An investigation into the efficacy of English language literacy support for students at the Ibika campus of the Walter Sisulu University.
- Authors: Napier, Astrid
- Date: 2011-01
- Subjects: English Language , Study and Teaching , Information Literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23851 , vital:60919
- Description: Institutions of higher learning are experiencing high failure rates, and this according to Scott, Yeld and Hendry (2007) can partly be attributed to the lack of adequate support for students after they have been admitted. Adequate support is very necessary, since research has shown that many students, especially those from former Department of Education and Training, are underprepared for tertiary institutions. Students at the Ibika Campus, the site where the research took place, are predominately from the former Department of Education and Training. The objective of this study therefore was to investigate why students at the Ibika Campus of the Walter Sisulu University seem to encounter problems with English mastery even though English language support services have been instituted; to discover what the perceptions of the WSU students and staff were with regard to the English support services; to determine what challenges the support services had , if any, in providing best service and to ascertain whether the English support services could be enhanced. The research was conducted at the Ibika Campus of the WSU. The design was that of the case study and a mixed method methodology was used. A total sample of 142 students, 5 staff members from the library, 1 staff member from the WC and 5 staff members from computer laboratories, as well as 12 staff members from the Ibika campus participated. A non probability sampling method was used. Students were selected from 1st year, second year and third year of their respective studies, ranging across the 14 departments at Ibika campus. Lecturing staff members were also selected across these departments. The instruments were structured questionnaires and interviews. The findings indicated that the English support services faced many challenges in their endeavor to provide services to students and the conclusion is that the English Language support services were therefore not as effective as it could be in giving support to students. It is recommended that the English Language support services immediately be improved in terms of space, since the venues for all three support services are too small, human resources and resources that support Teaching and Learning. It is further recommended that the university authorities seriously consider implementing an assessment test for all new entrants to the university, in order to establish who were in need of English Language support, and that these students be immersed in a programme that will assist them to improve their English Language proficiency. Finally, it is recommended that students complete a graduation threshold English proficiency examination in order that the institution can have confidence that students are proficient in English. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2011
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- Date Issued: 2011-01
Critical assessment of leadership skills in developmental local government: a case study of Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mnyatheli, Mbeko Bandla Sizasomzi
- Date: 2011-01
- Subjects: Leadership , Municipal government , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26175 , vital:64950
- Description: This study seeks to examine the nature and role of leadership, in pursuit of a suitable leadership for a Developmental Local Government environment. The aim of this study is to describe the nature of leadership, particularly in local government, and in public organization in general. The study begins by teasing out the various concepts and terminology attendant with leadership in this environment. The study further reviews relevant literature as basis for understanding and goes on to interrogate the general theories on leadership with a view to choose the best practice in leadership of a developmental local government. Central to its quest for answers, is the drive from the constitutional mandate, a developmental local government imposed to municipality by the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, (1996) arising out of the need to transform the South African local government from an erstwhile policy of racial segregation to a new democratic political dispensation fostering equity and access to services and resources for all citizens. The challenge for the new leadership therefore is how to deal, speedily with the huge disparities and socio-economic backlogs? What kind of leadership and what level of knowledge, skills and competencies are required and how soon can public goods and services be delivered to the satisfaction of the communities it serves? ‘Analysis of variance’ was used to analyse and interpret data collected. Literature on the difference between transactional and transformational leadership formed the basis of the findings. Finally, findings and conclusions were drawn. On the bases of these, recommendations for Buffalo City Municipality were presented. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2011
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- Date Issued: 2011-01
Evaluation and comparison of rural and industrial brick masonry units for sustainabile low cost housing
- Authors: Maweza, Elijah Loyiso
- Date: 2011-01
- Subjects: Masonry
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24923 , vital:63676
- Description: The lack of adequate housing for the rural population of South Africa is experienced in every community. The South African government has drawn policies, strategies and required standards that must govern the provision of housing to the people. One of the required standards of housing is that the walls be constructed in such a way that they are able to adequately resist water penetration into any part of the building where it would be detrimental to the health of the occupants or the lifespan of the building. This research took the investigation of the characteristics of bricks that increase or reduce water absorption by bricks as the main objective. The investigation looked first at the raw materials of bricks, the soils and clay. The particle size related soil fractions were investigated because particle sizes are directly linked to the porosity of the bricks. Porosity describes the percentage of pores that are in the bricks, which show the extent to which bricks can internally accommodate moisture. Soil mineralogy was also discussed because as bricks are fired, the changes that they undergo affect the mineralogy of the bricks. The manufacturing procedures (brick moulding and firing) as reported from literature are briefly discussed in chapter 2. The effect of heat on clays is also discussed in order to explain the changes that occur as a result of firing. The porosity and the sorptivity of bricks were the relevant brick properties that are discussed. The methods employed to investigate the characteristics of bricks as discussed in chapter 3 were as follows: (i) Winning and preparation of raw materials. (ii) Particle size analysis. (iii) Water and carbon content in newly formed rural and industrial bricks. (iv) The firing procedures and temperature distribution investigation. (v) The chemical composition of rural and industrial bricks. (vi) Porosity. (vii) The Neutron Radiography equipment and operations. (viii) Sorptivity. With these investigations it was discovered that the quality of the bricks can be improved by: (i) Selecting and preparing the raw materials. This can be done by considering the soil types and reducing the soil particle sizes by sieving and grinding. (ii) Moulding the bricks properly by thoroughly working the soil, reducing the water content and increasing compaction. (iii) Drying the bricks using the sun and the exhaust heat from the kilns that are firing bricks at the time. (iv) Adopting brick firing techniques that produce the desired bricks more efficiently. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2011
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- Date Issued: 2011-01