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The attitudes and perceptions of parents, teachers and school governing body towards home languages as a languages of learning and teaching in a primary school in Mamelodi, South Africa
No full textThis study explores the attitudes and perceptions of parents, teachers and the school governing body towards home languages as languages of learning and teaching, and their preference for using certain languages for teaching and learning purposes over others. Current research indicates that parents and teachers have a positive perception towards English as a medium of instruction. However, there is limited research regarding parents and teachers’ attitudes and perceptions towards home languages as LoLT in quintile one schools. A qualitative, exploratory study was used to collect data through interviews with ten parents (n=10), ten teachers (n=10), and six school governing body members (n=6) at a primary school in the township of Mamelodi. Data was also collected through analysing significant documents, such as language policies currently used in education. Data collected were transcribed and analysed thematically to establish the participants’ attitudes and perceptions towards home languages as LoLT. The principal findings indicate that parents and teachers generally favor English for its perceived future benefits, while acknowledging home language's cultural value. Additionally, the SGB members demonstrated awareness of the importance of home languages though they often prioritized practicalities of learning in English. Overall, attitudes of the stakeholders at this school lean more towards English as a language of learning and teaching. Future research should focus on how home languages as LoLT could be implemented from early childhood learning up to grade 12. It is recommended that parents should be more informed about the benefits of home languages as LoLT.M.A. (English)English Studie
Exploring the potential contribution of organic community food gardens for sustainability: the perspective of cultivators and consumers
No full textThe exponential rise in global organic food product sales indicates a transformative
shift in consumer preferences towards healthier, more sustainable, and
environmentally conscious food choices. This qualitative study, grounded in an
interpretivist paradigm, explored community food gardens’ potential contribution to
sustainability based on cultivators of such gardens and consumers’ position on organic
food products’ consumption in general. The research aimed to mitigate consumer
barriers and enhance environmental, social, and economic sustainability for
cultivators. Findings revealed South African consumers associated the term ‘organic’
with health and environmental benefits but stressed the need for accessible,
affordable, and trustworthy organic food products. Consumers’ views on organic
community gardens support sustainability, local engagement, and combating food
scarcity. Cultivators emphasised fresh, nutritious produce and proposed educational
programmes to overcome identified barriers. A holistic approach can optimise
marketing opportunities, integrating word-of-mouth, online presence, education, and
accessibility. The study recommends comprehensive consumer education, curricular
integration, non-governmental organisation-led initiatives, transparent cultivator
practices, supportive government policies, engagement with certification bodies, and
targeted awareness campaigns to enhance consumer purchase intent and sustain
local organic community gardens.M.A. (Consumer Science)Life and Consumer Science
"Waiting to exhale" : the lived experiences of women diagnosed HIV-positive during pregnancy in Eswatini
No full textAbstracts in English, Swazi and Northern SothoIn Eswatini, pregnant women with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) continue to experience challenges to maintain an adequate quality of life. Although healthcare interventions are implemented at healthcare centres to reduce the risk of vertical transmission, understanding the unique challenges faced by women during their pregnancy can help enhance the efficacy of interventions targeted at improving the wellbeing of pregnant women with HIV. This study explored the lived experiences of pregnant women with HIV to understand the emotional and psychological response to their diagnosis. This study further extended to identifying the challenges and opportunities women face following their HIV diagnosis during their pregnancy. In this instance, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted, comprising data collected from ten women diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy via semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and triangulation. Findings indicate that women experience an extensive array of emotions, ranging from fear, guilt, depression, shame, hopelessness, acceptance, and grief. The findings also indicate that stigma and social isolation associated with HIV diagnosis enable them to avoid disclosure of their diagnosis, which exacerbates social and emotional challenges, paving the way to anxiety and depression. Regardless, women continue to find resilience against their challenges by accepting their diagnosis, maintaining open communication, engaging in spiritual and religious practices, and pursuing knowledge regarding the management of their health concerns and preventing vertical transmission. These findings provide implications for healthcare providers and policymakers to implement interventions that incorporate counselling, mental health support, and educational resources to empower women to navigate the emotional, psychological, social, and economic challenges during their pregnancy and maintain positive life prospects.Eswatini, bantfu labasikatsi labakhulelwe labaneLigciwane Lesandvulelangculazi (i-HIV) bayachubeka nekubukana nebumetima ekugcineni lizinga lelanele lemphilo. Nanobe kungenelela kwekunakekelwa kwetemphilo kwentiwa etikhungweni tetemphilo kute kwehliswe bungoti bekutseleleka lokucondzile, kuvisisa tinsayeya letehlukile bantfu labasikati lababukane nato ngesikhatsi bakhulelwe kungasita ekutfutfukiseni kusebenta kahle kwekungenelela lokuhloselwe kutfutfukisa inhlalakahle yebantfu labasikati labakhulelwe labane-HIV. Lolucwaningo lwahlola lokwenteka kubantfu labasikati labakhulelwe labane-HIV kute kuvisiswe kuphendvula kwabo ngekwemoya nangakwengcondvo ekucilongweni kwabo. Lucwaningo luchubekile lwafinyelela ekutfoleni tivimba nematfuba bantfu labasikati labahlangabetana nawo ngemuva kwekuhlolelwa i-HIV ngesikhatsi bakhulelwe. Kwentiwe lucwaningo lwe-qualitative phenomenological, loluhlanganisa idatha legcogcwe ngetingcoco letingakahleleki ngalokuphelele letivela kubantfu labasikati labalishumi labatfolwe kwekutsi bane-HIV ngesikhatsi sekukhulelwa. Idatha yahlatiywa ngekusebentisa kuhlatiya kwe-thematic kanye ne-triangulation. Imiphumela ikhombisa kutsi bantfu labasikati babukana netinhlobonhlobo temiva, kusukela kwekusaba kuye ekutiveni banelicala, kucindzeteleka, emahloni, kuphelelwa litsemba kanye nelusizi lwekwamukelwa. Imiphumela iphindze ikhombise kutsi ngenca yekucwaswa nekuhlukaniswa emphakatsini lokuhambisana nekuhlolelwa i-HIV, bavamise kugwema kudzalula kucilongwa kwabo, lokwandzisa bumetima benhlalo nebengcondvo, lokuvula indlela yekukhatsateka nekudzangala. Nanobe kunjalo, bantfu labasikati bayachubeka nekucina ngalesikhatsi babhekene nalobumatima, bemukele kucilongwa kwabo, kugcina kukhulumisana lokukhululekile, kuhlanganyela emikhubeni yangekwemoya kanye nayetenkolo, nekuphishekela ngelwati loluphatselene nekuphatfwa kwemphilo yabo nekuvimbela kudluliselwa lokucondzile. Lemiphumela inemitselela kubanikati betinsita tetemphilo kanye nakubakhi betinchubomgomo mayelana nekusebentisa kungenelela kuhlanganisa kwelulekwa, kwesekelwa kwetemphilo yengcondvo, kanye nemitfombolusito yemfundvo kute kuhlonyiswe bantfu labasikati labatfolakala bane-HIV kute bancobe tihibe tangakwemoya, tengcondvo, tetenhlalo, netemnotfo lababukana nato ngesikhatsi bakhulelwe futsi bagcine ematsemba ekuphila lamahle.Eswatini bakatjhane ba nang le lokwanahloko ya Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) ba tswelapele ho ba le mathata a ho boloka boleng ba bophelo bo lekaneng. Le hoja ditshebedisano tsa tlhokomelo ya bophelo di kenngwa ditsing tsa tlhokomelo ya bophelo ho fokotsa kotsi ya ho fetisetsa tshwaetso ho ya hodimo, ho utlwisisa mathata a ikgethang ao basadi ba tobaneng le ona nakong ya bokgatjane ho ka thusa ho ntlafatsa katleho ya mehato e reretsweng ho ntlafatsa bophelo bo botle ba bakgatjane ba nang le HIV. Thuto e ile ya hlahloba diphihlelo tse phetsweng ke bakgatjhane ba nang le HIV ho utlwisisa karabelo ya bona ya maikutlo le kelello tlhahlobong ya bona. Thuto e ile ya tswela pele ho hlwaya ditshitiso le menyetla eo basadi ba kopanang le yona kamora tlhahlobo ya bona ya HIV nakong ya boimana ba bona. Ho ile ha etswa thuto ya boleng ba boiphihlelo ba batho ba ketso e itseng, e nang le dintlha tse bokelletsweng ka dipuisano tse hlophisitsweng ho tswa ho basadi ba leshome ba fumanweng ba e-na le kokwanahloko ya HIV nakong ya bokgatjhane. Dintlha di ile tsa hlahlobjwa ho sebediswa tlhahlobo ya sehlooho le ya kgutlotharo. Diphumano di bontsha hore basadi ba ba le maikutlo a mangata, ho tloha tshabong ho ya ho ho ikutlwa molato, kgatello ya maikutlo, dihlong, ho hloka tshepo le maswabi ho isa ho kamohelo.Diphumano di boetse di bontsha hore ka lebaka la sekgobo le ho itshehla thajana ho amanang le tlhahlobo ya kokwanahloko ya HIV, ba atisa ho qoba ho senola tlhahlobo ya bona, e leng ho mpefatsang mathata a setjhaba le a maikutlo, ho bula tsela ya ho tshwenyeha le kgatello ya maikutlo. Leha ho le jwalo, basadi ba tswela pele ho mamella ha ba tobane le mathata ana, ba amohela tlhahlobo ya bona, ho boloka puisano e bulehileng, ho kopanela mekgweng ya moya le ya bodumedi, le ho phehella tsebo e mabapi le tsamaiso ya bophelo bo botle ba bona le ho thibela tshwaetso ya ho fetela hodimo. Diphumano tsena di na le moelelo ho bafani ba tlhokomelo ya bophelo le baetsi ba melao mabapi le ho kenya tshebetsong mehato e kenyelletsang boeletsi, tshehetso ya bophelo bo botle ba kelello, le disebediswa tsa thuto ho matlafatsa basadi ba fumanweng ba e na le HIV ho hlola ditshitiso tsa maikutlo, tsa kelello, tsa setjhaba le tsa muruo tseo ba tobanang le tsona nakong ya bokgatjhane le ho boloka ditebello tse ntle tsa bophelo.M.A. (Psychology)Psycholog
Lecturers’ perspectives on the readiness to implement online teaching and learning at one selected TVET college in Johannesburg
No full textText in EnglishThe purpose of this research study was to explore lecturers’ perspectives on the readiness to implement online teaching and learning at one selected TVET college in Johannesburg. The study followed the qualitative approach and employed the case study design. The theoretical framework that underpinned this study was the E-learning system. The participants of the study included 10 lecturing staff members from different departments who were purposefully selected. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to generate data from the participants. A chosen time and date for interviews were agreed by both the researcher and participants. The researcher used inductive approach, and thematic analysis procedure in doing data analysis. The findings of the study show that some lecturers’ perspectives on the readiness to implement online teaching and learning were positive, while others were negative. Lecturers who participated in the study reported that the challenges that may hinder the readiness to implement online teaching and learning were lack of training, limited connectivity which was mostly college-based as well as lack of resources such as computers/laptops for students. Recommendations from participants included material support, skills development, financial support and motivation.M. Ed. (Education Management)College of Educatio
Decolonisation of life skills subject in the foundation phase through the use of Xitsonga folktales
No full textText in English with summaries in TsongaFolktales, which are oral stories passed down from one generation to the next by an older person are not only folktales told for pleasure, but also for other objectives such as the transmission of moral values, life skills, indigenous knowledge and cultural gems, educational purposes, and child rearing. To date, most South African schools use English as Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) and a minority of schools use Afrikaans as LoLT with the view to teaching the subject Life Skills in the Foundation Phase. Life skills remains rooted in Western knowledge. Using a qualitative approach, the study examines the decolonisation of Life Skills in the Foundation Phase using Xitsonga folktales. The data of the study is collected from selected published Xitsonga folktales. A total of fifteen ffolktales were sampled and analysed. This research highlights the need for the decolonisation of the subject Life Skills using Xitsonga folktales, as well as the benefits thereof. This research recommends the promotion of indigenous knowledge and curriculum transformation in the Foundation Phase in South African schools, as well as the promotion of inclusiveness of Xitsonga mother tongue.Mitsheketso i swirungululwana leswi khale na khale a swi runguleleriwa switukulwana hi lavakulu ku nga ri hi xikongomelo xo xuxa ntsena, kambe ku ri ku dyondzisa vana mahanyelo lamenene, dyondzo ya vutshila bya vutomi, dyondzo ya rixaka, dyondzo ya ndhavuko xikan’we ni ku kurisa vana hindlela leyinene. Eka masiku ya namutlha, swikolo swo tala swi tirhisa ririmi ra Xinghezi tanihi rirmi ro dyondzisa no dyondza naswona swikolo switsongo swona swi dyondzisa hi ririmi ra Xibunu eka dyondzo ya xiyenge xa masungulo. Dyondzo ya Vutshila bya vutomi eswikolweni ya ha ya emahlweweni yi namarhale madyondziselo ya Xiyuropa. Hi ku tirhisa endlelo ra nkoka, ndzavisiso lowu wu kambisisa ku susiwa ka vukoloni eka dyondzo ya Swikili swa Vutomi eka Xiyenge xa Masungulo hi ku tirhisa mitsheketo ya Xitsonga. Vuxokoxoko bya ndzavisiso lowu byi hlengeletiwile eka mitsheketo yo hambanahambana ya Xitsonga leyi kandziyisiweke malembendzhaku. Ku tekiwe mitsheketo ya 15 leyi nga xopaxopiwa hi vurhon’wana. Ndzavisiso lowu wu kombisa xilaveko xa ku herisa ku tirhisiwa ka vukoloni hi ku tirhisa mitsheketo ya Xitsonga, xikan'we ni mivuyelo ya kona. Ndzavisiso lowu wu bumabumela ku tlakusa vutivi bya vanhu va Afrika na ku cinca ka kharikhulamu eka Xiyenge xa Masungulo eswikolweni swa Afrika-Dzonga.M.A. (Languages, Linguistics and Literature)African Language
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No full textN/AThe study aims to understand what motivates water and sanitation social entrepreneurs(SEs) in South Africa as they navigate the complex business environment of collaborating with municipalities in undertaking public service delivery. In an attempt to achieve higher sustainability in their SE business models, SE processes become risky and inevitably involve higher complexity as SE businessmodel designers seek to also understand their business impact on the whole ecosystem. Any impact on any of the water and sanitation subsystems can stress or compromise the stability of the whole system.As such, in-depth face-to-face semi-structured interview was conducted with purposively selected social entrepreneurs in South Africa‘s Gauteng and Western Cape provinces. The study finds that SEs are motivated by compassion, religious, problem solving motives as well as the desire for self-sufficiency for sustainable business operation so as to make impact at scale. The overall mission is to change human living environments and provide sustainable alternative public services.Development StudiesUniversity of South Afric
Sustainable horizons : navigating the educational landscape for environmental stewardship
No full textCurriculum and Instructional Studie
Measurement and interpretation of same-sign W boson pair production in association with two jets in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textAbstract
This paper presents the measurement of fiducial and differential cross sections for both the inclusive and electroweak production of a same-sign W-boson pair in association with two jets (W±W±jj) using 139 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of
s
= 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis is performed by selecting two same-charge leptons, electron or muon, and at least two jets with large invariant mass and a large rapidity difference. The measured fiducial cross sections for electroweak and inclusive W±W±jj production are 2.92 ± 0.22 (stat.) ± 0.19 (syst.) fb and 3.38 ± 0.22 (stat.) ± 0.19 (syst.) fb, respectively, in agreement with Standard Model predictions. The measurements are used to constrain anomalous quartic gauge couplings by extracting 95% confidence level intervals on dimension-8 operators. A search for doubly charged Higgs bosons H±± that are produced in vector-boson fusion processes and decay into a same-sign W boson pair is performed. The largest deviation from the Standard Model occurs for an H±± mass near 450 GeV, with a global significance of 2.5 standard deviations
Teachers’ challenges in the rural schools : a case of Swayimana circuit in Pietermaritzburg
Get PDFDue to the many issues teachers face in most rural schools, teaching and learning have become the most difficult tasks for teachers. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges teachers face in their teaching practices in rural schools. The study comprised a qualitative research method conducted using an interpretivist paradigm. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with teachers and principals. A sample size of 20 participants (principals, deputy principals, departmental heads, and teachers) from three different schools in the Swayimana Circuit in the uMgungundlovu District in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, was selected. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, following the six phases of thematic analysis to make sense of all the data collected. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation, were addressed to protect the participants. In addition, ethical clearance was obtained from the College of Education Research Committee at the University of South Africa, and approval to conduct the study was granted by the KwaZulu Natal Department of Basic Education to conduct research within the province. The study findings revealed that teachers in rural schools faced numerous challenges in their teaching practices. These challenges included a lack of parental involvement in children’s education and limited resources being available to support effective teaching and learning. Teachers in rural schools often find themselves teaching large numbers of learners due to limited classroom space. Additionally, they lacked the necessary devices to integrate technology into their teaching practices, mainly due to insufficient funding from the Department of Basic Education. To address some of the challenges teachers face in their teaching practices, this study recommends that the Department of Education provide vital assistance to teachers in rural schools by implementing comprehensive support programmes tailored to their unique challenges. This can include offering targeted professional development opportunities that emphasise innovative teaching strategies, classroom management, and the incorporation of technology in education. In addition, establishing mentorship programmes that connect experienced teachers with
novice teachers can foster a collaborative learning environment that enhances teaching practices.M. Ed. (Leadership and Management)Educational Studie
Smallholder sugarcane producers’ perceptions and practices in bioenergy production in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
No full textText in EnglishSmallholder sugarcane production has an important role in promoting the participation of smallholder farmers in the bioenergy sector. There is not much which is known about smallholder farmers’ potential and willingness to engage in the bioenergy sector. The main objective of the research was to assess small-scale farmers’ potential and willingness to engage in bioenergy production from sugarcane. The specific objectives of the study were to determine factors affecting small-scale sugarcane producers’ potential to participate in bioenergy production; assess the current practices and the level of engagement in bioenergy production of smallholder sugarcane producers; evaluate factors affecting farmers’ willingness to participate in bioenergy production from sugarcane; and highlight what resources and institutional support is required for the smallholders to fully participate in the bioenergy sector. Bioenergy is a form of renewable produced from biomass, primarily derived from plants such as forest residues, woody crops, and crop waste, among others. Renewable energy helps to reduce the carbon footprint of energy sources. Smallholder farmers have an opportunity to contribute to the reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation.
The study was conducted with smallholder sugarcane farmers in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. A quantitative research approach was employed for the research. Following an ethical clearance with Reference 2022/CAES_HREC/050 from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science's Health and Research Ethics Committee, Thus, given a population of 893 smallholder farmers, a sample size of 269 smallholders was generated using Microsoft Excel's rand function. A total of 134 farmers were interviewed in November 2021. The data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Both descriptive statistics and econometric model were used to analyze the data. Two regression models (Ordinal Least Squares regression and Principal Components Regression were estimated). Data was analyzed using both SPSS V28 and STATA 17.
The findings showed that none of the farmers are currently engaged in bioenergy production. However, interest to engage in the sector was very high. Sugarcane harvesting is mainly manual, though a few uses mechanical harvesting, which is expensive. Most of the farmers burn their sugarcane before harvesting. Four factors were significant in influencing the bagasse potential from farmers ‘sugarcane production. These were the farmer’s age, land ownership, access to credit and cooperative membership. Also, four factors were significant in influencing them willingness to participate in the bioenergy sector these were land under sugarcane production, land tenure security and their perceptions on land and food security.
The study concludes that it is important to focus on young farmers to promote the bioenergy sector in smallholder farming. Inadequate land inhibits smallholder sugarcane farmers from seizing opportunities from the bioenergy sector. The current financial support mechanisms for smallholder farmers in the sugarcane industry and collective action arrangements do not enhance farmers’ propensity to participate in bioenergy production. It was also concluded that improving the land tenure security of smallholder sugarcane farmers would enhance their willingness to participate in bioenergy production. Furthermore, smallholder farmers who believe that the production of bioenergy requires large tracts of land are more willing to engage in bioenergy production compared to their counterparts. This is because of the anticipation of support which comes with such kinds of projects. Unfavourable opinions on the possible compromise between food security and bioenergy.
The study advocates for youth development activities to boost young participation in sugarcane cultivation. A revamp of the financial support system and collective action arrangements would enhance the participation of farmers in the bioenergy sector. The farmers’ sugarcane trash management practices should be changed. Green harvesting should be promoted in smallholder sugarcane farming. Knowledge is critical and thus training is needed to improve the farmers’ knowledge of trash management practices, bioenergy, and associated processes. Land reform/ redistribution in the country should support the creation of secure land tenure rights for farmers. The farmers’ fears regarding the bioenergy sector should be addressed before any intervention. The negative perceptions can derail any progress made in promoting bioenergy within the smallholder farming sector. There is also a need to ensure that any bioenergy programme in the smallholder sugarcane sector should not affect the production of crops for food security.M. Sc. (Agricultural Economics)Agriculture and Animal Healt