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The quality of life needs of Xhosa speaking learners with Down Syndrome : two case studies
Get PDFThesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.The research focuses on the needs of Xhosa-speaking learners with Down syndrome. The needs of these learners are not known by the service providers. Different organisations base their service delivery to these communities on the needs of learners with Down syndrome from other cultures. It was therefore imperative for this study to discover the needs of Xhosa-speaking learners with Down syndrome from a disadvantaged background.
The study involves a case study of two Xhosa speaking learners with Down syndrome. A major aim was to depict the quality of life of the learners with Down syndrome. This was done from an ecosystemic perspective. In the case study the needs of these two learners with Down syndrome in a Xhosa community are portrayed through the voices of their parents, educators, neighbours, and the two learners with Down syndrome. The following means of data production were used: interviews and observations. The parents, siblings of the learners with Down syndrome, and the learners with Down syndrome were seen as experts in the process
The attitude of educators towards assessment in schools where learners with barriers are included: a case study
Get PDFAssignment (MEd (Educational Psychology))--Universsity of Stellenbosch, 2009.Within the movement towards an inclusive society in South Africa, learners experiencing learning barriers are included in mainstream schools. With the inclusion of these learners, there seems to be a trend of learners repeating the same grade more than twice. There seems to be a problem with regard to assessment in classrooms where these learners are present, which could be related to teachers' skills and attitudes. This is a problem found in Venda, Limpopo Province in the Dzindi circuit. Learners experiencing learning barriers in this circuit are not assessed as prescribed by the assessment policy and the draft guideline for the implementation of inclusive education (second draft). The background of Venda rural communities has an influence on educators' attitudes towards assessment of these learners. This study investigates the attitudes of educators towards assessment of learners who have been enrolled in the three primary schools. The research was conducted at three primary schools in the Dzindi Circuit, Limpopo. A qualitative approach was used and the results of this study indicate that educators would prefer to assess non-disabled learners rather than learners with learning barriers. Educators feel that they are inadequately trained, and therefore do not possess the necessary knowledge and skills for assessing learners with barriers in their classroom. School-based in-service training should be introduced to prepare all qualified educators for this task. Specialized training should be introduced into every training program, aimed at training all prospective educators to manage the full range of barriers that they will encounter in their classrooms. The results also suggest that support teams should be in place and that the number of learners in mainstream classes be reduced so that better support can be provided