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Management of curriculum delivery in selected secondary schools at Umzinyathi District
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, Faculty of Education, at the University of Zululand, 2020.This study aims at the development of a strategy for management of curriculum delivery to selected secondary schools in Umzinyathi District. It focuses on the stakeholders, comprising principals, educators, subject advisors and school governing bodies. A piece of critical emancipatory research, it examines discourses on power dynamics and distribution among stakeholders. A qualitative research approach was chosen, employing data collection methods that included focus group discussions and observation. In selecting information-rich participants, the school management teams, level one teachers and departmental officials were considered knowledgeable and informative sources on curriculum delivery in secondary schools. Umzinyathi District consists of four local municipalities. The three secondary schools were purposefully selected from deep rural Nquthu local municipality. Participatory action research addressed the participation, emancipation and working, with real challenges to bring about change in the community. The researcher worked with the participants collaboratively to find solutions to the challenges the school management team and teachers confront as they manage the curriculum delivery in secondary schools. The data generated was subjected to critical discourse analysis. The study found that for effective management of curriculum delivery, the school management teams need to incorporate both management and leadership constructs, without which effective teaching and learning cannot prevail in schools
Evaluating English curriculum delivery in the intermediate phase in UMmkhanyakude District Primary schools
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfillment of the academic requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, 2020.Parents and communities have only the opportunities to choose their preferred language for learning and teaching (LoLT) in the foundation phase. The Department policy allows schools in South Africa to use English as their LoLT from the intermediate phase upwards. Education is one aspect that measures the power in all countries, and that is why the government has the responsibility to make sure that the curriculum is efficiently achieved. The only key aspect that could assure the achievement of the curriculum is the Language of learning and teaching. This study is, therefore aimed at evaluating the English curriculum delivery in the intermediate phase at Umkhanyakude Primary schools. The study was motivated among other things by the fact that Language is continuously reported as the failing subject. It was necessary also to evaluate the department's continuous language interventions like Jika Imfundo.
The study was guided by four research aims which were establishing the nature of English curriculum delivery, support and supervision in the intermediate phase, determining the educators’ experiences in the implementation of the English curriculum, ascertaining the extent to which curriculum delivery enhances the quality of teaching and learning in schools and the strategies that can be employed to improve English curriculum delivery, support and supervision in the intermediate phase. The theory underpinning this study was constructivism which the researcher regarded as the most suitable to evaluate the English curriculum delivery. In language learning, constructivism suggests that knowledge is developed from the existing knowledge. This study made use of the case study research design using qualitative approach in order to identify and evaluate English curriculum delivery in the intermediate phase in primary schools of the Umkhanyakude District. Five clustering primary schools in the Umkhanyakude District were purposively selected. Using one-on-one interviews, observations and document analysis as the research tools the target population comprising of fifteen participants who are teachers, departmental heads and principals, the study yielded the results for this study. The main findings of this study found that Language was the key to the success of the curriculum. It also established the link between the Language and curriculum not for communication purposes only but success in learning. Furthermore, the findings revealed curriculum
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delivery of the Language is facing many challenges which range from personnel, poor learner performance, time on task and lack of resources. The study recommends the use of cooperative learning strategies, including Jika Imfundo, as the best strategies in the teaching of the Language. A proposed monitoring tool was designed for the purposes of monitoring of the teaching of a Language. This research presented language as the key to the success of the curriculum and established the link between the language and curriculum not for communication purposes only but for success in learning
An analysis of the land rehabilitation programme of the Tronox mine: Environmental justice and the community of Gobandlovu
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, at the University of Zululand, 2020.The aim of the study is to analyse the land rehabilitation programme of the Tronox mine at Gobandlovu. In pursuit of this aim, the objectives of this research are to (a) track the process of rehabilitation in Gobandlovu using Remote Sensing, (b) establish if the Tronox rehabilitation programme is in line with MPRDA guidelines and (c) explore the perceptions of the community of Gobandlovu towards the Tronox rehabilitation programme. To achieve these, the research utilised a mixed methods approach, in the form of the explanatory sequential design. Data was collected using remote sensing techniques to download satellite images of the study area and then later analysed using GIS software. Remote sensing techniques were used to track and detect change through the land rehabilitation process, in which yearly mean averages were downloaded and analysed on ArcMap to visualise the normalised vegetation index of the period from 2002 to 2018.The spatiotemporal yearly mean averages were then classified in ArcMap to track the change in the two classes of bare soil and vegetation over the 17 years’ period (2002-2018). The second part involved the use of qualitative techniques. This was done through field observations as well as the administration of qualitative questionnaires on the residents of Gobandlovu and the officials of Tronox mine. While the results have shown that Tronox was able to rehabilitate the land it had mined on, it did not successfully fulfil the dictates of the principles of environmental justice in relation to the community of Gobandlovu. This is because most of the respondents interviewed stated that, not only were they not integrated in the whole process of mine rehabilitation, they have also not fully benefitted from the mining. This suggests that, Tronox attempted to achieve restorative justice but the same cannot be said about distributive justice
Students’ perceptions about the Library and Information Science (LIS) programme and its career opportunities in South Africa
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Information Studies, Faculty of Arts, at the University of Zululand, 2021The subject literature reveals that most students study LIS after as an alternative to their dream career choices. The students who enrol in LIS do not have a clear understanding of the programme, the profession and the availability of career opportunities. This study sought to investigate students’ perceptions of the LIS programme and its career opportunities. Establishing how students perceive the programme and its employment prospects is crucial after graduating. Previous studies in South Africa have not addressed the profound concerns caused by students’ reasons for studying LIS and their awareness of the career opportunities offered by the profession. This study was guided by the Circumscription and Compromise theory (Linda Gottfredson, 1981, 1996).
This study used the survey research method to collect data. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire with open-ended and closed-ended questions. The target population was first-year and final-year undergraduate students, purposely sampled from two universities in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province of South Africa. The universities are the University of Zululand (Unizulu) and the Durban University of Technology (DUT). There were 71 first-year and 66 final-year students who participated in the study, thus a total of 137 students. The qualitative data was analysed using qualitative contents analysis, whereas quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used as a data analysis tool.
The study revealed that not all students were aware of LIS programmes while studying at high school. The majority from both groups indicated that they had become aware of LIS as an area of study after finishing high school and others only once they had arrived at university, which means that students decided to study LIS after finishing high school. Relatives and information brochures were found to be significant motivating factors that influenced students to enrol in LIS. The study found that the majority of students did not consider LIS as their first choice, but only their second and subsequent choice, which makes LIS their compromise field of study.
The study found that at first none of the students had a clear understanding of what the programme comprises. However, the study findings shows that as time went by, students’ knowledge of LIS changed and they became knowledgeable of LIS. It was also found that some students are completely satisfied with the programme, although others are not. The reason is that LIS was not their first career choice, and some still want to pursue their dream career choices.
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The findings reveal that students are aware of LIS career opportunities. The position of librarian is most preferred by most of the students. It was also found that career guidance and LIS lecturers played important roles in educating students about LIS career opportunities. Students are motivated to continue studying towards a LIS qualification because of the availability of LIS employment opportunities and the congenial LIS work environment. Salary and the profession’s prestige had less of an impact on students’ motivation. The findings revealed that students are generally positive in believing that the LIS field has enough job opportunities. However, most final-year students were not convinced that there are adequate LIS career opportunities.
The study concluded that the LIS programme is not well marketed to young people and that it is a compromise field of study. The study therefore recommends that there should be LIS career awareness campaigns in public libraries, in primary and in high schools to sensitise students about the LIS field
Beta secretase inhibition in aging pancreatic beta cells: A possible role for Rooibos
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfillment of the academic requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, 2020In type 2 diabetes (T2D), hyperglycemia induces pancreatic β-cell glucotoxicity, characterised by β-cell functional mass decline. T2D patients are thus both insulin resistance and insulin deficient. In addition, to changes in insulin production and secretion, the hormone amylin is also dysregulated. Amylin is a pancreatic β-cell peptide hormone with a key role in glucose homeostasis and is co-secreted with insulin. Beta-secretase (BACE)-regulated cleavage of pre-amylin results in the aggregation and deposition of toxic amyloid plaques, characteristic of long-term diabetic patient pancreata. Thus, BACE inhibition is a promising therapeutic target in managing the progression of T2D. Research has shown that unfermented Rooibos has numerous health promoting benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-diabetic effects. This extract is unique for containing relatively high levels of aspalathin, a glycosyl dihydrochalcone with robust anti-oxidant properties and ameliorative effects against several metabolic complications. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of chronic glucotoxicity in a novel 3D β-cell spheroid model and the potential therapeutic effects of GRT™ and BACE inhibition, thereof. Additionally, we determined the effect of BACE inhibition and GRT™ in the pancreata of aged C57BLKS db/db mice.
The in vitro toxicity model was established using INS-1 β-cell spheroids created using the 3D BioArray Matrix (BAM) culture system, based on T2D-associated glucotoxicity. Spheroids were exposed to the following conditions: Normal glucose control (NG-11 mM glucose), high glucose (glucotoxicity) control (HG-33 mM glucose), high glucose with GRT™ (HG-GRT™) and high glucose with BACE inhibitor LY2886721 (HGBACE). Spheroids ultra-structural features were assessed using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and toluidine blue stain (TB). Spheroid viability and survival were assessed by measuring cellular ATP content, glucose utilization and size profiling. Functional parameters (i.e. glucose stimulated insulin & amylin secretion) and proinflammatory cytokines were assessed. The in vitro findings were validated in vivo using lean non-diabetic db+ and obese diabetic db/db mice. There were three phases : 10, 16 and 32 weeks treatment, divided into five treatment groups (n=8 per group): Control (vehicle equivalent/day), pioglitazone (15 mg/kg/day), BACE inhibitor (30 µM/kg/day), GRT™-1(74 mg/kg/day) and GRT™-2 (740 mg/kg/day). Physiological parameters, glucose metabolism and pancreatic islet morphology were assessed by
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measuring body weight and food intake; performing an oral glucose tolerance test, measuring serum insulin, C-peptide and amylin levels; and immunohistochemical labelling of pancreata with insulin and glucagon.
In the spheroids, glucotoxicity (HG) significantly reduced cellular ATP content (73.63% ± 2.13 vs 100.0% ± 0.36; p< 0.001), while GRT™ ameliorated this effect (82.49% ± 1.07 vs 73.63% ± 2.13; p<0.05). Increased insulin secretion after glucose stimulation was observed in the NG compared to basal glucose levels (41.08 ng/mL ± 5.23 vs 22.6 ng/mL ± 3.49; p=0.001) and this effect was negated in the HG group; this was restored in the HG-GRT™ group (30.8 ng/mL ± 2.49 vs 17.9 ng/mL ± 2.54; p=0.05). HG and HG-BACE groups increased amylin secretion following glucose stimulation (41.7 pg/mL ± 7.18 vs 20.3 pg/mL ± 4.39; p=0.01; 43.9 pg/mL ± 5.38 vs 21.5 pg/mL ± 3.57; p=0.007). HG increased TNF-α compared to the NG group (2.4 pg/mL ± 0.24 vs 1.1 pg/mL ± 0.23; p= 0.001), while HG-BACE group had significantly lower TNF-α levels compared to HG group (2.4 pg/mL ± 0.24 vs 0.67 pg/mL ± 0.15; p< 0.0001). Additionally, after 2 weeks of treatment, HG-GRT™ reduced TNF-α levels (1.6 pg/mL ± 0.16 vs 2.6 pg/mL ± 0.33; p= 0.02). Interestingly, HG-BACE had a short-lived inhibitory effect as TNF-α levels increased after 2 weeks (2.4 pg/mL ± 0.24 vs 0.9 pg/mL ± 0.20; p= 0.0001). In vivo, changes were associated with normal animal aging in the db+ mice. In db/db mice, BACE inhibitor and GRT™-1 (phase I) improved glucose tolerance without concomitant BW gain (2412 ± 121.0; p=0.01 and 2293 ± 105.6, p= 0.02 vs 2970 ± 95.62, respectively), had higher HOMA-β and improved islet architecture of older animals (phase II). Pioglitazone significantly improved glucose tolerance (1884 ± 296.0 vs 3238 ± 260.5; p= 0.004), had lower HOMA-IR in phase II. Amylin levels were significantly reduced in phase II compared to phase I in all treatment groups (p<0.001). In phase I, GRT™-2 effectively improved glucose tolerance, whereas GRT™-2 remained ineffective. Additionally, GRT™-2 tended to have lower HOMA-IR and HOMA-β compared to GRT™-1.
In conclusion, glucose tolerance was improved by BACE inhibition and GRT™ by regulating both insulin resistance and β-cell survival and function in both an in vitro and in vivo model. Thus, both treatments have the potential to supplement current anti-diabetic therapySouth African Medical Research Counci
Gender nuances in tourism business operations: a South African perspective
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Recreation and Tourism, Faculty of Arts, at the University of Zululand, 2020.Tourism is earmarked as the fastest growing industry, which opens opportunities for business development and growth. As a buoyant income-generating sector of any nation, many entrepreneurs have also keyed into tourism. Previous studies have shown that the number of women entrepreneurs is increasing, however, many of them fail to sustain their businesses compared to men who own businesses. This research therefore explored gender nuances in tourism business operation that may have a significant impact on business performance.
The researcher used questionnaire survey, a quantitative research method to collect data from 150 tourism-related business owners and managers in Durban Central Business District, KwaZulu-Natal using purposive sampling method. The participants were those who have specific knowledge in tourism-related business operations (managers and owners) and are willing to participate. Data was analysed using IBM’s SPSS version 25 software. Descriptive (frequency, mean), bivariate (Spearman’s Rank Correlation (two-tailed) test, Pearson’s ChiSquare test, Mann-Whitney U test) and multivariate (Reliability test using Cronbach’s Alpha) data analyses were applied in this study.
This study did not make a conclusive finding that gender or any other demographic characteristics play a very strong role in differentiating business success or performance, as mostly perceived. The conclusive finding in this study points to the strong role that developing marketing capability plays on business success irrespective of gender or any other demographic characteristics. This study, therefore, relabelled the initially proposed conceptual framework that guided this study as a "perceived" model of Gender nuances in tourism business operations. This study did not validate the initial model as the reality in the business world. There is a difference here between what people perceive and what takes place in reality.
Some of the recommendations provided by this study are that there should be entrepreneurial networks that mainly focus on women entrepreneurs to create a women-friendly businessrelated network. In addition, the promotion of entrepreneurial workshops and training to enhance business management skills is suggested
Effects of social worker services in rural secondary schools on learner academic performance in Vhembe district
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, Faculty of Arts, at the University of Zululand, 2020.The social worker services are crucial to the success of a lifelong learning process, as they provide assistance, guidance, counselling, and advice to learners so that they can improve and make better-informed decisions and improved academic performance. The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of social worker services in rural secondary schools on learner academic performance in the Vhembe District in Limpopo. The investigation was conducted using the mixed methods approach which was driven by both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A sample of 130 participants was selected from rural secondary schools. The study was underpinned by the ZPD theory. Twenty (20) educators (5 from each school) and 100 grade 12 learners (20 from each school) and 5 heads of departments (1 from each school), were simple randomly selected and they answered a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions, while 5 social workers (1 from each school) were purposively selected for the in-depth interview session. The findings revealed that the school social workers' motivation strategy used in their schools reduce poor academic performance, based on the results of the in-depth interviews conducted with heads of departments and school social workers. Motivational tools and parental involvement topped the effectiveness. The researcher recommends that for the school social worker services to run smoothly, there has to be a provision of suitable space for school social workers to be effective in rendering their support services to the learners and to keep confidential information safe. Furthermore, enough time should be given for learners to consult a school social worker
Investigating Community Participation in Sports and Recreation at Esikhaleni Township in KwaZulu-Natal
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Recreation and Tourism, Faculty of Arts, at the University of Zululand, 2020.The popularity of sport as a vehicle to wider development is growing worldwide in all communities whether small or big. Previous studies argue that sport partaking is often associated with efforts to alleviate rising obesity in adults, children, youth and idleness epidemics, crime as well as socio-economic disadvantage. The aim of this study is to assess the participation of Esikhaleni community members in sport and recreation, whose objectives further intend at identifying the available facilities that community members can use to address the above concerns they face. The study fulfilled the aim through the following research objectives: determining the level of awareness and availability of sport and recreational facilities; identifying the sport codes available at Esikhaleni community; finding out the level of importance/value and benefits of participation in sports and recreational activities among residents of Esikhaleni; identifying the challenging issues that prevents the residents of Esikhaleni from engaging in sport and recreational activities; and exploring strategies that can be put in place to promote sport and recreational activities among the residents of Esikhaleni. This study employed the non-probability sampling because the researcher lacks knowledge on the size of the population. The study adopted mixed methods research because of the combined strengths of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Sixty-six (66) participants were selected using snowball sampling method. The study, based on qualitative research approach, employed content analysis method. Based on quantitative research method, all data collected using structured questionnaire was analysed using SPSS version 25. The results of this study validate that the mainstream of community members who participated in this study were aware of the availability of sport and recreational facilities within their community. Participants reveal that their participation in sport and recreational activities are motivated by friends and relatives, workshops conducted by municipality officials, coaches, and colleagues within the area. The local municipality officials advocate that they are using different ways of inspiring community members to participate in sport and recreational activities. In conclusion, the study recommends an urgent need to increase the sport budget which will ensure that sport complexes are improved, maintained and upgraded. Based on the findings, the researcher recommends that more studies on sport and recreation activities are conducted to create greater understanding and
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advance the current knowledge of sport and recreation participation be extended to public schools in townships and rural communities for the benefits of all member
The role of guidance and counselling educators in secondary schools at Sibasa circuit of the Vhembe district in Limpopo province
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Masters of Education in the department of Educational Psychology & Special Needs Education, Faculty of Education, at the University of Zululand, 2020.In 1996 the Department of education deemed it fit to review the curriculum, amongst others Life Orientation was one of the learning areas incepted. One of the primary roles for LO is to offer learners with guidance and counselling, that’s developing them in totality; inter alia, educationally, socially, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and otherwise to be fully-fledged adults. Each learner especially in secondary schools should be acquainted with knowledge and equipped with skills for them to make well informed decisions and healthy life choices. The research sought to explore the role of guidance and counselling educators in secondary schools. This study employed a qualitative research approach and it was constructivist in nature. Both one on one and focus group interviews were conducted to collect the data. Purposive sampling procedures were undertaken to select the participants who were LO educators from secondary schools with more than five years teaching experience. Qualitative data was transcribed verbatim, categorised into themes and then analysed. The results exhibited that guidance and counselling are major roles played by LO educators for learners to discover who they are, their interests, potentials, capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. These enable them to take well informed choices in all spheres of life. The study revealed that learners who are not receiving guidance and counselling experience massive challenges, they are misled and make wrong life choices. The findings also submitted that only trained professionals who are subject specialists should teach LO, this will assist in addressing learners as a whole because they are knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. The results led to a key concern that DoE somehow undermines LO no wonder majority of learners do not take it serious. The study added value to the existing literature in promoting guidance and counselling services in secondary schools
Motivation for domestic leisure travel in Mtubatuba Local Municipality, KwaZuluNatal
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Recreation and Tourism, Faculty of Arts, at the University of Zululand, 2020.Tourism has been recognized as one of the most important sectors in South Africa and it contributes significantly to the country’s economy. This industry is considered as one of the largest and fastest growing industries worldwide. Domestic tourism is key to South African tourism growth, positively influencing international demand for the nation’s tourism products and services. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the main motivators for South African residents to participate in domestic leisure travel in South Africa, using Mtubatuba Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal as a case. Structured questionnaire (the quantitative research method) was used to collect usable data from 400 respondents. IBM’s SPSS version 25 software was used for statistical analyses. Data analysis relied on descriptive analyses (frequency and mean scores), bivariate analysis (Spearman’s Rank Correlation and Pearson Chi-square tests) and Multivariate test (reliability test using Cronbach’s Alpha) to reach the study results. The study revealed that South Africa is perceived positively, among residents, as a leisure tourism destination. According to the study, seeking social interaction, relaxation, exploring different activities and cultures, visiting friend and relatives are the main push factors that encourage people to travel. The main pull factors that make travelling interesting for residents include the beauty of South Africa’s natural resources, history and culture, and attractive natural resources. Most of the local residents are willing to travel South Africa for leisure. However, many local residents perceive tourist destinations and attractions as very expensive. The study posits that South Africa as a tourism destination should be more promoted to the local residents and they should be made aware of specific tourism attractions in South Africa. The study recommends that South African Tourism should use technology (Internet) intensively to market South African tourist attractions. It is recommended that the tourism industry seeks ways of minimising tourism businesses’ operational costs so that domestic tourists can afford to travel within South Africa. The study also recommends that Mtubatuba Local Municipality Tourism Managers, in collaboration with South African Tourism (Destination Marketing Organisation) provide residents with seminars, educate them about tourism and the benefits it brings to the country (South Africa). It is important that local South African travel and know different parts of South Africa. By doing so, international or foreign demand for South Africa as a tourism destination can be induced and maintained.Moses Kotane Institute (MKI