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Perceptions of learners and education officials on the provisioning of career education in schools in the King Cetshwayo District in Kwazulu-Natal
Get PDFA dissertation submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements for the Master’s Degree in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education, Faculty of Education at the University Of Zululand, 2019.Career education is a statutory practice in South African public schools through the subject Life Orientation. Literature reveals that not much attention is given to the provisioning of career education in schools. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the perceptions of education officials, school principals, LO educators and learners on the provisioning of career education in schools. The sample comprised 2 education officials, 4 school principals, 4 LO educators and 200 grade 12 learners. The main objective of the study was to determine if education officials, school principals, LO educators and learners thought that career education in schools met the career development needs of learners. A convergent parallel mixed methods research design was used, in which one-on-one interviews and the questionnaire were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data respectively. A qualitative thematic content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data, whilst for quantitative data, an excel spreadsheet was used to capture and analyse data. The findings revealed that the main career education provisioning strategy included a five-pronged career development support programme funded through the HIV and AIDS conditional grant and delivery in the classroom as part of the subject Life Orientation (LO). Education officials and school principals perceived career education in schools as meeting the career development needs of learners. Learners as well, perceived career education in schools as meeting their career development needs. LO educators thought that career education did not meet the career development needs of learners. Some of the gaps and challenges identified by participants were lack of educators dedicated solely for career guidance, lack of a national career guidance structure and policy, lack of a career counselling service, lack of appreciation of the role of the school in career decision-making. Parental and community influence, and the elusive role of LO and its educators in career education delivery in schools. The study recommends the making of Career Guidance a stand-alone offering in schools by, among other things, appointing Career Development Educators
Remote sensing of forest health and vitality: a South African perspective
Get PDFPeer reviewed article published under Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, Volume 81 Number 2.Commercial forestry plantations are an important and valuable segment of the South African economy and forest managers are required to maximise and sustain forest productivity. However, various factors such as the outbreak of damaging agents are constantly hampering forest health and thus decrease productivity. It is therefore important to detect the presence and spread of these agents within plantation forests, a task efficiently achieved using remote sensing technology. A wide assortment of sensors with varying resolutions are available and have been extensively used for this purpose. This paper reviews the current status of remote sensing of forest health in South Africa by providing insight on the latest developments on the use of the technology in forest plantations. A systematic search was executed on Google Scholar, ScienceDirect® and EBSCOhost® databases that identified 627 articles of which 29 made reference to remote sensing of forest health in South Africa. Four key results were found: (1) the latest technology is capable of detecting and monitoring forest health with great accuracy, especially with the adoption of machine learning methods; (2) studies employing remote sensing to characterise forest health have burgeoned since 2006 with even more applying hyperspectral data; (3) most studies were spatially concentrated in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region around Pietermaritzburg with only a few over the Western Cape; and (4) the remote detection of pest outbreaks and pathogens have received much attention followed by alien invasive plants and a few studies directed to fragmentation. Present and future partnerships may open up opportunities for exploiting remote sensing further; this should address growing expectations from government and industry for more detailed and accurate information concerning the health and condition of South Africa’s plantation forests
Student teachers’ awareness and use of auxiliary verbs: a case study of student teachers at the University of Zululand
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of English at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2019This study was conducted at a university based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The purpose
of the study was to determine if the explicit instruction of selected grammar aspect, modal
auxiliary verbs, improved students’ ability to write English. The study was qualitative in nature
and a case study design was adopted. The focus was in relation to a sample of 80 student
teachers who were randomly selected in 2016 in the Faculty of Education. 40 participants
were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. For the experimental group,
training lasted six weeks. Both groups were made to write similar essays and those essays
were marked focusing on the students’ ability to use modal auxiliary verbs. The study’s
findings revealed that the experimental group performed better than those in the control group
in the use of modal auxiliary verbs. Based on the findings, the study recommended explicit
grammar instruction in all the students’ level of study in order to overcome the challenges they
have in writing English. Thus, time should be created to ascertain that adequate explicit
grammar lessons are offered to all pre-service teachers at the university
The contribution of the employee health and wellness programme (ehwp) on job performance among social service professionals in the Gert Sibande district, Mpumalanga province.
Get PDFA dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the academic requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce in the Department of Public Administration in the Faculty of Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law, University of Zululand, 2019This study aimed at assessing the contribution of the Employee Health and Wellness Programme on job performance among Social Service Professionals at Gert Sibande District, Mpumalanga Province.
The methodological approach employed by the study was survey research design which favours quantitative research approach and stratified random sampling was also utilized. The study targeted 146 participants which a sample size of 106 participants was selected emanating from Social Work Managers, Social Work Supervisors and Social Service Professionals in the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development at Gert Sibande District. Quantitative data was produced through structured questionnaires and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
The main findings of the study revealed that majority of respondents were of the view that EHWP services should be decentralised to at least district offices of the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development for accessibility purposes. It was evident that there is a remarkable gap between employees who are aware of EHWP services and those who are not. Furthermore, results show that utilization rate of EHWP services was curiously low. Most importantly, the study recommended that the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development should employ viable and employee-centred marketing strategies to accelerate employees’ awareness and ascertain accessibility of EHWP services within the entire department. It further recommended that accessibility of the EHWP largely depends on the restructuring of EHWP section from being a subsection to a Directorate. Ideally, it may be assumed that when employees are satisfied with their job, they are likely to be healthier, thereby increasing their morale, performance and organisational service delivery. Moreover, this study provides a broader insight into a wide range of strategic frameworks and pieces of legislations governing the Employee Health and Wellness in the South African workplace.
The researcher concludes that the potential of the Employee Health and Wellness initiatives can only be achieved when wellness is rooted within the core corporate strategy of public sector organisations where it will be viewed as an integral part to success. This therefore denotes that, employees should be viewed as valuable resource, be appreciated, protected and preserved rather than perceived as a unit of production
The legislatures, legislative oversight and crisis of governance in democratizing Nigeria: a prebendalist perspective
Get PDFPeer reviewed article published under Inkanyiso journal, Volume 11 Number 1 p.13 - 26. 2019This article, which is based on desk analysis, examines the legislative oversight roles of the legislatures in democratizing Nigeria against the backdrop of the seeming crisis of governance. It observes that the legislatures and their functionaries in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, especially at the national level, have performed abysmally in discharging their oversight roles, resulting in a crisis of governance. The essay concludes that as long as the Nigerian post-colonial rentier state and existing democratic institutions, the legislatures included, remain trapped in the prebendal orbit, the journey towards democratic accountability and by extension dividends of democracy, may continue to be a tortuous one
In vitro assessment of cytochrome P450 and drug transporters modulation by polyphenolic constituents of cyclopia genistoides
Get PDFA dissertation submitted in the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Agriculture at the University of Zululand, 2019.Historically, medicines were administered in the form of herbal concoctions, and this is
still true for many traditional medicines. These ancient remedies are often consumed
straight from the bush/bark or leaf, ground up as powders or brewed as teas. In these
forms, the active ingredient, as part of the mixture, if often found at low concentrations
and have a low bioavailability. The primordial use of natural medicine is growing in
popularity and as science has advanced, chemists have shown it possible to extract
active ingredients from natural sources to make more potent medications under the term
“nutraceutical”. As the health-conscious increase “superfoods” into their daily dietary
intake, it has also been shown that a large portion of the South African populations will
use natural products as their primary source of medication and more frequently as
adjunctive therapeutics.
Herb-drug interactions (HDI) are acknowledged as a growing public health problem that
can lead to life-threatening adverse drug reactions (ADR). When boosting the efficacy of
herbal products, methods are employed to produce products enriched in bioactive
phytochemicals, However, the increased exposure to these bioactive phytochemicals
poses the risk of HDI should the user be simultaneously prescribed conventional drugs.
The potential for ADR originating from HDI should require assessment before herbal
products are made available on the market, but no current legislature makes this testing
mandatory.
Cyclopia genistoides has shown potential to be developed into an antidiabetic
nutraceutical because of its α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and high phenolic content. In
this study, we assessed the effect of a Cyclopia genistoides extract for its interaction with
cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and drug transporters to investigate whether the use
of C. genistoides extract or its bioactive phenolic constituents has the potential for herbdrug
interactions. The potential for hepatotoxicity of a methanol C. genistoides extract,
xanthone and benzophenone enriched fractionations and associated pure compounds
(mangiferin, isomangiferin, 3-β-D-glucopyranosyl-4-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyiriflophenone
(IDG) and 3-β-D-glucopyranosyliriflophenone (IMG)) was assessed using C3A liver cells.
The inhibitory effects of these test entities on major CYP isoforms were assessed using
III
Vivid® blue screening kits in both time and concentration-dependent assays. qRT-PCR
was performed using Taqman probes in order to investigate the modulatory effect of C.
genistoides constituents on the expression of drug transporters (SLCO1B3, ABCB1 and
ABCG2). Translation of these drug transporter genes was confirmed through Western
blot analysis.
C. genistoides was deemed non-toxic to C3A hepatocytes at the concentrations tested.
ARC188 showed inhibitory activities on all CYP isoforms tested (50.27%, 72.47%,
70.68%, 50.48% and 78.49% inhibition of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and
CYP3A4, respectively). ARC188X inhibited CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 by 57.15%,
56.56% and 50.61%, respectively. Mangiferin inhibited CYP 3A4 (60.83 % inhibition),
CYP2D6 (52.12% inhibition) and CYP2C9 (82.08% inhibition). While ARC188B only
inhibited CYP3A4 (53.28%) and the benzophenone pure compounds (IMG and IDG), and
isomangiferin had no inhibitory effects on CYP activity. All tested C. genistoides
constituents up-regulated the efflux drug transporter ABCB1.
Xanthone-enriched extracts, especially those with a high mangiferin content, show
potential towards HDI especially with antidiabetic drugs such as sulfonylureas and
warrant further investigation into the possibility of ADR
Physical tests, hormonal and oxidative-stress related biomarkers in intermittent training of Taekwondo Athletes
Get PDFA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Human Movement Science, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2019.This thesis presents four studies. Study one aimed at identifying the anthropometric, physical and physiological characteristics of junior Taekwondo athletes required to achieve an international status in 25 males and 11 females aged 25.5±2.6 years. Body composition [percentage body fat (%BF), sum of skinfolds (SS)], flexibility (sit & reach, hip flexor (HF) and quadriceps flexibility (QF), lower extremity explosive power [vertical jump (Diff VJ)] and vertical jump relative power (R Power), muscle endurance (sit-ups and push-ups), muscular strength (handgrip right and left), hexagonal agility (HEX) and agility T-test, aerobic power (20 m bleep test (20MST) converted to maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max.). Significantly higher %BF and sum of skinfolds were recorded in junior female players. No differences in body mass, stature and body mass index (BMI) were found. Female athletes showed lower (p<0.001) results in push-ups compared to males. Maximal grip strength of both hands was higher (p<0.05) in males.
Study two investigated the effects of 4 weeks high-intensity intermittent Taekwondo (TKD) training program on body composition, physical fitness and performance of thirty-four (n=34) active TKD athletes of South African Zulu ancestry aged 20-26 years. The athletes were divided into control group (CG; n=10 male, n=7 female), performed interval TKD and strength training of lower intensity (70-75 % VO2max), experimental group (EG; n=10 male, n=7 female) that performed a high-intensity intermittent TKD and strength training (85-95 % VO2max). Body composition parameters: body mass, % body fat, sum of skinfolds, blood pressure (BP) and resting heart rate (RHR) flexibility, leg power, muscle strength and endurance, agility, VO2max (20m bleep test) were measured. Data were analysed using t-test for independent samples and Z-score individual radar plots statistics for assessment of each athlete. After 4 weeks of training, athletes in the experimental group showed a significant reduction in body weight (p<0.05), BMI (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p<0.05), resting heartrate (RHR) (p<0.05), SS (p<0.05), and fat % (p<0.001) and significant improvement (p<0.001) in flexibility, muscle strength, power, agility and VO2max. In male controls, fat % was decreased (p<0.05), flexibility and VO2max were increased (p<0.05). In female controls, only flexibility was improved (p<0.05).
Study three assessed the hormonal and biochemical responses of young male and female Taekwondo athletes during the 4 week high-intensity Taekwondo training. Twenty-eight (N=28) [16 males and 12 females] South African Taekwondo (TKD) athletes aged 20-26 years, BMI=23.7±2.9 14 were subjected to 4 weeks TKD and strength training divided in two groups: experimental (n=8 male, n=6 female) performing high intensity intermittent (85-90% VO2max) TKD training and a control group (n=8 males, n=6 females), performing interval TKD training of lower intensity (70-75% VO2max). A structured Taekwondo tasks (sTT) test was conducted before and after the training period within the experimental group after 4 weeks of high intensity intermittent Taekwondo (HIITKD) training period, the post-sTT test total testosterone level was higher (p<0.05) by 21.7% compared to the pre-sTT test value. No differences between groups were found` in free testosterone, testosterone-binding globulin and cortisol. Post-sTT test cortisol/total testosterone (C/tT) ratio decreased by 13.3% in the experimental group and increased by 18.5% in controls (p<0.05) after the training period.
Study four assessed the haematological parameters in twenty-eight (N=28) [16 males and 12 females] South African Taekwondo (TKD) athletes aged 20-26years, BMI=23.7±2.9 14 subjected to 4 weeks of TKD training who were divided into two groups: experimental (n=8 male, n=6 female) performing high intensity intermittent (85-90% VO2max) TKD training and a control group (n=8 males, n=6 females) performing interval TKD training of lower intensity (70-75% VO2max). A structured Taekwondo tasks (sTT) test was conducted before and after the training period. Within the experimental group, after 4 weeks of high intensity intermittent Taekwondo (HIITKD) training period, the post-sTT test total testosterone level was higher (p<0.05) by 21.7% compared to the pre-sTT test value. No differences between groups were found in Haematocrit mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemaglobin (MCH), mean corpuscuclar haemaglobin concentration (MCHC), red distribution width (RDW), Platelets, Eosinophil and Basophil levels between experimental and control groups in the male and female athletes after the training period. RBC (L), Hb, Haematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, and Lymphocyte levels increased significantly in experimental groups in both female and male TKD athletes.
Discussion
Intermittent physical events may produce great strength and muscle power demands on both upper and lower body with high anaerobic energy demand.
Conclusion. The findings of this study which were obtained from Taekwondo athletes of Zulu ancestry support the effectiveness of 4 weeks high intensity intermittent training in improving body composition, cardiorespiratory response, blood hormone and physical performance that could contribute to improve health and enhanced combat skills of Taekwondo athletes
Africa in the global imaginary: towards internationally competitive science and research. Proceedings of the 2nd annual conference of the International Geographical Commission on African studies held on 17 - 19 June 2019 at the University of Zululand, South Africa.
No full textProceedings of the Second Annual Conference of the International
Geographical Union Commission on African Studies, which was held at the University of
Zululand from 16 -19 June 2019.The International Geographical Commission (IGU) Commission on African Studies (CAS) held
its second annual conference at the University of Zululand in June 2019. One of the direct
products of the conference is the publication of these conference proceedings, whose authors
are drawn from different parts of Africa, and include post-graduate students. The papers in
this volume engage with various aspects of the conference theme, which is Africa in the global
imaginary: Towards internationally competitive science and research. The authors represent
different disciplinary backgrounds in the natural and social sciences and humanities. The
chapters in the publication are organised under the following themes and sections: climate
change issues in Africa, environmental problems in Africa, environmental conservation,
natural resource use and governance, globalisation and regional economic integration in
Africa, rural development and water resources. The contributions illustrate various research
projects in Africa as well as different debates on natural and social reality on the continent.
Some of the contributions also reveal innovative approaches to the study and/or analysis of
natural and/or social reality, the results and conclusions of which are thought-provoking.National Research Foundation (NRF
Information services provided by Maarifa Telecentres to rural communities in ASALs in Kenya
Get PDFPeer reviewed article published under Inkanyiso journal, Volume 11 Number 1, p.50 - 68, November 2019.Telecentres are established to provide information, to bridge the information and
digital gap, foster development and confront the requirements of the poverty
stricken in remote and isolated rural areas in developing nations. The purpose of
this study was to explore information services provided by two Maarifa centres to
rural communities in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) in Kenya. The specific
objective was to establish the information needs of ASAL communities served by
Maarifa centres; to explore information services provided by Maarifa centres to
ASAL communities; to analyse the challenges and prospects of Maarifa centres in
the provision of information to rural communities in Kenya and to make
recommendations for the improvement of information services to ASALs
communities in Kenya. The study employed a multiple case study research design
as an overall strategy and drew upon multiple data sources to develop a
triangulation of methods. Qualitative research was administered as a predominant
approach. Data was gathered through interviews from a sample of 20 respondents
from each Maarifa centre: Isinya in Kajiado and Ng’arua in Laikipia counties. In
addition, two focus group discussions were administered with the respondents of
the two Maarifa centres. Key informants included directors and programme
coordinators of Maarifa centres and government agencies who provide
infrastructural support to the telecentre project. This study was informed by the
Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) theoretical framework
namely: the ‘Sustainable Livelihoods Approach’ (SLA) framework. The findings of
this study suggest that Maarifa centres are points of Arid Lands Information Networks (ALINs) engagement with communities living in ASALs. People
appreciate Maarifa centres as places to access information, acquire ICT skills, and
improve livelihood activities such as agriculture and businesses and for social
communication. The challenges are mainly infrastructural such as poor
connectivity and Internet access. This study revealed that Maarifa centres have
solved most of the community’s information related challenges through egovernment services, e-commerce and agricultural development and knowledge
creation, resulting in improved livelihoods. The study contributes to knowledge
because it adopts a community-centred approach that focuses on the views of
users of Maarifa centres
The effect of household poverty trap on learners’ performance in secondary schools in Nongoma in the Zululand district.
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education for the Degree of Master of Education in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Zululand, 2019.Poverty has and will continue to precipitate enormous suffering for countless of learners living in ab-ject poverty in the rural area of Nongoma. The study examine how poverty trap limit the academic performance of learners in the rural secondary schools of Nongoma. Also, it identifies various poli-cies and programme designed to alleviate the negative effect of poverty on the learning outcome.
The study is underpin by Urie Bronfenbrenner,s ecological theory . The Quantitative and qualitative approach was used with questionnaires and focus group interview. In the study 5 schools was used with 100 learners for questionnaires and 5 educators for focus group interview .The Tesch,s open coding method of data analysis was used to identify Themes and categories whiles SPSS was used to analysis and determines frequency and percentages of data collected through questionnaires
Findings from this study revealed that the majority of the learners in the rural area of Nongoma can-not afford even afford even the basic human needs which are necessary on the learners health, their emotional, physical, moral, social and academic achievements.
This study also established that learner’s academics performance affected by financial constraint, poor health due to lack of good food, delinquent behavior, child abuse and prostitution ,the long distance to and from school , stigmatization and stereotyping , school drop –out and absenteeism .
This study recommend rural development policies , policies for even distribution of income to close the achievement gap between the rich and poor , feeding scheme in all schools most especially in the rural schools , and adequate provision of learning aids such as library , laboratory and computer in the rural schools .
The study also recommend that the problem be addressed by the micro system of the school and of the families, the neighborhood mesosystem and exosystem, as well as by by the macro system. Col-laborative work is also needed among all the stakeholders to chase away the elephant in the house and look in-depth to the root causes of poverty