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The role of dysfunctional environments in the academic performance of learners in three primary schools in Tshwane South District
Get PDFText in EnglishThis study focused on the role of dysfunctional environments in the academic performance of learners. Dysfunctional environments are defined as a situation in which the physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of individuals is not promoted or supported. The study was qualitative in nature. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The thematic approach was used to analyse the data collected. Nine teachers who worked with learners from dysfunctional environments participated in the study. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. The data analysis led to the identification of several themes: problems at home, insecure environments and poor parental involvement. In an attempt to support these learners, teachers treated them well, and showed them love. It was recommended that schools should appoint psychologist and invite parents to schools for discussions of learners' behaviour.M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)Psychology of Educatio
Exploring the lived experiences of bereaved mothers and fathers following a stillbirth in rural South Africa: a case of Limpopo Province
No full textThe study explores the experiences of bereaved parents following stillbirths in a rural village of Limpopo in South Africa, highlighting profound emotional distress and the influence of cultural and religious practices. Limited access to healthcare and socio-economic challenges contribute to higher stillbirth rates in rural areas. The research, using an exploratory, qualitative research design with twelve participants (bereaved mothers and fathers aged above 18 years), employed purposive sampling and in-depth interviews. Data was collected in Xitsonga, transcribed, translated, and analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti software Version 23 and guided by social-ecological and stress-coping models.
Findings show grief compounded by inadequate information from healthcare workers, stigmatization by community norms, and cultural pressures misaligned with emotional needs. Social support and coping strategies were crucial for healing. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive healthcare and support systems to address the emotional and cultural dimensions of stillbirth.M.A. (Development Studies)Development Studie
Managing the effects of large class size on lecturers in public universities in Ghana
No full textAbstracts in English, Akan and TswanaThis study aimed to investigate how to manage the effects of large class sizes on lecturers in public universities in Ghana. The social constructivism theory was the basis of the theoretical framework for the study. The concurrent triangulation mixed method design was adopted, utilising the cross-sectional survey in the empirical analysis stage and numerous case studies in the exploratory stage. Data was gathered through a four-point Likert-type scale questionnaire, semi-structured interview, and document guide. The study’s sample size was 568 lecturers which included 553 respondents used for the empirical analysis stage and 15 participants for the exploratory stage. The quantitative data were summarized and presented using frequency counts, percentile values, arithmetic means, standard deviations, and structural equation modelling. The qualitative data was summarized and described through content analysis, whereas documental analysis was used to examine the policy document. The study illustrated that the increase in student enrolment affected the lecturers' ability to handle, supervise, and attend to individual students which invariably impacts the lecturers' health and private life. The study also revealed that the excessive workload associated with managing large classes affects lecturers’ self-esteem and self-confidence in their professional development. The impact on class interaction is significantly different across groups, with a p-value of .000, while self-development was not significant across groups, with a p-value =. 442.The study established the need for government to build new universities and expand existing university infrastructure to absorb increment in enrolment figures which would lessen classes congestion and lighten the workload of lecturers. The study recommends that the government, through Ministry of Education (MoE), and Universities Management must equally invest in the provision of ultra-modern Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure to smoothly facilitate teaching and learning to reduce the pressure on lecturers and boost their performance. The key intervention for managing the effects of large class size on lecturers in public Universities in Ghana is for authorities to provide appropriate educational infrastructure, particularly lecture theatres to curb the adverse outcomes of handling large classes on lecturers.Sɛnea wɔbɛtumi atwe aboa akyerɛkyerɛfo wɔ nsɛso kɛse a ɛwɔ Ghana man mpoano suapɔn no. Sɔhwɛ yi hwehwɛɛ sɛnea wɔbɛtumi ayɛ n’adwuma ama ɛboaa akyerɛkyerɛfo a wɔwɔ nsɛso kɛse wɔ Ghana man mpoano suapɔn no. Sɔsial Konstruktevizim adwene no yɛɛ sɔhwɛ no nnyinaso. Adwumayɛ kwan a wɔfaa so yɛɛ adwuma no yɛɛ "Concurrent Triangulation Mixed Method," a wɔde cross-sectional nsɛmfua kɔɔ nimdeɛ mpɔtam kwan no mu na wɔyɛɛ nneɛma dodow a ɛyɛ nkyerɛkyerɛfa ne nsɛm nsɛm nso. Wɔboaboaa nsɛm ano faa nnwuma mmiɛnsa so: Likɛɛt nsɛm susuwii a ɛyɛ anammɔn nan (4-point), nsɛm anaa adwene ho bɔsɔnkɔfa (semi-structured interview), ne nkrataa ho nkyerɛkyerɛdi. Nwoma ho nsɛm no boaa akyerɛkyerɛfo 568 a ne mu 553 yɛɛ nsɛmfua ho adwuma no na wɔfaa 15 kɔɔ nkɔmmɔ no so. Nsɛm a ɛyɛ kwan ho deɛ, wɔde yɛɛ mfumdwen ho susuwii faa sɛnkyerɛnne (frequency counts), prɛntii (percentile values), arithmetic mean, standard deviation, ne structural equation modelling. Nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkaeɛ no nso wɔyɛɛ no deɛ wɔde ho dwumadi wɔ nkyerɛkyerɛ nkyerɛmu no mu. Nanso, adwumayɛkwan nso faa nsɛm a wɔakyerɛw a ɛfa amanneɛ so bɔɔ ho dwuma. Sɔhwɛ yi kyerɛe sɛ, sɛ suapɔn mu abɛyɛfo dodow kɔ so rekɔ so a, ɛtumi maa akyerɛkyerɛfo ho yɛɛ den sɛ wɔbɛboafo anaa yɛɛ adwuma mma sukuufo biako-biako. Eyi boaa akyerɛkyerɛfo ho ɔhaw ho a ɛyɛ ɔhwɛ ne wɔn nkwa ho. Afei nso, ɛyɛɛ akyerɛkyerɛfo adwuma dodow no sɛnea ɛkyɛkyerɛ wɔn ho wɔ wɔn adwuma mu ho dɔɔso, ma ɛyɛɛ sɛ wɔn ho yɛ wɔn den wɔ wɔn ho yɛ a ɛho hia. Nsɛm yi yɛɛ nkɔmmɔ ho nsɛm a ɛda no adi sɛ ɔhaw a ɛyɛ sɛnea akyerɛkyerɛfo yɛ wɔn adwuma wɔ nkyerɛfa ho, wɔn mu ho yɛɛ basabasa wɔ nkyerɛkyerɛ yɛ ho a ɛyɛ sɛnea wɔyɛ adwuma wɔ nkyerɛmu no mu. Sɔhwɛ no hyɛɛ sɛ wɔmfa sika nkɛse yɛ suapɔn foforɔ na wɔyɛɛ abɛyɛfo ne ɔman nnipa ho adwuma. Ɛmaa ɛyɛɛ sɛ wɔyɛɔ suapɔn ho nsɛso. Ɛboaa sɛ wɔde ICT (Information and Communications Technology) abɛyɛ ho dwumadi wɔ ɔman mu suapɔn no ho, na wɔyɛɛ akyerɛkyerɛfo adwuma no sɛ wɔbɛboa wɔn.Thuto e e ne e ikaeletse go batlisisa ka fa go ka tsamaisiwang ka teng ditlamorago tsa palo e kgolo ya barutwana mo dithutong tsa bagakolodi kwa diyunibesiting tsa setshaba mo Ghana. Thutapuisano eno e ne ya itshetlelela mo dikgopolong tsa Social Constructivism jaaka motheo wa sebopego sa thutopuisano. Mokgwa wa patlisiso o o kopantsweng wa “concurrent triangulation mixed methods” one wa dirisiwa, o akaretsa dipatlisiso tsa nako e e khutshwane (cross-sectional survey) mo seemong sa ditlhotlhomiso le dithuto tse dintsi tsa sekai mo seemong sa thutopiso. Dintlha di ne tsa kokoanngwa ka dipotso tse di kwadilweng mo sekaleng sa ntlha tse nne (Likert-type scale), dipuisano tse di rulagantsweng (semi-structured interviews), le dikhwete tse di kwadilweng. Palo ya bagakolodi e ne e le 568, e e akaretsang ba 553 ba ba neng ba nna karolo ya dipatlisiso tsa ntlha le ba 15 mo maemong a thutopiso. Dintlha tsa dipalo di ne tsa tshwaya ka palo ya makgetho, diperesente, dipalo tse di bopegileng (arithmetic mean), dipharologanyo tse di tlwaelegileng, le tlhaloso ya equation e e logilweng (structural equation modelling). Dintlha tse di sa akaretsegang dipalo di ne tsa sekasekwa ka tlhaloso ya diteng, fa dipampiri tsa melao di ne di sekasekwa go lebelela dipholisi tsa tsamaiso. Thuto e e ne ya supa gore koketsego ya barutwana e ama bokgoni jwa bagakolodi jwa go tlhokomela le go fa ngwaga mongwe le mongwe keletso e e tshwanetseng, e leng se se neng sa ama boitekanelo jwa bagakolodi le matshelo a bone a poraefete. E ne ya senola gape gore morwalo o o feteletseng wa tiro o o tsamaisanang le dipalo tse dikgolo o ama boikanyego le boitumelo jwa bagakolodi mo go itlhomameng ga bone mo dithutong. Maemo a a botlhokwa a ne a senola pharologano e kgolo mo kgokaganong ya baithuti, ka boleng jwa p = 0.000, fa boitlhophiso jwa motho ka bong bo ne bo sa bontshe pharologanyo, ka boleng jwa p = 0.442. Thuto e ne ya gatelela botlhokwa jwa gore puso e age diyunibesiti tse disha le go atolosa dipalelo tse di teng go fokotsa palo e kgolo ya baithuti mo mafelong a a kgaoganeng. E ne gape ya eletsa gore Lefapha la Thuto (MoE) le tsamaiso ya diyunibesiti di bee madi mo dipalelong tsa segompieno tsa ICT go thusa bagakolodi ka fa letlhakoreng la go fokotsa morwalo wa bone le go tokafatsa tiragatso ya bone. Intervenshene e e botlhokwa ke go netefatsa gore go na le meagelo ya thuto e e lekaneng, segolobogolo mafelo a borutelo, go fokotsa dipharologanyo tse di sa eletsegeng tse di ka amang bagakolodi mo diyunibesiting tsa setshaba mo Ghana.Ph. D. (Education Management)Educational Leadership and Managemen
The impact of an employee assistance programme on trainee accountant's perceived level of stress
No full textIn today’s world, stress is a common and significant issue, especially in the workplace where it has reached endemic proportions. Stress is now one of the biggest challenges, affecting mental, physical and organisational health. Studies have shown a strong link between stress and its negative impact on mental wellbeing. Job stress has also been shown to negatively impact both the organisational environment and employee performance. This is particularly true for trainee accountants who are more susceptible to stress than other groups within the accounting profession. Implementing Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) for trainee accountants can offer them valuable coping skills to help them manage stress and enhance their mental wellbeing.
The purpose of this study was to determine if participating in a customised, in-house Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) focussed on stress management reduced perceived levels of stress among trainee accountants. The study applied a quantitative, pre-experimental research design, specifically a single-group pre-test post-test design without using a control group. The study population included 350 trainee accountants in their 1st, 2nd and 3rd years, working in the auditing department of a medium-sized South African auditing firm that provides nationwide auditing services. For this study, 1st and 2nd year trainees were targeted, and a purposeful sample of 166 trainees who attended the in-house EAP was selected across the organisation.
The perceived stress levels of the 166 trainee accountants were measured before and after attending the EAP, using the Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10). The internal consistency test results indicated that the PSS-10 had acceptable reliability among trainee accountants in a South African auditing firm (r = .83 for the pre-test and r = .84 for the post-test). A paired-samples t-test revealed that attending the in-house EAP significantly reduced the perceived stress levels of trainee accountants (t = -3.43; p ≤ .01; small effect size). Additionally, a Univariate Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was conducted to determine differences in scores across four biographical groups. The results indicated that the year of traineeship (F = 7.84; p = .006) and race (F = 4.82; p = 009) had significant effects on the scores, while gender (F = 0.23; p = .635) and age (F= 2.68, p = .104) did not.
The findings of this study have significant practical implications, emphasising the need for organisations to recognise the value of EAPs in managing the stress of trainee accountants. This study is unique because no notable South African studies have previously investigated the impact of EAP on the perceived stress levels of trainee accountants. Further investigation into the effectiveness of EAP interventions on different dimensions of stress management across various professions, as well as the influence of different biographical groups on perceived stress scores, could yield valuable insights for both practitioners and organisations.Psycholog
Barriers to the implementation of e-procurement in the public sector: focusing on the government pensions Administrations Agency
Get PDFPrevious studies show that e-procurement can improve public procurement tremendously. However, due to many factors, the South African government has experienced challenges in the implementation of a comprehensive widely accepted e-procurement system. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the barriers to the full implementation of e-procurement in the public sector, specifically at the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA). Face-to-face and online interviews were conducted with the Supply Chain Management (SCM) staff at the GPAA. Thematic analysis was used to interpret and analyse the data from the interviews. Findings from the study revealed that barriers emanate from budget constraints, resistance to change, dynamics in institutions, complexity in systems, security reasons, time to implement, lack of infrastructure, and no applicable legislation to support e-procurement. The findings also revealed that integration, legislation, staff training, centralisation, budgeting and/or investing, stakeholder engagements, fast tracking the process, staff buy-in or senior management support and data security are necessary requirements for the transition from manual to electronic procurement. This study made several important suggestions for future research in the areas of the implementation of e-procurement in the public sector in South Africa which include the cost of e-procurement, legislation for e-procurement, security threats associated with e-procurement, capacitation for e-procurement, and the mechanisms of e-procurement.M.Com (Supply Chain Management (Purchasing))Centre for Business Manangemen
The impact of grief during COVID-19 on the mental health of adults: A Social work perspective
No full textThis dissertation explored the intricate domain of grief amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
and the multi-faceted impact thereof within the South African context. The goal of the
study was to develop an in-depth understanding of the impact of grief during COVID-
19 on the mental health of adults. The methodology applied included the interpretivism
paradigm, a qualitative approach, and phenomenological, explorative, descriptive, and
contextual research designs. The theoretical framework consisted of Bronfenbrenner’s
Ecological Systems Theory as well as Kübler Ross’ stages of grief.
The purposive sampling technique was applied, and participant requirements were
met through the creation of a Facebook page. Data collection was done through
structured interviews assisted by an interview guide. Data analysis was conducted by
means of Braun and Clarke's six-step analysis and Atlas.ti.23 software. Research
integrity and the protection of the study participants were enhanced through
adherence to ethical considerations.
The study findings highlighted the importance of traditional bereavement practices in
facilitating the grieving process upon the passing of a loved one and the negative
impact COVID-19 restrictions had on the bereaved due to the inability to execute these
practices. The manner in which the notification of the death was received, and the
whereabouts of the loved one at the time of passing exacerbated the participants'
emotional distress. Whether the death was anticipated or not, the case of death and
the relation to the deceased had a significant impact on the participants' grieving
process. The cause of death caused scepticism, frustration, and animosity among the
participants. The death of a loved one, coupled with COVID-19 restrictions, impacted
adult relational, spiritual, emotional, as well as daily life management. The
management of grief was done through religious, social, and professional support and
positively impacted their emotional evolution.
The study contributed to the understanding of the impact of grief during COVID-19
from a South African perspective and advocated for enhanced social work support and
interventions aimed at the adult population group.Social Wor
On quasi-uniform space via strong quasi-uniform covers
No full textA quasi-uniformity, unlike a uniformity, is not determined by its quasi-uniform covers.
It is generally known that covering space theory applies to topological spaces that are connected.
In this dissertation, we will define topology induced by strong quasi-uniform cover
which will determine the quasi-uniformity of a quasi-uniform space. And then we will expand
the discussion on strong quasi-uniform covers, detailing how quasi-uniform spaces
via strong quasi-uniform covers give rise to a topological space with some added axioms
which will precisely determine the quasi-uniformity of a given quasi-uniform space.. The
dissertation will further detail on how uniformizable topological spaces are precisely the
completely regular spaces. This erupts from the idea that uniform spaces can be induced
by uniform covers, but in this article, we want to ascertain that the same concept can be
applied with quasi-uniform spaces via strong quasi-uniform covers.M.Sc. (Mathematics)Mathematical Science
Search for electroweak production of supersymmetric particles in final states with two τ-leptons in s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector
No full textAbstract
Three searches for the direct production of τ-sleptons or charginos and neutralinos in final states with at least two hadronically decaying τ-leptons are presented. For chargino and neutralino production, decays via intermediate τ-sleptons or W and h bosons are considered. The analysis uses a dataset of pp collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant deviation from the expected Standard Model background is observed and supersymmetric particle mass limits at 95% confidence level are obtained in simplified models. For direct production of
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, chargino masses are excluded up to 970 GeV, while
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and
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masses up to 1160 GeV (330 GeV) are excluded for
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production with subsequent decays via τ-sleptons (W and h bosons). Masses of τ-sleptons up to 500 GeV are excluded for mass degenerate
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scenarios and up to 425 GeV for
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-only scenarios. Sensitivity to
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-only scenarios from the ATLAS experiment is presented here for the first time, with
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masses excluded up to 350 GeV
Investigating the influence of first-year expectations and experiences on student academic performance
Get PDFText in English, abstracts in English, Afrikaans and TswanaThis study examines the impact of first-year university students’ expectations and experiences
on their academic performance to enable early strategic interventions. The research
is grounded in various theoretical frameworks, including Astin’s theory of student involvement,
Gardner’s transition theory, Tinto’s theory of student departure and Lizzio’s
framework of five senses of success, providing a comprehensive understanding of the transition
of students to university life. The study follows a six-step Cross-Industry Standard
Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM). It involves data profiling of student demographics,
academic attributes, expectations and experiences from a sample dataset of 2 054 records
at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
Key findings reveal differences in academic performance across different demographics,
with financial support significantly affecting outcomes. Factor analysis identified latent
factors such as effective learning, social well-being, academic support, and access to information.
The study found that the student performance models were not sufficiently
robust for accurate predictions, with F1-scores below 60%. In contrast, academic outcome
models, especially the random forest model, showed more promise, with F1-scores above
70%. Recommendations focus on targeted interventions, comprehensive orientation, enhanced academic support, and fostering an environment for social well-being. The study
highlights the need for a multifaceted approach to student support, emphasising regular
monitoring, evaluation and adaptability in interventions to create a supportive academic
environment.Hierdie studie doen ondersoek na die impak van eerstejaaruniversiteit-studente se verwagtinge
en ervarings op hul akademiese prestasie ten einde tydige strategiese ingrypings
te aktiveer. Die navorsing is op verskeie teoretiese raamwerke gegrond, wat insluit Astin se
teorie van studentebetrokkenheid, Gardner se oorgangsteorie, Tinto se teorie oor studente
wat opskop en Lizzio se suksesraamwerk van vyf gewaarwordinge. Die navorsing bied dus
’n omvattende begrip van studente se oorgang tot universiteitslewe. Die studie volg ’n
ses-stap, kruisindustrie standaard proses vir dataontginning (Cross-Industry Standard
Process for Data Mining [CRISP-DM]). Dit behels die datasamestelling van studentedemografie,
akademiese eienskappe, verwagtinge en ervarings uit ’n steekproefdatastel van
2 054 rekords van studente aan die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland, Suid-Afrika.
Deurslaggewende bevindinge dui op verskille in akademiese prestasie oor verskillende
demografie¨e heen, met finansi¨ele steun wat die uitkomste beduidend affekteer. Faktoranalise
het latente faktore soos effektiewe leer, maatskaplike welstand, akademiese
ondersteuning en toegang tot inligting ge¨ıdentifiseer. Die studie het bevind dat studenteprestasiemodelle
nie sterk genoeg was vir akkurate voorspellings nie. F1-tellings
was laer as 60%. Daarteenoor was die akademiese-uitkomstemodelle, veral die ewekansige
bosmodel met F1-tellings van ho¨er as 70% meer belowend. Aanbevelings fokus op
gerigte ingrypings, omvattende ori¨entasie, verhoogde akademiese ondersteuning en die
kweek van ’n omgewing wat maatskaplike welstand bevorder. Die studie vestig die aandag
op die behoefte aan ’n veelvlakkige benadering tot studenteondersteuning en lˆe klem op
gereelde monitering, evaluering en plooibaarheid van ingrypings ten einde n ondersteunende
akademiese omgewing daar te stel.Patlisiso e e tlhatlhoba tshusumetso ya ditsholofelo tsa ngwaga wa ntlha wa dithuto wa
baithuti ba yunibesithi gammogo le maitemogelo a bone a tiragatso ya seakademiki go ka
ba kgontsha go dira ditogamaano go sa le gale. Patlisiso e e ikaegile mo matlhomesong
a thuto a a mmalwa ao a akaretsang kgopolo ya Astin ya go nna le seabe ga baithuti,
kgopolo ya phetogo ya Gardner, kgopolo ya Tinto ya go tsamaya ga baithuti, le letlhomeso
la maikutlo a katlego a le matlhano la Lizzio, mme tsotlhe tse di tla tlamela ka kitso ya
go tlhaloganya ka botlalo phetogo ya baithuti fa ba tsena mo botshelong jwa yunibesithi.
Patlisiso e e latela magato a le marataro a Thulaganyo ya Tekanyetso ya Kgabaganyomadirelo
ya Kepadatha (CRISP-DM). E akaretsa go dira porofaele ya datha ya palo ya
baithuti, dinonofo tsa seakademiki, ditsholofelo le maitemogelo go tswa seteng ya datha
ya tseosekao ya direkoto di le 2 054 tsa kwa Yunibesithing ya Kapa Bophirima, Aforika
Borwa.
Diphitlhelelo tse di botlhokwa di senola dipharologanyo magareng ga tiragatso ya
seakademiki go kgabaganya dipalo tsa baithuti tse di farologanyeng, le tshegetso ya matlole
eo e amang dipoelo segolo. Tlhatlhobo ya dintlha e supile dintlha tse di fitlhegileng
jaaka go ithuta sentle, boitekanelo jwa loago, tshegetso ya seakademiki, le phitlhelelo ya
tshedimosetso. Patlisiso e e fitlhetse gore dikao tsa tiragatso ya baithuti di ne di sa nonofela
ponelopele e e tlhomameng, ka maduo a F1 a a ka tlase ga 60%. Mo pharologanyong,
dikao tsa dipoelo tsa seakademiki, segolojang sekao sa random forest, se supile tshepiso e
nngwe gape, ka maduo a F1 a a kwa godimo ga 70%. Dikatlanegiso di tsepamisa mogopolo
mo ditsereganyong tse di lebilweng, molebo ka botlalo, tshegetso e e tokafaditsweng ya
seakademiki, gammogo le kgodiso ya maemo a boitekanelo jwa loago. Patlisiso e tlhagisa
tlhokego ya mokgwa wa dikarolo di le dintsi tsa tshegetso ya baithuti, go gatelela tekolo ya
nako le nako, go tlhatlhoba le go fetofetoga ga ditsereganyo go tlhola maemo a tshegetso
a seakademiki.M. Sc. (Operations Research)Decision Science