A critical assessment of the oversight role of committees of parliament : a case of the Portfolio Committee of Public Works National Parliament in South Africa 2010 - 2015
- Authors: Yako, Roderic Ralph Odo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: South Africa -- Department of Transport Legislative oversight Legislative bodies -- Committees
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11928 , vital:39119
- Description: The research seeks to assess the efficacy of the oversight role of portfolio committees of Parliament with specific reference to the Portfolio Committee on Public Works between 2010 and 2015. The Portfolio Committee on Public Works has an overarching oversight role over all infrastructural and maintenance services rendered by the Department of Public Works. The Department of Public Works fulfils a pivotal function in the infrastructural and maintenance service rendition to all departments in the executive. This function overlaps on provincial and local government spheres. The researcher dwells much on the capacity and competency of members of portfolio committees and support staff in their use of oversight tools, inclusive of the Theory of Change, Monitoring and Evaluation, Budget Cycle Model, Public Sector Oversight Model and Logical Framework when conducting oversight within a financial year. The critical point that was noted was the inadequate time allocated by the Joint Programme Committee for committee oversight and the inadequate capacity of members and support to apply the instruments designed for effective and efficient oversight. The dearth of application of appropriate instruments for oversight is exacerbated by the proliferation of executive government departments, which stretches the work of the Portfolio Committee of Public Works without stretching the resources. The research methodology used included data collection using questionnaires and interviews as instruments for assessment. Questionnaires were distributed to all Whips of all parties in Parliament. A sample size was measured from the total number of members of Parliament less ministers and their deputies and officials. The sample was fifty members. After analysis of the data, it transpired that the responses on the questionnaires gave a convincing result confirming some assumptions that triggered the research. The researcher arrived at conclusions and thereafter suggested recommendations. The research reflected on weaknesses and achievements of the portfolio committees in their oversight role and stressed the importance of the application and use of oversight-related tools and models in order to achieve best practices for developmental results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
An assessment of challenges of reporting by TVET collages to the department of Higher Education and Training using a web-based monitoring and evaluation instrument : the case of two selected TVET colleges in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Siwa, Monwabisi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Automatic control -- Data processing TVET Colleges
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17305 , vital:40936
- Description: The effective and efficient functioning of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges is pertinent to the development of critical and scares skills for the South African labour market. In this research, I examined the challenges facing the reporting by TVET colleges to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) using a web-based M&E and reporting framework for TVET colleges. I presented what was the form of reporting by TVET colleges to DHET before the introduction of M&E and reporting framework for TVET colleges in 2015.To this end, M&E and reporting is pivotal in the effective and efficient running of these institutions. In this research, I presented the evolution of the TVET Sector and reviewed literature on monitoring and evaluation, challenges of reporting by TVET colleges to DHET and the role of professional support needed to be given to the sector on monitoring and evaluation. Qualitative method and a case study methodology was used to investigate the challenges of reporting to DHET by TVET colleges. I used semi-structured interview with 4 participants from two selected colleges in the Eastern Cape. I employed interpretive paradigm and content analysis in interpreting and analysing data collected. I presented summary, findings, recommendations and conclusion. The topics for further research were also sponsored in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
An assessment of the effects of leadership on performance : the case of selected schools in Mthatha district in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ngunge, Lindiwe Esther
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School management and organization Educational leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14082 , vital:39803
- Description: The research investigated the impact of leadership on performance in the case of selected schools in Mthatha district in the Eastern Cape. The research used a mixed method methodology combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The sample size was N=60 using purposive sampling. The dependant variable in the research was the school performance and the independent variable is the good leadership. The questionnaire was analysed quantitatively from a total key respondent of 45 leaders in the different schools.15 school educational leaders were interviewed and analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. Research findings indicated that there is still male domination in school leadership positions over females. The leadership composition is 53percent males and 47percent females in Eastern Cape. School leadership positions are, in general, held by long serving members who are former teachers with a higher degree of seniority than the young school leaders. This is typical of traditional Xhosa societies dominated by elders in decision making. 73percent of the responses show a democratic leadership style when investigating how school leaders manage schools. The second most common leadership style is situational at 66percent, and the least prevalent management style is autocratic, which includes less than 10percent of the respondents. 60percent of the schools are performing and 40percent are underperforming, but overall there is good leadership in schools despite very poor results evidenced in the past 5 years. The research shows a strong correlation between the schools that had good performance and those that had good leadership in which the dominant leadership style was 'bureaucratic' and 'situational'. The schools that had poor results that were underperforming also showed trends of poor leadership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
An exploration of the effects of government financial subsidies on the performance of schools and learners in the OR Tambo District Municipality
- Authors: Mtyida, Thembani Justice Zolisa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School budgets -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape School management and organization Education -- South Africa -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9198 , vital:34304
- Description: An exploration of the effects of government financial subsidies on the performance of schools and learners in the OR Tambo District Municipality Under the Direction of: Prof EOC Ijeoma. As much as the awarded fiscal resources have been critical for improving the quality of learning and education as well as the performance of schools, there are still often inhibitors that affect the extent to which such fiscal packages are able to induce achievement of the desired educational outcomes. Thematic analysis of the interview findings revealed the limitations undermining the extent to which the allocated fiscal resources are able to influence the achievement of the desired positive educational outcomes and these are linked to poor school financial management, poor planning and budgeting, poor school governance and corruption and theft of funds. The other limitations that mar the effective performance of certain schools to achieve the desired educational outcomes were also noted to arise from the shortage of teachers for critical subjects, poor motivation of teachers in rural areas, poor learners’ welfare and poor infrastructure. To respond to these challenges, it is argued that the OR Tambo District Department of Education must develop special fiscal packages for teachers in the rural areas, develop special fiscal packages for teachers of special subjects such as science and mathematics, invest in the educational infrastructure and facilities, and proactively develop school managers. Future research can explore a framework for monitoring and evaluation of the effects of educational fiscal grants on the performance of schools and learners.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The role of the school management team in ensuring quality education: a case study of the iQonce high school in the Buffalo City Metro Education District in Eastern Cape
- Authors: Fudam, Noluthando
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School management teams School management and organization|
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13348 , vital:39636
- Description: Since 1994, South Africa has undergone drastic fundamental changes in almost every sphere of society. Within education, the change has seen the significant transformation of the education system. One of the primary aims for the transformation of the education system was to provide quality education to all the children of the Republic of South Africa. The School Management Teams (SMTs) were introduced in order to increase accountability within a transformed education system. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of SMTs in ensuring quality education, with the aim of finding sustainable ways of improving the quality of education at the Iqonce high school at the Iqonce high school and the department of Education in the Eastern Cape Province. The objectives of the study were: a) To assess the role played by SMT in enhancing quality education at Iqonce high school in King Williams Town. b) To assess the role played by SMTs in enhancing quality education. c) To assess the challenges faced by the SMT in managing quality education and the functionality of the school. d) To identify training needs for SMTs to operate in their full capacity educational leadership and management. e) To explore an alternative policy framework that will help the SMTs in enhancing quality education. A qualitative research approach was employed and included an interview guide. Participants included four (4) SMT members, six (6) educators and six (6) parents drawn from the SGB of the Iqonce high school in the Buffalo City Metro Education District. Research findings indicated that the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) does not fully support the SMT members at Iqonce high school in their role of ensuring quality education. The study made numerous recommendations which included training of SMT members on how to manage the school. The ECDoE must work very closely with SMT members at Iqonce high school, also listens to their concerns. The teachers must understand that in order for SMTs to work effectively they need their support, even other stakeholders must support SMTs. There needs to be sound annual plans with targets that show how the annual target will be achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018