantamount to dealing with the symptoms instead of the real problem