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Exploring the availability of remedial support for learners struggling with literacy in the foundation phase at king Cetshwayo selected schools.
No full textA mini dissertation submitted to the Faculty of education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education in the Department of Education Psychology and Special Education of Zululand, South Africa, 2021The challenge of learners struggling with literacy in schools has occupied policy debates
in South Africa since the advent of democracy. Against this background, the purpose of
this study is to explore the availability of remedial support given to literacy struggling
learners in selected primary schools at King Cetshwayo District. The sample consists of
twelve participants who were teaching literacy in foundation phase at King Cetshwayo
District. Methodologically, this study combined the interpretivism design and qualitative
research method based on data collected using semi- structured interviews.
The study's findings suggest a lack of parental support and trainings from the Department
of Education for the learners struggling with literacy in the Foundation Phase. There may
be a need for more interventions such as capacitating teachers with more resources and
providing programs suitable for the learners. In addition, it is necessary for teachers to
work hand in hand with the Learner Support Assistants as an attempt to particularly assist
the most vulnerable learners struggling with literacy be it in main stream or full-service
school.
Another noteworthy result revealed by the participants relates to big class sizes in the
classrooms that makes it hard for teachers to engage all learners and cater for them as
individuals. The time spent in classrooms was said to be short and makes it impossible
for teachers to finish all the curriculum planned. In addition, there also appeared to be
parents who live in denial that their children need critical intervention in form of special
classes, assistance from the district or mental support from professional psychologists.
The researcher also noted that most of the teachers are not only unaware of programs
available for assisting learners struggling with literacy; they are also unable to
successfully implement them
The Assessment of stokvels as a strategy of fighting hunger in Umzingazi area.
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021.Stokvels are informal social gatherings formed by people who have the same interest in
saving to attain certain goals. These gatherings are usually formed by friends, relatives,
neighbours and colleagues with the aim of saving money on a monthly basis in order to
sustain a living. The intention of this study was to investigate and give insight into how
stokvel groups contribute to poverty eradication in rural communities, focusing on
uMzingazi Area, Kwa-Zulu Natal. Fighting hunger is a long-term process; thus, the
researcher applied the sustainable livelihood approach in assessing stokvels as a
strategy of fighting hunger. The sustainable livelihoods approach was applied to facilitate
the identification of practical priorities for actions that were based on the views and
interests of those concerned although they are not a panacea. The study was conducted
in a qualitative manner. The participants were selected by means of snowball sampling.
The data was gathered using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions in
order to understand the lived experiences of members of the stokvels.
The findings established that stokvel groups play a substantial role in the reduction of
hunger and poverty in communities. Significantly, these stokvel groups help members to
save money and gain skills in budgeting. Women were predominant in the savings, burial
and high-budget stokvels while men predominated in the investment stokvels. Amongst
these groups, it was found that members preferred women as members of their groups
due to their dedication and hard work. Women feared to involve men in their stokvels as
they feared being victims of crime as most crimes were committed by men. Furthermore,
the findings also revealed that stokvel members not only benefit financially but they
become like family members with each other. The strength and moral support shared in
a burial stokvel mostly kept them going for many years
Lifestyle factors and nutritional analysis of a low carbohydrate high fat diet in type 2 diabetics
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the academic requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, 2021.Introduction
Over 450 million people are diabetic worldwide, with type 2 diabetes accounting for more than 90% of all diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by uncontrolled hyperglycaemia due to high concentrations of glucose in the bloodstream, which is caused by the failure of muscle cells to respond to insulin. This condition, known as insulin resistance, is where a high concentration of glucose results from pancreatic β-cells working overtime to compensate for the insulin that could not be utilised. People with type 2 diabetes are prone to experience many health problems such as blurred vision, kidney failure and stroke. The current approach to diabetes management is mainly focused on the utilisation of medicine, which can have adverse health effects. Therefore, this study has employed a lifestyle modification and nutrition therapy approach based on current diabetes management recommendations. These approaches have been found to effectively manage type 2 diabetes mellitus without posing severe health risks. The main objectives of the study were to assess lifestyle factors and analyse the nutritional content of a Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) diet as followed by type 2 diabetics.
Methodology
This study was quantitative and followed an experimental research design comprising of an experimental group and a control group. A self-selection method was used to recruit participants. The study commenced at baseline where different lifestyle practices including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity as well as anthropometric characteristics were assessed. This was then followed by a 16-week experiment where the LCHF diet was prescribed to participants in the experimental group. Food diaries, containing guidelines about food choices, were provided to be completed at home after each meal. The food diaries were completed for weeks 1, 5, 9 and 13, while anthropometric features (body mass index and waistto-hip ratio) were routinely measured in weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16. The baseline data were then entered into SPSS Version 25 for statistical analysis, and Nutritics version 5.096 software was used to analyse the nutritional content of the diets.
Results
More than 66% of the participants did not follow any dietary guidelines and mostly consumed carbohydrate-rich foods, including sauces and spices (high in salt), flesh-meat, oils and fats, sugar and sweets, and vegetables. However, they also consumed fewer kilojoules than the
ABSTRACT
Abstract ___________________________________________________________________________
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recommended daily intakes for an adult (i.e. between 987.32 and 1 363.3 kcal). More than 51.3% of participants consumed alcohol and 20.5% smoked cigarettes. Fifty-one percent (51%) were engaged in physical activity, with a mean BMI of 32.9 kg/m2 for males and 36.7 kg/m2 for females, indicating overweight and obesity. The average waist-to-hip ratio for males was 1.02 and 0.85 for females, frequently associated with diabetes. The nutritional analysis of the diet included seven (7) micronutrients and three (3) macronutrients including four (4) fatty acids. The results indicated that both the experimental and the control group had an overall low magnesium intake, with a statistically significant value of P0.05 & P<0.001). They also had a higher vitamin B12 intake, with a P-value less than 0.05. The intake of iron was within the recommended range for a control group (P<0.001). The experimental group had selenium and vitamin A intake within the recommended range (P<0.001 & P<0.05), while both groups had zinc intake within the recommended range. The control group had a low carbohydrate intake, with a P-value less than 0.05. Both groups had low monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat intake (P<0.001) contrary to what would have been expected in the experimental group. Protein intake and cholesterol were within the recommended intake for the control group, with a statistically significant value less than 0.001 for all participants, while all of the participants in the experimental group had a high protein intake (P<0.001). Both groups had a total fat and saturated fat intake within the recommended range.
Conclusion and recommendations
A high BMI and a low waist-to-hip ratio pose a greater risk of chronic diseases. Exercising is essential for the improvement of overall health, therefore it is highly recommended. As much as one would expect weight loss following the LCHFD, there was no significant weight loss in the experimental group in the study, which could be an indication that either they did not follow the prescribed diet, or the time frame for the study was too short. Participants need to cut down on sodium intake and increase their intake of iron, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Diabetics need to be mindful of their diet, and if uncertain about what to eat, they should visit a dietitian for advice. Since the LCHF diet did not yield significant benefits for the participants in the experimental group it may be recommended that a balanced diet, with reduced intake of refined starches, in combination with exercise should still be recommended to diabetics
Challenges Posed by the Use of English as the Language of Learning and Teaching in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) high schools.
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of English at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2022.This study set out to investigate factors behind the poor academic performance of Grade
12 learners in the township schools of KwaZulu-Natal. The research was conducted in 12
public high schools of the Department of Basic Education in the districts of Umlazi and
Pinetown. The enquiry was prompted by the observation that learners from township
schools often struggle to do well in both the Matric examinations and at first year university
studies, yet official reports of learner performance give the impression that Grade 12
learners’ academic performance is improving.
The study posited that the relatively poor academic performance is a result of a myriad of
factors that make learning a struggle for South African township learners. It postulated
that these factors included the use of English as a medium of learning and teaching
among second language speakers of the language, learners’ social and economic
circumstances, their learning and home environments, and their psychological attitudes
or conditions. However, the main focus of the study was the use of English as a medium
of learning and teaching. Therefore, the theoretical foundation of the study was the
question of language competence and language use, especially in South African
education. The study adopted Noam Chomsky’s theory of Transformational Generative
Grammar as well as later modifications of the theory as its framework.The core of the study was linguistic and communicative competence. It emphasised that
for township high school learners to perform well academically they need to master the
language of learning and teaching in the following crucial areas: vocabulary and
grammatical rules that allow for understanding and creative production of the language;
the four language skills – reading, writing, speaking and listening; all forms of the
communicative systems that work in language; and cognitive academic language
proficiency (CALP) which will enable them to understand and use the formal language
register of classroom discourse and textbooks, as well as to think analytically and critically
to solve problems, to use their imagination and engage in inductive and deductive
reasoning.
Using a Mixed Methods approach, the study found that, although on paper, all South
African children have access to education, for learners in the townships, learning is an
on-going struggle. The poor and unstable living, social and school conditions in which
they live and learn do not allow them to acquire the linguistic competences required of
them to learn and be taught in English, especially since they are taught English First
Additional Language which is regarded as inferior to English Home Language taught in
former Model C schools. These conditions do not promote excellent academic
development and achievement, neither are they conducive to cognitive development and
learning. In spite of this, the majority of learners, educators and parents preferred that
English, which is perceived as a high status language with power, ‘linguistic capital’ and
functional value, be used as the medium of learning and teaching.
The study asserts that as long as English remains the medium of instruction, without
additional English language support, the majority of learners from township and rural
schools who write the Grade 12 examinations will not be competent enough in English to
be successfully able to learn and be examined in it. Therefore, the study suggests that,
for these learners to do well in the Matric examination and first year university, special
interventions should be introduced. The study proposes that these could include
identifying and gaining a deeper understanding of the hurdles that confront township
learners; introducing creative teaching and learning approaches as well as language
choices and uses that could solve some of the linguistic and learning problems. The study
proposes an intervention education model whose aim would be to develop learners
holistically and prepare them to perform well in the Grade 12 examination and first year
university studies
Exploring the Role of Fiscal Policy and Sovereign Debt Shocks on Economic Growth among Southern African Developing Communities
Get PDFA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Masters (MCom) in the Economics Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law at the University if Zululand, 2021.Fiscal policy remains a key macroeconomic stabilisation mechanism at the disposal of governments and fiscal policymakers to influence economic activities consistent with balanced and sustainable economic growth. A thorough understanding of the role fiscal policy remains extremely paramount for fiscal authorities to consistently formulate prudent fiscal stimulus packages that enhances sustainable economic expansion. This thesis critically examines the role of fiscal policy and sovereign debt shocks on economic growth in the Southern African Developing Communities (SADC). Over the years, fiscal policy and austerity measures have triggered a deterioration in the fiscal position of these member countries primarily due to the relatively high budget deficits, inducing even further sovereign debt risk in long-term economic prosperity.
The phenomenon of fiscal policy has gained immense scholarly popularity among both researchers and policymakers, stimulating intensive debate in the body of literature as to whether fiscal policy has been able stabilise macroeconomic fluctuations across different economies characterised by different phases of economic growth and development. The study starts by giving a thorough background and introduction in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 discusses a detailed review of existing theoretical frameworks on the role of fiscal policy and sovereign debt on economic growth. Chapter 3 analyses the role of fiscal policy and sovereign debt shocks on economic growth in the SADC region. In this chapter, a Panel Vector Autoregressive (PVAR) model was estimated using annual data for 13 SADC countries ranging from 2000-2018. The empirical results revealed that government expenditure, employment and public debt has a significant positive influence on economic growth while gross fixed capital formation exerts a negative effect on growth. The findings of the study are consistent with the Keynesian school of thought, which strongly argues that governments use countercyclical expansionary fiscal policy as a credible tool to spur economic activities and stabilise macroeconomic fluctuations during different phases of the business cycle. Chapter 4 estimates a Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR) model to examine a nonlinear effect of public debt on economic growth among SADC members for the period viii 2000-2018.
The findings show a significant asymmetric relationship between public debt and economic growth in the SADC region. The results further indicate a debt threshold of 60% at which public debt deters economic growth in SADC region. The empirical results of a linear and nonlinear effect of public debt on growth are consistent with several prior empirical studies conducted across different economies using different methodologies. In line with the Keynesian approach, the results further suggest that fiscal policy plays a central role in augmenting economic activities both in the low-debt regime and high-debt regime, indicating that, indeed, a positive shock in government spending positively influence economic growth in SADC economies, reinforcing the findings of the previous chapter. Furthermore, the results reveal a significant positive impact of public debt on economic growth during the low regime when the debt level is below the threshold of 60%. Moreover, there was a significant negative effect of debt on economic growth during the high-debt regime as debt level reach the threshold of 60%. This result indicates that there is an inverted U-Shape relationship between public debt and economic growth among SADC economies.
Chapter 5 empirically interrogates the asymmetric relationships between public debt and economic growth among selected emerging and frontier SADC economies over the period 2000-2018. In this chapter, a Smooth Transition Regression (STAR) and Nonlinear Autoregressive Redistributed Lag (NARDL) is estimated to analyse the asymmetric effect of public debt on economic growth among selected SADC economies. The results revealed mixed findings on nonlinearity among emerging and frontier SADC members. The findings indicate a concave relationship between debt and economic growth in South Africa, while Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe showed a U-shape relationship between debt and economic growth. This implies that public debt exerts a significant positive influence on economic growth during low-debt regime while there is a negative effect of debt on economic growth during a high-debt regime in South Africa. Conversely, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe show a negative effect of debt during the low-debt regime and a positive influence during a high-debt regime. Malawi, however, showed a positive impact of debt on growth during both low-debt and high-debt regimes
Tourists' and community perceptions on sustainability of Umthayi Marual festival in Kwazulu-Natal.
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021.Umthayi Marula Festival is a marula first-fruits-appreciation cultural event organised, planned and staged annually at Manguzi area of Mhlabuyalingana Local Municipality in the northern part of Mkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Festivals possess a potential to generate number of benefits for destinations, thus sustainability of cultural festivals in this modernising global society is important for future generations. The study therefore explored how environmental, economic and socio cultural sustainability of Umthayi Marula Festival is perceived by tourists and community members, using the case of uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality. The study used a convenience sampling method of the non-probability sampling design to select 385 respondents (tourists from different places) and local community members living in different regions of uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality. A structured
questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 78 tourists and 307 local residents as respondents who both attend Umthayi Marula Festival. Data analysis were done using IBM’s Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 software
for statistical purposes. Descriptive statistics were used to generate frequency of respondent’s profile (in percentages). The results of the study reveal that Umthayi Marula Festival is perceived to be somewhat a sustainable event. In environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability of the festival, both tourists and community hold a perception that there are key areas that need attention for the festival to improve sustainability. This study validates the importance of environmental, economic, and socio-cultural sustainability on the success of the Umthayi Marula Festival and recommends that uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality, in collaboration with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Tembe Tribal Authority, and Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, continue to provide targeted
Tourism Development and Event Management education to current and prospective tourism-related event planners. To event organisers, this study also recommends that marula trees be formally planted, dustbins be placed for recycling purposes, local
artists be remunerated, Tembe people’s core values be recorded for archival purposes and drug checking services be provided for the festival. By doing so, anyone who wants to help sustain the Umthayi Marula Festival and manage a negative impact
before, during, and after the festival will have an equal opportunity. Key words: Umthayi Marula Festival; Sustainable development; Environmental
sustainability; Economic sustainability; Socio-cultural sustainability; Festival
The role of universities in embracing transformation brought about by Fourth Industrial Revolution. a case study of selected tertiary institutions in KwaZulu- Natal
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Art of Art in the department of Communication Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021.The study examined the role of universities in embracing transformations brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The level of awareness that students have on digital learning were examined, as well as the plans put in place by policymakers to transform the curriculum for digital learners. The study further examined how the syllabi are restructured for relevance in the 4IR. Literature reviews within this study focused on factors hindering the universities in equipping students for e-learning. Because of the literature review, the blend of the AIDA, as well as the Shannon and Weaver models, were used to design a model which was adopted for this study. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in this study. Random and Purposive sampling was used respectively in selecting both students and staff members from the University of Zululand and the Durban University of Technology who participated in this study. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires and interviews respectively. The collected quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 25.0, while the qualitative data was presented using tables containing the responses of respondents. The findings of the study established the similarities and differences between the two selected institutions of higher learning in terms of their level of awareness on digital learning, plans made by policymakers, restructuring of the syllabi as well as factors hindering the use of e-learning. The findings of the study show that the adoption of digital learning is already in progress. However, the analysed data and responses of participants also indicate that some are still unprepared, thus, more awareness needs to be created for students to assist them in acquiring the necessary digital skills. Finally, the study provides recommendations in areas that need more attention following the findings of the study. The limitations of the study are also indicated, thereafter suggestions for further studies
Search for Collective Strutures in the 186Os And 150Gd Nuclei
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.Despite the extensive experimental and theoretical studies that have been conducted onthe low-lying positive-parity 0+2, 2+2, and 4+3states in the transitional deformed nuclei,their microscopic identity remains unclear. It is still one of the major challenges innuclear structure physics to properly understand the nature of these states. To givemore insight on the underlying nature of such states, the excited bands in186Os and150Gd nuclei were investigated at iThemba laboratory for accelerator based sciences(iThemba LABS) using the186W(4He, 4n)186Os and150Sm(4He, 4n)150Gd reactions.The AFRODITEγ-ray spectrometer was used for detection ofγ-ray energies emittedduring the experiments.The decay scheme of186Os has been improved. In particular, a total of 21 newγ-raytransitions have been added to the level scheme of186Os. Most importantly, bandsbuilt on the excited 0+2, 2+2, and 4+3states have not only been confirmed but extendedup to spins of 12+, 15+, and 8+, respectively. In addition, a number of new linkingtransitions were identified. Angular distribution and linear polarization measurementswere employed to accurately assign spins and parities to the known and new levels in186Os. The properties of the excited states in186Os, such as level energies and branch-ing ratios, are interpreted in the context of the systematics of neighboring even-even182−192Os isotopes. Furthermore, the validity of theK-selection rule which emanatesfrom a description based on an axially symmetric nuclear shape is examined. The ob-served decays between the rotational bands support a description whereKis conserved.However, someK-forbidden decays were also identified, thus suggesting that a modelallowing for smallKadmixtures is probably required.The excited bands in this nucleus are compared with the five-dimensional collectiveHamiltonian calculations based on covariant density functional theory (5DCH-CDFT),calculations within the quasiparticle triaxial-rotor (QTR) model and predictions by asimple rotational-vibrational model. The 5DCH-CDFT calculations predict that thecollective structures are associated with different nuclear shapes, varying in quadrupoledeformation, triaxiality andγ-softness.The decay scheme of150Gd has been considerably extended. The data did not providenew information on the low-spin states, which was the initial aim of this experiment,however, 31 new transitions were identified at high spins. The present study for thesetransitions was confined toγ-coincidence analysis. The results for150Gd are presentedin the appendix section.National Research Foundatio
Assessing the effects of large-scale commercial farming on the livelihoods of farmworkers in King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, 2021.In most African countries including South Africa, the role of commercial farming is known
especially in its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and food security. As much
as these contributions are known, what is not clear is its contribution to the livelihoods of
farmworkers who ensure that commercial farms remain viable and thus produce enough food
while also contributing to GDP through exports, among others. Because of these reasons, this
study explores the effects of commercial farming on the livelihoods of farmworkers in the three
commercial farms, namely, Fowler farm, Hullets farm, and Farm Secure located in the King
Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province. To achieve this, the study set out
four objectives which include (a) assessing livelihood assets of farmworkers in the study area,
(b) analysing how employment on commercial farms in the study area affects the livelihood
contexts in terms of, among others, the nature of social relations, provision of services, and the
governance of farmworkers, (c) examining the employment and living conditions of
farmworkers on commercial farms, and how they cope with them, and (d) evaluating the extent
of the farmworkers` awareness of South African labour laws and rights.
The Sustainable Livelihood Framework was used to provide a theoretical framework for the
study. In terms of research methodology, this study adopted pragmatism as a research
paradigm. This informed the research design, which is mixed methods research design. Data
was collected through the use of surveys, Focus Group Discussions, and one-on-one in-depth
interviews. Data analysis followed the mixed nature of this study in which quantitative data
was analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS while qualitative data was analysed using
ATLAS.ti v.8.4 to formulate themes as per the objectives of the study. The study found that
the contribution of commercial farming on the livelihoods of farmworkers is directly linked to
the livelihood contexts that the farmworkers are exposed to on commercial farms. Farmworkers
with farming skills especially men hold high paying jobs on commercial farms and thus attain
more livelihood assets. Issues of patriarchy and masculinity are prevalent on commercial farms
and mostly affect women farmworkers who are found holding low paying jobs. Living and
working conditions of farmworkers in all the three farms are mostly fair, with limited
challenges of housing and working environment reported by farmworkers. The study provide
evidence that the lives of poor people especially in rural areas are moderately improved by
commercial farming. This indicates that commercial farming assists farmworkers to alleviate
poverty and provides them with food security which in turn improves their livelihoods
Curriculum management in improving learners’ performance: a case in uMhlathuze circuit
Get PDFA thesis submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Curriculum and Instructional Studies in the Faculty of Education, University of Zululand, 2021.The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and views of educators with regard to curriculum management for improving learners’ performance in primary schools. The specific objectives of the study were: to explore how curriculum management can improve learners’ performance in primary schools in uMhlathuze Circuit; to determine how curriculum management affects learners’ performance in uMhlathuze Circuit; to investigate curriculum management challenges faced by educators in uMhlathuze Circuit; and to design a model for curriculum management that may be used to improve learner performance in primary schools.
The study employed a qualitative approach and case study design, and was conducted among Intermediate Phase (Grades 4-6) teachers, where levels of learner performance ranged from 0-29% (very poor) to 80-100% (outstanding performance). Data about educators’ challenges was obtained through the use of unstructured interviews and document analysis. A sample of ten educators and five HoDs from five schools in the circuit were purposively selected.
The findings revealed that while these educators enjoy teaching and helping their learners improve performance, many challenges affect learner performance; amongst these are lack of teacher involvement in curriculum management. The study recommends that teachers be drawn into curriculum management processes, since teachers know a lot about learners and are well placed to manage the curriculum while bearing in mind the real needs of learners. It is likely that through involving teachers in the management of the curriculum, various other challenges would be minimised. Teachers are champions in the teaching and learning process, and understand the dynamics of learners’ learning. They are therefore in an ideal position to contribute meaningfully to curriculum management