Association between teacher confidence and student mathematics outcomes
- Authors: Qwelani, Noluthando
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Human capital
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13955 , vital:39732
- Description: Teacher attributes such as teacher’s confidence in knowledge are important in the ability to teach. It is further, expected in developing countries that teachers from high socio-economic schools are highly confident in teaching mathematics whilst teachers from low socioeconomic schools are expected to be less confident. Hence, teacher attributes decisions are of great importance in achieving skills development goals. The realisation of the impact teachers’ confidence has on mathematics performance requires an investigation based on multilateral measures of teacher confidence. The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyse the impact of teacher abilities on student’s performance on mathematics in South Africa, this will be realised through an analysis of teacher confidence as the main variable and teacher qualifications, teacher characteristics and socio economic status as controlling variables. The study employed Trends in International Mathematics and Sciences studies (TIMSS) 2011 cross sectional data for South Africa. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) econometric technique were employed in analysing the data. The empirical results revealed that majority of South African teachers rated themselves highly confident but showed no significant impact in the performance of students. This implies that South African teachers who produce poor student’s performance are not open about their lack of confidence in teaching mathematics. However, from the student’s perspective, teacher confidence showed a strong impact on students’ performance in mathematics. The third findings were that, teachers who are happy as educators do not have a significant impact at all. The empirical results also revealed that teachers who felt they wee being allocated more than enough time to teach mathematics showed a strong negative relationship with student performance when compared to teachers who felt otherwise. The findings from the study imply that an open policy should be encouraged in which teachers are encouraged to openly express their views and any shortcomings. This will make it easier to identify the best intervention strategy on helping the teachers. Based on the findings again, it is encouraged that periodic training of mathematical teachers be encouraged. This is likely to boost teacher’s confidence and improve the mathematical results in the country.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Exploring the standardization of musical and dancing styles in relation to worship styles in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Blantyre Synod, Malawi
- Authors: University of Fort Hare
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Presbyterian Church -- Malawi Presbyterians -- Malawi Church music -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Music
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10442 , vital:35468
- Description: The study sought to explore the standardization of music and dance styles in relation to worship styles in the CCAP Blantyre Synod in Malawi. The study further sought to understand the factors that influence the selection of songs during worship, and strategies for standardizing the existing songs in the church. The research was guided by the qualitative research approach. The interpretive research paradigm guided the interpretation of data in this study. A case study research design was used to get an in- depth understanding of the issues related to music and dance in the CCAP. The participants were purposively selected and interviews were conducted. Focus group interviews and observation supplemented the data collected through one on one interviews. Data analysis was achieved through a detailed narration of the participants‟ responses and, thereafter, themes were identified for further discussion. The main findings of the study were: factors influencing selection of music during worship services; lack or availability of music selection guidelines; age of choir members; commercialization and instrumentation of music; the use of traditional and classical music in the church; mixed dancing styles being introduced in the church; and the suggestion to use the Bible as framework for resolving conflicts in the church; and the need to train church members on church music. The study recommends the use of detailed and appropriate music guidelines in selecting songs. In cases of conflicting tastes in music, the study has proposed a process of resolving such conflicts within the CCAP of Blantyre Synod. The study also examined music and dance styles but not on other aspects of worship such as prayer and offering. The findings of this study may be useful in advising and resolving challenges associated with the incorporation of music in the church.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Records management practices for accountability in the Pixely ka Seme District in the Northern Cape Province
- Authors: Khalankomo, Apiwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Records--Management Information organization Public records--Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Library and Information Science
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15287 , vital:40335
- Description: Records Management is playing a crucial role in government institutions, municipalities. This study sought to explore records management practices in for accountability in the Pixely ka Seme District in the Northern Cape Province in South Africa. The study sought to investigate whether the current records management practices upkeep or demoralize accountability and ultimate service delivery in the local municipalities. These are the objectives that were intended to be accomplished by the study: To find out the role of the provincial archives in the records management practices in Pixely ka Seme in the Northern Cape Province; To determine the extent to which records management practices in the Pixely ka Seme District in the Northern Cape Province comply with the legal and regulatory requirements; and To assess the impact records management practices on service delivery in the Pixely ka Seme District in the Northern Cape Province. Geographical Area; The district is comprised of eight local municipalities: Ubuntu, Umsobomvu, Emthanjeni, Kareeberg, Renosterberg, Thembelihle, Siyathemba and Siyancuma. Its main town is De Aar. Traffic flows through the region, linking the major industrial areas of the country. The area has a low rainfall, while the largest river in South Africa flows through it. Two of the major dams in South Africa, the Vanderkloof and Gariep Dams, are situated on the borders of the district municipality. Main Economic Sectors; Finance and business services (22.5percent), manufacturing (17.4percent), trade and accommodation (15.4percent), government services (12.9percent), transport and communication (11.3percent), mining (6.8percent), community and social services (5.6percent), construction (3.3percent), agriculture (2.7percent) Mixed methods were used for the investigation. Questionnaires and in depth interviews were used to collect data. Purposive sampling method was used to identify interview participants and adopted open ended questions to collect all necessary information by a questionnaire. The total population of the study was the Pixely ka Seme District employees in the Northern Cape Province. The Records Management Officials from eight local municipalities. The study sampled 18 participants but ended completing the investigation on 9 participants purposively. Total of Nine; 5 (56percent) of the participants were females while 4 (44percent) were males. The process was made possible through the use of purposive sampling to have the targeted respondents of the study. The study was enclosed within the theoretical frame of the “Life Cycle of a record” model and “Continuum model” to outline the whole process of record keeping discipline. The study discovered that records management negatively affected timely, effective and efficient accountability and in terms of audit results and service delivery. The results of the study revealed the dominance of the females in the records management practices in the Pixely ka Seme District. This finding was used was to analyze the impact of gender equality in the records management practices in the district. In this study, there is of a high number of females as compared to males and the study concluded that females led the records management structure in the Pixely Ka Seme District. Furthermore, the age range in this study proved to be one of the major factors that led to poor records management practice in the District. In addition, that qualification in relation to records management is the major hindrance in effective records management in the in the Pixely Ka Seme District in Northern Cape Province. Hereinafter, The Provincial Archives is not involved at all in the records management practices in the Northern Cape Province in the Pixely Ka Seme District. A large number of the municipalities do not have records management policies in place for the practice of proper records management. It is evident that records management compliance in compromised in this regard. A significant large number of the municipalities function without a legislative provision in terms of its record keeping. The study recommended that municipalities should now employ more and qualified records managers to rescue institutional records and the image of the organization. South African Local Government Association Records Management Forum (SALGA) as a municipal advocate must emphasize and command that municipalities must employ records managers at a managerial level to improve records section and professionalism in the field of records.
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- Date Issued: 2018