An exploration of the practice of public relations in selected schools within Uitenhage area
- Authors: Woods, Sharne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Schools--Public relations--South Africa--Uitenhage , Community and school--South Africa--Uitenhage , School management and organization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8486 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007954 , Schools--Public relations--South Africa--Uitenhage , Community and school--South Africa--Uitenhage , School management and organization
- Description: This treatise provides an overview of the American style of school public relations and suggests the possibilities for the positive impact such a treatise could have within the South African educational realm. Three models of school PR are proposed in this treatise in view of the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all kind of approach to school public relations. Schools differ in size either physically or financially, and these differences can have an impact on the extent to which public relations would be practised. Thus each model is described according to the practise of a minimum, standard and an advanced school PR plan. These models strive to provide either a starting point for implementing a PR plan; or a checklist for schools who already practise some form of PR. The nature and scope of public relations is explored within three selected South African public schools in Uitenhage to establish the extent to which the Modern Age of School Public Relations has “arrived”. Based on the research findings it can be deduced that most schools practise some form of PR, whether strategically planned or spontaneously, as the need arises. However, although it is apparent that the Modern Age of school public relations is being set in motion, it must be expanded on and progressed to incorporate all the facets of a proactive systematic PR plan. The content of this research paper details a step-by-step approach for South African schools to start a planned public relations programme. Furthermore taking into account current trends it proposes ideas to involve learners, staff and parents in the planning and implementation of strategic public relations in an attempt to achieve the school’s objectives and validate its vision. This treatise aims to provide a foundation for exploring the current practise of public relations within the educational environment and could stimulate further study by investigating and evaluating the PR of all class ranks of South African schools.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Drug abuse in selected Grahamstown schools
- Authors: Rungani, Judith
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: High school students -- Substance use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization , Teenagers -- Drug abuse , Substance abuse -- Youth -- Grahamstown (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11759 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004784 , High school students -- Substance use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization , Teenagers -- Drug abuse , Substance abuse -- Youth -- Grahamstown (South Africa)
- Description: The study explores drug abuse by learners in selected Grahamstown high schools. The study`s main concern is that drug abuse by learners is on the rise but yet there is less research on the drugs which are being used and the factors which motivate the learners to use such drugs. There are several drug abuse prevention strategies which are being implemented but yet they seem not to be very effective. It is in this frame of reference that this study saw it vital to focus on drug abuse by high school learners in Grahamstown. The study aims to identify the most commonly abused drugs by learners in the high schools of Grahamstown and the reasons why they use these drugs. The study made use of the mixed method research that is making use of both qualitative and quantitative research. The questionnaire was the instrument of data collection in quantitative data and interviews for the qualitative data. The packages which were used for the analysis of data include the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) V8 which was used to provide descriptive analysis and correlations. The findings of the study establish that the commonly abused drugs by learners are: alcohol with 58%, followed by cigarettes 22%, hookah-pipe 9%, dagga 7%. The main reasons why learners use drugs are: peer pressure, role models, availability, environment, and curiosity. Differences in drug use between male and female learners were noted. Twenty-five percent of the male learners and 16% of the female learners reported to be using drugs. In the view of these results, the researcher recommends that a comprehensive drug abuse prevention framework be formulated which focuses on preventing drug abuse at individual, family and community levels.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Gender equality in the employment of senior secondary schools managers in the district of Butterworth
- Authors: Bikitsha, Sakhiwo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Educational equalization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex discrimination in education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8489 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020005
- Description: In terms of Section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, Chapter Two, the Bill of Rights, there should be gender equality amongst other things. In terms of Section15 (i) of the Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998), there should be equal representation of suitably qualified people from the designated groups (blacks, women and people with disabilities) in all occupational categories and levels in the workforce. Section 15 (ii)provides that an employer who employs more than 50 employees must conduct a gender audit and make a gender equity plan and implement it when new employees are employed. In the Department of Education in the District of Butterworth, there is no gender equality in the number of senior secondary school managers. Men constituted 65 percent and women constituted 35 percent. The study investigated reasons for unequal representation of men and women as senior secondary school managers. The study was qualitative in design. The participants in the study were the Assistant Director of the Human Resource Section of the Department of Education and school governing body members, who were parents and educators. Interviews were used to collect data from the participants The study found that, amongst other things, gender equity was not considered when senior secondary schools managers were employed. That was why there was unequal representation of men and women in senior secondary schools’ management positions. This implied that those involved in the employment of secondary school managers in the district of Butterworth did not consider the Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998) as a guide when employing senior secondary school managers in order to be able to achieve gender equality in this position. That was why there was unequal representation of men and women in senior secondary schools’ management positions.
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- Date Issued: 2013