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Changes in trauma-related emergency medical services during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Western Cape, South Africa
No full textAbstract
Background
To limit virus spread during the COVID pandemic, extensive measures were implemented around the world. In South Africa, these restrictions included alcohol and movement restrictions, factors previously linked to injury burden in the country. Consequently, reports from many countries, including South Africa, have shown a reduction in trauma presentations related to these restrictions. However, only few studies and none from Africa focus on the impact of the pandemic restrictions on the Emergency Medical System (EMS).
Methods
We present a retrospective, observational longitudinal study including data from all ambulance transports of physical trauma cases collected during the period 2019–01-01 and 2021–02-28 from the Western Cape Government EMS in the Western Cape Province, South Africa (87,167 cases). Within this timeframe, the 35-days strictest lockdown level period was compared to a 35-days period prior to the lockdown and to the same 35-days period in 2019. Injury characteristics (intent, mechanism, and severity) and time were studied in detail. Ambulance transport volumes as well as ambulance response and on-scene time before and during the pandemic were compared. Significance between indicated periods was determined using Chi-square test.
Results
During the strictest lockdown period, presentations of trauma cases declined by > 50%. Ambulance transport volumes decreased for all injury mechanisms and proportions changed. The share of assaults and traffic injuries decreased by 6% and 8%, respectively, while accidental injuries increased by 5%. The proportion of self-inflicted injuries increased by 5%.
Studies of injury time showed an increased share of injuries during day shift and a reduction of total injury volume during the weekend during the lockdown. Median response- and on-scene time remained stable in the time-periods studied.
Conclusion
This is one of the first reports on the influence of COVID-19 related restrictions on EMS, and the first in South Africa. We report a decline in trauma related ambulance transport volumes in the Western Cape Province as well as changes in injury patterns, largely corresponding to previous findings from hospital settings in South Africa. The unchanged response and on-scene times indicate a well-functioning EMS despite pandemic challenges. More studies are needed, especially disaggregating the different restrictions
A methodology for computer-supported collaborative learning for graduate computing research students' argumentation skills development
No full textPresenting a well-formulated research argument is a core competency which a
graduate student has to acquire in the course of his/her learning journey. The
mere availability of the technology platforms provided in open distance e-learning
(ODeL) through computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) platforms does
not guarantee that graduate students will use such technologies effectively in the
development of their argumentation skills. Furthermore, there is little evidence on
how a graduate course, offered through a CSCL platform, should be constructed
to augment the development of argumentation skills. This study was guided by
the research question, How can CSCL environments be used to augment graduate
computing students’ argumentation skills development? The study, conducted
according to a design science paradigm, is underpinned by a pragmatic philosophical
worldview . In adhering to design science research (DSR) principles, the problem
was defined and a conceptual argumentation skills development framework (ASDF)
was designed, developed, implemented and evaluated . The disciplinary knowledge
was subsequently shared in this thesis and related peer-reviewed publications. The
research was conducted in two phases: the first reported on the development
and evaluation of a conceptual ASDF, with the literature-based conceptual ASDF
being presented to expert participants in online focus groups with expertise in
postgraduate supervision and ODeL course development. During online discussions,
the participants reflected on the elements that comprised the ASDF and the CSCL
affordances, and completed an online questionnaire. The ASDF was then revised
based on the findings from the data analysis. In the second phase, the revised ASDF
was implemented using CSCL in a computing graduate research course to validate
the elements of the ASDF and the CSCL affordances. To measure the graduate
students’ educational experience whilst engaging with the activities as presented in
the ASDF, a survey was distributed to the wider research group of students, and
online focus groups were held with a smaller group of students enrolled for the
project. The students reflected on their perceptions of educational experiences
in the learning processes in terms of social presence, cognitive presence and
teaching presence. The thematic analysis of the online discussions was used to
validate the elements in the ASDF . The development of a framework that can be
implemented in an ODeL graduate course was compelled by the drive to digitise – a
process accelerated by the 2020/21 health pandemic – which has called into question
prevailing assumptions on how to use technology effectively in a graduate research
course to augment argumentation skills, and how to research and reflect on it . On
a theoretical level, the study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a
novel methodology encompassing a philosophy and strategy in the form of an ASDF.
The knowledge and experience gained from its implementation and evaluation could
provide valuable practical insights to lecturers and course designers alike . The
rigour of the DSR process was complemented by an implementation of the ASDF
in a graduate computing research course. The researcher recommends that the
ASDF be implemented in the larger graduate computing research course, in such a
way that argumentation skills development becomes part of the regular curriculum.D. Phil. (Information Systems)School of Computin
Search for supersymmetry in final states with missing transverse momentum and three or more b-jets in 139 fb - 1 of proton–proton collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textAbstract
A search for supersymmetry involving the pair production of gluinos decaying via off-shell third-generation squarks into the lightest neutralino
(
χ
~
1
0
)
is reported. It exploits LHC proton–proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy
s
=
13
TeV with an integrated luminosity of 139 fb
-
1
collected with the ATLAS detector from 2015 to 2018. The search uses events containing large missing transverse momentum, up to one electron or muon, and several energetic jets, at least three of which must be identified as containing b-hadrons. Both a simple kinematic event selection and an event selection based upon a deep neural-network are used. No significant excess above the predicted background is found. In simplified models involving the pair production of gluinos that decay via off-shell top (bottom) squarks, gluino masses less than 2.44 TeV (2.35 TeV) are excluded at 95% CL for a massless
χ
~
1
0
.
Limits are also set on the gluino mass in models with variable branching ratios for gluino decays to
b
b
¯
χ
~
1
0
,
t
t
¯
χ
~
1
0
and
t
b
¯
χ
~
1
-
/
t
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b
χ
~
1
+
The impact of whatsapp usage on academic performance of high school learners : a case of Mamabudusha Secondary school
No full textSecondary school education serves as the fundamental basis and cornerstone for acquiring advanced knowledge in tertiary institutions. The persistent decline in academic achievement at the Senior High School level poses a significant risk to the educational system of every nation, particularly South Africa. Hence, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive examination of the existing body of scholarly work pertaining to academic achievement, with a focus on identifying the many determinants such as social media and their impact on the educational results of students enrolled in Senior High Schools. This approach may potentially reveal deficiencies in the existing body of literature and provide light on additional concerns that have received significant attention in research and publications. This study aims to investigate ways that can be used to ensure correct WhatsApp usage for better academic performance and writing abilities, as well as to identify the negative and positive effects it has on learners and their academic performance. The study was conducted at a public school named Mamabudusha High School located in Mankweng Rural Area called Mamotintane in the Limpopo Province. The target population constituted 462 high school learners aged between 16 and 18. This study allowed a sampling size of 50 learners aged between 16 and 18 years in Mamabudusha High School to participate. The method of lottery has been used to procure a sample of 50 respondents. Closed ended questions like Yes/No, True/False, and the Linkert Scale were employed to collect primary data. The findings of this study revealed that students had a positive attitude and showed excitement about incorporating WhatsApp into their academic pursuits. This was mainly due to the ease of accessing the platform on different devices and at any time. The study unveiled a direct correlation between pupils' utilization of WhatsApp and their scholastic achievement. According to the findings of this study, it is evident that WhatsApp has superior effectiveness when compared to traditional ways of teaching and learning. Hence, the researcher recommends that WhatsApp be incorporated as a platform for educational instruction.M. A. (Communication Science)Communication Scienc
Strategies for prevention of malnutrition among under-five children in pastoralist and agrarian communities, southern Ethiopia
No full textPURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and analyse the findings to develop strategies for preventing malnutrition among children under five in the pastoralist and agrarian regions of Southern Ethiopia.
METHOD: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was conducted among 605 randomly selected households in the Benatsemay and South Ari districts from February 1 to 28, 2023. A multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select participants. The district served as the primary sampling unit, the kebele as the secondary sampling unit, and households with under-five children and their mothers/caregivers as the tertiary sampling unit. The research was carried out in three phases: quantitative, qualitative, and the prevention strategy phase. In the quantitative phase, a community-based cross-sectional study was done to determine the prevalence of malnutrition, food insecurity, and related factors in both agrarian and pastoralist communities. Data were collected using structured quantitative questionnaires, and upper arm circumference was measured using standard techniques. The data were entered into Epi-Info 7.1 and then transferred to SPSS 25 for analysis.
In the qualitative phase, a facility-based study was conducted using in-depth interviews with key informants (17 participants) and focus group discussions (27 participants) to gain a thorough understanding of the issues related to malnutrition and food insecurity.
Lastly, prevention strategies for malnutrition in children under five were developed by integrating the findings from both phases of the study, reviewing relevant literature, incorporating the researcher's insights, and gathering expert opinions through the Delphi technique.
VI
QUANTITATIVE RESULTS: A total of 597 participants were involved in the study, achieving a response rate of 98.7%. The findings showed that the prevalence of food insecurity, as measured by the HFIAS, was 42.2% (95% CI: 38.2%, 46.3%). Household food insecurity was significantly linked to factors like the dependency ratio, maternal education level, participation in the productive safety net program, and land ownership. Among children aged 6-59 months, the prevalence of stunting and wasting was found to be 40.5% (95% CI: 36.6%, 44.6%) and 16.2% (95% CI: 13.4%, 19.5%), respectively. Wasting was associated with the child’s age, antenatal care (ANC) attendance, handwashing after using the latrine, recent episodes of coughing, current breastfeeding practices, and bottle-feeding usage. Stunting was linked to the child's age and gender, household head gender, maternal education, place of residence, household food security, handwashing after latrine use, and recent diarrheal episodes.
QUALITATIVE FINDINGS: Focus group discussions and interviews revealed some factors that contribute to food insecurity, including climate change, food shortages, limited awareness, small landholdings, inadequate farming technologies, poor family planning, and low income levels. Similarly, undernutrition was linked to insufficient food intake, lack of dietary variety, problems with complementary feeding, inadequate caregiving, short periods of exclusive breastfeeding, illnesses like diarrhoea, poor family planning, unhygienic practices, limited sanitation, low awareness, and land scarcity. The study emphasises the complex interactions between socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioural factors in causing food insecurity and undernutrition, stressing the need for comprehensive prevention strategies.
CONCLUSION: Food insecurity and undernutrition were public health concerns in the Benatsemay and South Ari districts of Southern Ethiopia. Thus, future efforts should address identified determinants through targeted strategies and interventions. Moreover, prevention strategies were established to address household food insecurity and mitigate malnutrition among under-five children.D. Litt. et. Phil. (Public Health)Health Studie
The impact of Grade R readiness on Grade one teaching
Get PDFGrade R readiness development is an ongoing challenge in the Foundation Phase in
South Africa. In response to this issue, the overarching aim of the study was to
investigate the impact of Grade R readiness on Grade One teaching and to understand
the skills, strategies and methods Grade R teachers use to develop readiness. To
further the aim of the study, a qualitative research design and methodology were
employed in a cross-sectional case study design. The study drew on Bronfenbrenner’s
ecological systems theory to explore the perspectives of four Grade R teachers from
two different settlements in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. This framework
allowed the researcher to unpack and explore the multi-level development processes
related to Grade R readiness, how learners interact within the different systems, their
understanding of and physical being in their environment and how it impacts on the
context. Data were generated using semi-structured interviews, observation and
document analysis. The findings revealed that the two schools developed readiness;
however, their understanding of how readiness is developed and the skills and
strategies they used to develop readiness in Grade R classes differed. The teachers
still encountered challenges, including a lack of infrastructure that would have allowed
them to lay out all the learning areas prescribed in the DBE's Resource Kit, which
provides relevant teaching aids for learners to use in the different learning areas to
develop holistically. Fully equipped playgrounds would ensure that teachers are able
to assess the development of learners’ readiness holistically during outdoor activities.
Therefore, the DBE should review its policies as there are setbacks concerning
practice and implementation in schools. It is recommended that the DBE revisits the
following issues: the no-repeat policy at the Grade R level; the policy on admission of
undocumented learners; building Grade R centres equipped with indoor and outdoor
learning resources; and the employment of qualified Grade R teachers.D. Phil. (Early Childhood Education)Early Childhood Educatio
Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning Approach to Teaching and Learning Research Philosophies and Paradigms
Get PDFThe paper cogitates on the critical advent of 4th IR focusing on the concept of machine learning (ML) underpinned by natural language processing (NLP) to demonstrate how research philosophies and paradigms can be better taught and learned for students' benefit. A systematic literature review was earmarked for its depth and textual inquiry from scholarly arguments. The main purpose of this paper is to aver a progressive technological approach towards better comprehensive research paradigms and philosophies, which are complex domains with diverse variety in higher education and a cause of discomfort for students at post-graduate levels. Using quantitative algorithm, the natural language processing and machine learning-inspired digital model poses questions that place students in a reflexive mode and draws their articulated responses as inputs that model their worldviews against a host of philosophies in the database.The paper revealed that, discordant with previousscholars who advocated for a single philosophical assumption for a field, subject or researcher, such as the existence of a pure positivist and/ or pure interpretivist, purist philosophical assumptions should be challenged to benefit students and academics. It means that the digital discovery of research philosophies and paradigms extends the work of previous theorists to the technologically inspired discovery of episteme, ontology and axiology. By its nature, the use of NLP becomes an advanced channel on how we know what we know and the nature of the reality and values being displayed. The paper contributes to the evocation of deep learning arising from new philosophies and methods. The inquiry-based teaching approach transforms learning from the generic push-teaching method that assumes universality to the fostering of a reflexive approach that helps resolve the deep ideological approaches that caused the polarisation. The manner in which NLP and ML are able to extract information relevant to knowledge or philosophical discovery paves the way for approaches that can lead to the depolarisation and decolonisation of research philosophies, which can ultimately boost the development of research students.Colleges of Economic and Management Science
Exploring parental perceptions of adolescent mobile device use
No full textText in English, abstracts in English, Afrikaans and ZuluMobile devices and the internet provide access to a vast amount of information, educational content, entertainment and their attendant risks. The easy accessibility and variety of devices available for adolescents to use increases the concern for the possible negative effects and harm for adolescents to exposure by inappropriate and harmful media. Parents face new challenges brought about by the ever-changing technology available. Adolescents are competent and confident with using modern technology, such as smartphones and tablets. Often, children will have more knowledge and understanding of modern devices than their parents. Additionally, modern mobile devices are portable, making it difficult for the monitoring of their use. For these reasons, it is imperative to explore parents’ perceptions relating to their adolescents use of mobile devices and how they are coping with the challenges associated with this use. Protective methods that can be used by parents to limit their adolescent’s mobile device use is important. Parents need to be educated about the options that are available to them in this regard.
The overarching aim of the study was to collect information about parents’ perceptions of the effects that mobile device use has on their adolescents, and to show how they regulate and monitor this use in order to promote healthy habits. This study sought greater understanding of South African parental perspectives of mobile device use by adolescents and concomitantly, how parents monitor this use.
An exploratory study using qualitative methods was adopted for the accumulation and the analysis of the data where a social constructionist approach was adopted. Non-probability, purposive sampling was used. Ten participants took part in this study. From the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s (1994) Bio-Ecological Systems theory, with the aid of Johnson and Puplampu’s (2008) Techno-Subsystem, the lived experiences and perceptions of the participants were explored. This study focused on the nests in which families live and the various factors that influence parents’ views on the decision to allow their adolescent’s to use mobile devices. It focused too on the experiences relating to this decision, how participants manage and view potential risks, and the problems encountered and expressed by participants. This included feelings of having inadequate knowledge of how to protect adolescents from online dangers.
Data was obtained by using a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis of this data was conducted as this facilitated insight into how the participants construct meaning from their social world and family life. Three main themes were identified, namely: (1) Parents’ experiences and perceptions regarding adolescent mobile device use; (2) Parents feeling a lack of complete safety with their adolescent using mobile devices, and (3) Safety strategies employed by parents to protect their adolescents from potential harm caused by mobile device use. While participants could see the value and importance of mobile devices, particularly the value of added security and the educational advantages these devices offer, participants were torn due to the many risks posed by this use. As a result of the many dangers associated with adolescent mobile device use, such as easily accessible inappropriate content, negative behavioural changes in adolescents and pressure by other individuals online, participants chose to employ safeguards in an attempt to protect their adolescents. These reported safeguards include checking mobile devices frequently, setting rules and limits, and encouraging an open relationships and communication about safety and risks. Participants reported having feelings of insecurity regarding the protection of their adolescents and believe that schools need to play a role in educating parents about safety measures, online risks and creating more awareness around this important concern.
The findings from this research suggest that the issue of adolescent mobile device use is a complex matter that requires further study. The findings indicated that many parents have insufficient knowledge to adequately protect their adolescents from the potential harms created by the use of mobile devices and that there is a need for parents to improve their digital literacy skills. Participants indicated the need for schools and thus the Department of Basic Education, to become involved in helping to educate them and assist with protecting adolescents. An awareness and educational programme would greatly benefit parents and aid in protecting adolescents from the dangers associated with internet use.Mobiele toestelle en die internet bied toegang tot 'n groot hoeveelheid inligting, opvoedkundige inhoud, vermaak en die gepaardgaande risiko's. Die maklike toeganklikheid en verskeidenheid toestelle wat beskikbaar is vir adolessente om te gebruik, verhoog die kommer oor die moontlike negatiewe uitwerking en skade vir adolessente aan blootstelling deur onvanpaste en skadelike media. Ouers staar nuwe uitdagings in die gesig wat deur die steeds veranderende tegnologie beskikbaar gestel word. Adolessente is bekwaam en selfversekerd met die gebruik van moderne tegnologie, soos slimfone en tablette. Dikwels sal kinders meer kennis en begrip van moderne toestelle hê as hul ouers. Boonop is moderne mobiele toestelle draagbaar, wat dit moeilik maak vir die monitering van hul gebruik. Om hierdie redes is dit noodsaaklik om ouers se persepsies met betrekking tot hul adolessente se gebruik van mobiele toestelle te ondersoek en hoe hulle die uitdagings wat met hierdie gebruik geassosieer word, die hoof te bied. Beskermende metodes wat deur ouers gebruik kan word om hul adolessent se mobiele toestelgebruik te beperk, is belangrik. Ouers moet opgevoed word oor die opsies wat in hierdie verband vir hulle beskikbaar is.
Die oorkoepelende doel van die studie was om inligting in te samel oor ouers se persepsies van die uitwerking wat die gebruik van mobiele toestelle op hul adolessente het, en om te wys hoe hulle hierdie gebruik reguleer en moniteer ten einde gesonde gewoontes te bevorder. Hierdie studie het gesoek na groter begrip van Suid-Afrikaanse ouerperspektiewe van mobiele toestelgebruik deur adolessente en gepaardgaande hoe Hiermee ouers hierdie gebruik monitor.
'n Verkennende studie met behulp van kwalitatiewe metodes is gebruik vir die akkumulasie en die ontleding van die data waar 'n sosiaal-konstruksionistiese benadering gevolg is. Nie-waarskynlikheid, doelgerigte steekproefneming is gebruik. Tien deelnemers het aan hierdie studie deelgeneem. Uit die lens van Bronfenbrenner (1994) se Bio-Ecological Systems teorie, met behulp van Johnson en Puplampu (2008) se Techno-Subsisteem, is die alledaagse ervarings en persepsies van die deelnemers ondersoek. Hierdie studie het gefokus op die omgewing waarin gesinne woon en die verskeie faktore wat ouers se sienings beïnvloed oor die besluit om hul adolessente toe te laat om mobiele toestelle te gebruik. Dit het ook gefokus op die ervarings wat met hierdie besluit verband hou, hoe deelnemers potensiële risiko's bestuur en beskou, en die probleme wat deelnemers ondervind en uitgedruk het. Dit het gevoelens ingesluit dat hulle onvoldoende kennis het van hoe om adolessente teen aanlyn gevare te beskerm.
Data is verkry deur gebruik te maak van 'n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud. Tematiese ontleding van hierdie data is uitgevoer aangesien dit insig vergemaklik het in hoe die deelnemers betekenis konstrueer uit hul sosiale wêreld en gesinslewe. Drie hooftemas is geïdentifiseer, naamlik: (1) Ouers se ervarings en persepsies rakende adolessente mobiele toestelgebruik; (2) Ouers voel 'n gebrek aan volledige veiligheid met hul adolessent wat mobiele toestelle gebruik, en (3) Veiligheidstrategieë wat deur ouers aangewend word om hul adolessente te beskerm teen potensiële skade wat deur mobiele toestelgebruik veroorsaak word. Terwyl deelnemers die waarde en belangrikheid van mobiele toestelle kon sien, veral die waarde van bykomende sekuriteit en die opvoedkundige voordele wat hierdie toestelle bied, was deelnemers verskeur weens die baie risiko's wat hierdie gebruik inhou. As gevolg van die vele gevare verbonde aan adolessente mobiele toestelgebruik, soos maklik toeganklike onvanpaste inhoud, negatiewe gedragsveranderinge by adolessente en druk deur ander individue aanlyn, het deelnemers gekies om voorsorgmaatreëls te gebruik in 'n poging om hul adolessente te beskerm. Hierdie gerapporteerde voorsorgmaatreëls sluit in die gereelde nagaan van mobiele toestelle, die stel van reëls en limiete, en die aanmoediging van oop verhoudings en kommunikasie oor veiligheid en risiko's. Deelnemers het gerapporteer dat hulle gevoelens van onsekerheid het oor die beskerming van hul adolessente en glo dat skole 'n rol moet speel in die opvoeding van ouers oor veiligheidsmaatreëls, aanlynrisiko's en die skep van meer bewustheid rondom hierdie belangrike saak.
Die bevindinge van hierdie navorsing dui daarop dat die kwessie van adolessente mobiele toestelgebruik 'n komplekse saak is wat verdere studie verg. Die bevindinge het aangedui dat baie ouers onvoldoende kennis het om hul adolessente voldoende te beskerm teen die potensiële skade wat deur die gebruik van mobiele toestelle veroorsaak word en dat daar 'n behoefte is vir ouers om hul digitale geletterdheidsvaardighede te verbeter. Deelnemers het aangedui dat skole en dus die Departement van Basiese Onderwys betrokke moet raak om hulle op te voed en te help met die beskerming van adolessente. ’n Bewusmakings- en opvoedkundige program sal ouers grootliks baat en help om adolessente te beskerm teen die gevare verbonde aan internetgebruik.Imishini ephathwayo kanye ne-inthanethi kunikeza ukufinyelela olwazini oluningi, okuqukethwe kwezemfundo, ukuzijabulisa kanye nezingozi ezikhona. Ukufinyeleleka kalula kanye nezinhlobonhlobo zamadivayisi atholakalayo ukuze intsha iwasebenzise kwandisa ukukhathazeka ngemiphumela engemihle engaba khona kanye nokulimala kwentsha ekuchayekeni ngemidiya engalungile neyingozi. Abazali babhekana nezinselelo ezintsha ezilethwa ubuchwepheshe obushintsha njalo obutholakalayo. Intsha inekhono futhi iyazethemba ngokusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe besimanje, njengama-smartphone namakhompyutha amancane. Ngokuvamile, izingane ziyoba nolwazi nokuqonda okwengeziwe ngemishini yesimanje kunabazali bazo. Ukwengeza, amadivaysi eselula esimanje aphatheka kalula, okwenza kube nzima ukuqapha ukusetshenziswa kwawo. Ngenxa yalezi zizathu, kubalulekile ukuhlola imibono yabazali ehlobene nokusebenzisa kwentsha yabo imishini ephathwayo nokuthi ibhekana kanjani nezinselele ezihlobene nalokhu kusetshenziswa. Izindlela zokuzivikela ezingasetshenziswa abazali nkuncibhisa ukusetshenziswa komakhalekhukhwini kwengane yabo zibalulekile. Abazali badinga ukufundiswa mayelana nezindlela ezitholakalayo kubo mayelana nalokhu.
Inhloso enkulu yocwaningo bekuwukuqoqa ulwazi olumayelana nemibono yabazali ngemiphumela ukusetshenziswa kwedivayisi yeselula okuba nayo entsheni yabo, kanye nokukhombisa ukuthi balawula kanjani futhi baqaphe lokhu kusetshenziswa ukuze kuthuthukiswe imikhuba enempilo. Lolu cwaningo lufune ukuqonda okwengeziwe kwemibono yabazali baseNingizimu Afrika yokusetshenziswa kwedivayisi ephathwayo yintsha futhi ngasikhathi sinye, indlela abazali abakuqapha ngayo lokhu kusetshenziswa.
Ucwaningo lokuhlola olusebenzisa izindlela zekhwalithi lwamukelwa ukuze kuqoqwe kanye nokuhlaziywa kwedatha lapho kwamukelwa indlela ye-social constructionist. Kwasetshenziswa amasampula okungewona amathuba, okuhlosiwe. Ababambe iqhaza babeyishumi kulolu cwaningo. Kusukela ku-lens ye-Bronfenbrenner's (1994) ye-Bio-Ecological Systems theory, ngosizo lwe-Johnson and Puplampu's (2008) Techno-Subsystem, okuhlangenwe nakho okuphilayo kanye nemibono yabahlanganyeli kwahlolisiswa. Lolu cwaningo lugxile ezidlekeni lapho imindeni ehlala kuzo kanye nezici ezihlukahlukene ezithonya imibono yabazali esinqumweni sokuvumela izingane zabo ezisakhula ukuba zisebenzise amadivaysi eselula. Iphinde yagxila kokuhlangenwe nakho okuhlobene nalesi sinqumo, indlela ababambiqhaza abaphatha futhi babuke ngayo ubungozi obungaba khona, kanye nezinkinga okuhlangatshezwane nazo futhi zivezwe ababambiqhaza. Lokhu kwakuhlanganisa imizwa yokungabi nolwazi olwanele lwendlela yokuvikela intsha ezingozini ze-inthanethi.
Idatha itholwe kusetshenziswa inhlolokhono ene-semi-structured. Ukuhlaziywa kwetimu kwale datha kwenziwa njengoba lokhu kwenza kube lula ukuqonda ukuthi ababambiqhaza bayakha kanjani incazelo emhlabeni wabo wezinhlalo nempilo yomndeni. Izindikimba ezintathu eziyinhloko zikhonjwe, okuyilezi: (1) Okuhlangenwe nakho kwabazali kanye nemibono mayelana nokusetshenziswa kwemishini yeselula yentsha; (2) Abazali abazizwa bentula ukuphepha okuphelele lapho besebenzisa amadivaysi eselula, kanye (3) Namasu okuphepha asetshenziswa abazali ukuze bavikele izingane zabo ezisanda kweva eshumini nambili leminyaka ekulimaleni okungaba khona okubangelwa ukusetshenziswa kwamaselula. Nakuba ababambiqhaza ubumqoka ukubaluleka nokubaluleka kwamadivayisi eselula, ikakhulukazi inani lokuvikeleka okungeziwe kanye nezinzuzo zezemfundo ezinikezwa yila madivayisi, ababambiqhaza badabukile ngenxa yezingozi eziningi ezilethwa yilokhu kusetshenziswa. Ngenxa yezingozi eziningi ezihlobene nokusetshenziswa kwedivayisi yeselula kwentsha, njengokuqukethwe okungafanelekile okufinyeleleka kalula kukho, izinguquko ezingezinhle zokuziphatha entsheni kanye nokucindezela kwabanye abantu ku-inthanethi, ababambiqhaza bakhethe ukusebenzisa izivikelo emzamweni wokuvikela intsha yabo. Lezi zivikelo ezibikiwe zihlanganisa ukuhlola amadivayisi eselula njalo, ukubeka imithetho nemikhawulo, nokukhuthaza ubudlelwano obuvulekile nokuxhumana mayelana nokuphepha nezingozi. Ababambiqhaza babike ukuthi banemizwa yokungazethembi mayelana nokuvikelwa kwentsha yabo futhi bakholelwa ukuthi izikole zidinga ukudlala indima ekufundiseni abazali mayelana nezinyathelo zokuphepha, izingozi eziku-inthanethi nokudala ukuqwashisa okwengeziwe ngalokhu kukhathazeka okubalulekile.
Okutholwe kulolu cwaningokusekela ukuthi udaba lokusetshenziswa kwemishini ephathwayo yentsha iyindaba eyinkimbinkimbi edinga ucwaningo olwengeziwe. Okutholakele kubonise ukuthi abazali abaningi abanalo ulwazi olwanele lokuvikela ngokwanele izingane zabo ekulimaleni okungaba khona okudalwa ukusetshenziswa kwemishini ephathwayo nokuthi kunesidingo sokuthi abazali bathuthukise amakhono abo okufunda ngedijithali. Abahlanganyeli baveze isidingo sokuthi izikole kanjalo noMnyango wezeMfundo eyisiSekelo, uzibandakanye ekusizeni ukuzifundisa nokusiza ngokuvikela intsha. Uhlelo lokuqwashisa nokufundisa lungabazuzisa kakhulu abazali futhi lusize ekuvikeleni intsha ezingozini ezihlobene nokusetshenziswa kwe-inthanethi.M.A. (Psychology)Psycholog
Exploring the functionality of financial management systems in public schools of Malangeni circuit, Eastern Cape province
Get PDFThe South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 directs school governing bodies on the most proficient method to set up a functional financial management system. The study aimed to explore the functionality of financial management systems in public schools of Malangeni Circuit, Eastern Cape Province. The study used a qualitative approach to permit the researcher to study and explore the phenomenon in a natural setting. A multiple case study research design was adopted in this study. Moreover, the study was guided by the budget and agency theories, which assist in coordinating and controlling financial activities in schools and ensuring that financial resources are utilised according to the budget and managed adequately.
The literature review explored the composition of school governing bodies, the roles of finance personnel in school financial management, the international perspective, and African and South African perspectives on school financial management. The data-gathering techniques used in the study included semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis. Five public schools were purposively sampled, with four participants in each school, namely the school governing body chairperson, school governing body treasurer, finance officer, and school principal. Therefore, the study had 20 participants. It was evident that very few principals and school governing bodies have sound knowledge of financial school management systems. However, the management of school finances in these schools was sound, and school principals provided leadership in governance.
The study also found that some school governing body members cannot read, write, or understand the South African Schools Act and financial legislation. The study also revealed non-cooperation among school governing bodies and ineffective stakeholder communication. Based on the research findings, the researcher recommended that the school’s governing body capacity-building activities be a significant focus of the Department of Basic Education. School governing bodies should be capacitated through workshops or training to acquire the necessary knowledge, expertise, and skills to improve their performance in managing school finances. Secondly, the researcher recommended that schools be visited regularly to offer the required support. Lastly, the Department of Basic Education should promote campaigns and road shows, educating school governing bodies about finance management.M. Ed. (Educational Management)Educational Leadership and Managemen
An investigation of the basic amenities in Windhoek: a case study of Havana informal settlement
Get PDFIntroduction: Namibia has been undergoing a rapid transition from a rural-based society to an urban society. This transition has led to rapid urban growth which has affected the provision of amenities, especially in informal settlements.
Research purpose: Informal settlements are often found in urban areas and are home to low-income and marginalized populations. These settlements are characterized by poor infrastructure, overcrowding, and lack of basic amenities. The lack of basic amenities negatively impacts health, well-being, and quality of life.
Research design, approach, and method: The researcher adopted the qualitative case study research methodology to address the research objectives stated in Chapter 1. This research method is suitable for a context-specific understanding of organizational reality. The selected research design allowed the researcher to explore as well as understand the meaning urban residents ascribe to basic amenities.
Findings: The rapid growth of informal settlements has been identified as one of the most significant challenges to confront Namibian urban areas. The researcher believes that the main reason why informal settlements expand in such a disorderly manner is that the formal urban planning system and market do not serve the needs of low-income earners. As a result, they have no option but to live in informal areas. The absence of tenure security also prohibits a large percentage of informal settlement residents from building permanent housing. Havana Informal Settlement is characterized by overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of services such as clean water, sanitation, and electricity. The researcher found that the lack of basic amenities mainly emanates from the absence of government investment and public policies, inadequate infrastructure and planning, as well as lack of community engagement.
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Conclusions and recommendations: Considering the findings, it can be concluded that the City of Windhoek is faced with serious institutional challenges which hinder the effective delivery of basic amenities. Governance challenges such as political interference within the administration is one of the critical aspects that must be addressed. The City of Windhoek needs to prioritize the needs and challenges of all residents irrespective of their social status. Additionally, collaboration with local organizations such as NGOs will help in implementing public policies. Above all, regular monitoring and evaluation are important for progression.M.A. (Public Administration)Public Administration and Managemen