A critical evaluation of outcomes based education from a developmental perspective in South Africa with particular reference to the Eastern Cape.
- Mdikane, Knowledge Mzwandile
- Authors: Mdikane, Knowledge Mzwandile
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Reconstruction and Development Programme (South Africa) Competency-based education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Educational change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Education -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Curriculum change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:6057 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006663
- Description: This research study seeks to examine the impact of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE)from a developmental perspective in the Eastern Cape. Two schools were selected as research sites, one from a previously advantaged area and the other from a previously disadvantaged area. These schools were evaluated on their understanding of OBE and its relationship to development. OBE was introduced in South Africa under controversial circumstances because of the legacy of apartheid education from which we are coming. Because of that, schools in South Africa reflect the inequalities that are resulting from apartheid legislation. In 1994 the government introduced the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) to eradicate all the discrepancies resulting from apartheid. On the educational sphere, OBE was the curriculum policy aimed at eradicating the legacy of apartheid education. The then Minister of Education was convinced that OBE or Curriculum 2005 would be a developmental approach to education and would take South Africa into the 21st century. Ever since its introduction, educators have encountered many problems with the implementation of OBE, especially in the previously disadvantaged areas of the Eastern Cape. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to collect data from the respondents. However, one set of questionnaires was prepared for the educators, students, parents and education government officials. Because of the qualitative nature of the questionnaire the data collected was also analyzed qualitatively. Each question was analyzed from each of the focus groups and the researcher established findings that were analyzed in relation to the literature review. The researcher then was able to reach his own conclusions on the impact that OBE has on the South African education system and recommendations on what could be done for OBE to be successfully implemented and to be developmentally effective in previously disadvantaged areas of South Africa. The recommendations propose useful interventions, which could be made by the government to assist all the stakeholders involved in education in both an understanding and better implementation of OBE in Previously Disadvantaged Areas (PDA’s). They include provision of support to stakeholders and that teachers should be taught about the relationship between OBE and reconstruction. The research study focuses mainly on OBE and its relationship to development in urban or Previously Advantaged Areas (PAA’s) of two Eastern Cape schools. It will be relevant to the Eastern Cape Education Department in its efforts to implement OBE in schools and it could be a source of knowledge to educators. The conclusion that has been reached, however, is that there is a lot of ignorance about this new system of education to both educators and parents. There is also evidence of ignorance to matters pertaining to the relationship between OBE and it’s relationship to the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). A major recommendation that is made then is that for OBE to be relevant in the South African context, it should help to improve the lives of ordinary people in South Africa, especially in Previously Disadvantaged Areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Mdikane, Knowledge Mzwandile
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Reconstruction and Development Programme (South Africa) Competency-based education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Educational change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Education -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Curriculum change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:6057 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006663
- Description: This research study seeks to examine the impact of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE)from a developmental perspective in the Eastern Cape. Two schools were selected as research sites, one from a previously advantaged area and the other from a previously disadvantaged area. These schools were evaluated on their understanding of OBE and its relationship to development. OBE was introduced in South Africa under controversial circumstances because of the legacy of apartheid education from which we are coming. Because of that, schools in South Africa reflect the inequalities that are resulting from apartheid legislation. In 1994 the government introduced the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) to eradicate all the discrepancies resulting from apartheid. On the educational sphere, OBE was the curriculum policy aimed at eradicating the legacy of apartheid education. The then Minister of Education was convinced that OBE or Curriculum 2005 would be a developmental approach to education and would take South Africa into the 21st century. Ever since its introduction, educators have encountered many problems with the implementation of OBE, especially in the previously disadvantaged areas of the Eastern Cape. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to collect data from the respondents. However, one set of questionnaires was prepared for the educators, students, parents and education government officials. Because of the qualitative nature of the questionnaire the data collected was also analyzed qualitatively. Each question was analyzed from each of the focus groups and the researcher established findings that were analyzed in relation to the literature review. The researcher then was able to reach his own conclusions on the impact that OBE has on the South African education system and recommendations on what could be done for OBE to be successfully implemented and to be developmentally effective in previously disadvantaged areas of South Africa. The recommendations propose useful interventions, which could be made by the government to assist all the stakeholders involved in education in both an understanding and better implementation of OBE in Previously Disadvantaged Areas (PDA’s). They include provision of support to stakeholders and that teachers should be taught about the relationship between OBE and reconstruction. The research study focuses mainly on OBE and its relationship to development in urban or Previously Advantaged Areas (PAA’s) of two Eastern Cape schools. It will be relevant to the Eastern Cape Education Department in its efforts to implement OBE in schools and it could be a source of knowledge to educators. The conclusion that has been reached, however, is that there is a lot of ignorance about this new system of education to both educators and parents. There is also evidence of ignorance to matters pertaining to the relationship between OBE and it’s relationship to the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). A major recommendation that is made then is that for OBE to be relevant in the South African context, it should help to improve the lives of ordinary people in South Africa, especially in Previously Disadvantaged Areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
Towards the development of species-specific fish production models for small reservoirs in Southern Africa
- Authors: Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Freshwater fishes -- Africa, Southern Fish populations -- Africa, Southern Fisheries -- Africa, Southern Sustainable fisheries -- Africa, Southern Labeo -- Reproduction Cyprinidae -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5330 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005176
- Description: The fish populations in small southern African reservoirs are largely unexploited and there is potential for fisheries development. However, the development of sustainable fisheries requires reliable estimates of potential yield or production. Empirical models that have been developed to predict fish production only apply to large water bodies and only predict total fish production, not the production of individual species. Small reservoirs generally have few commercially important species and therefore species-specific fish production models are an alternative approach. The small reservoirs of the Eastern Cape are dominated by the moggel (Labeo umbratus). The principal objectives of this thesis were to gain an understanding of the ecology of small reservoirs and the function of moggel in these systems. This information was used to design a research approach to rapidly develop species-specific models for small reservoirs in southern Africa. The limnology of two small reservoirs was compared. During the study period the reservoirs were turbid and showed a warm, monomictic pattern of thermal stratification. Anthropogenic pressure in the reservoir catchments appeared to be the overriding factor increasing the nutrient input to the reservoirs and consequently, influencing the biomass of algae in the reservoirs. The feeding biology of moggel in Katriver and Laing reservoirs was examined. Moggel are detrivorous and successfully digested diatoms. The slower growth rate of moggel in Katriver reservoir was attributed to the poorer nutritional value of the diet as a consequence of the lower concentration of diatoms in the detrital aggregate. The reproductive characteristics of moggel were examined in four reservoirs. Moggel were able to reproduce successfully in the reservoirs. This could be attributed to their r-selected reproductive strategy, with a high fecundity and an extended spawning season and their ability to spawn in a floodplain environment. Differences in recruitment success between years were found to be a consequence of the timing and duration of seasonal rains. The number of mature females in a population and the availability of suitable spawning habitat influenced recruitment success. The life history of the moggel in five reservoirs was compared. Growth appeared to be related to food availability, while mortality was lower in the populations where food was abundant and there were less predatory species. Size and age at maturity were not affected by environmental factors, but were dependent on growth and mortality. Three contrasting methods were used to estimate moggel gillnet selectivity. The Sechin, direct fyke net method and length-structured model all yielded similar results and correction factors obtained from the selectivity study were applied to the gillnet data to estimate the fish population size and structure in each reservoir. Using information from the life history and selectivity studies, the biomass and production of five moggel populations was estimated and related to abiotic and biotic factors in the reservoirs and their catchments. Moggel biomass and production was dependent on the biomass of algae, which was dependent on morphoedaphic characteristics of the reservoirs. Small, shallow reservoirs with a reasonable amount of human habitation in their catchments would sustain the highest algal biomass and provided they had adequate spawning habitat would also have the highest moggel biomass and production. The future research requirements for small reservoir fisheries are outlined and include a three-year program to develop a species-specific production model for any of the dominant species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Freshwater fishes -- Africa, Southern Fish populations -- Africa, Southern Fisheries -- Africa, Southern Sustainable fisheries -- Africa, Southern Labeo -- Reproduction Cyprinidae -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5330 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005176
- Description: The fish populations in small southern African reservoirs are largely unexploited and there is potential for fisheries development. However, the development of sustainable fisheries requires reliable estimates of potential yield or production. Empirical models that have been developed to predict fish production only apply to large water bodies and only predict total fish production, not the production of individual species. Small reservoirs generally have few commercially important species and therefore species-specific fish production models are an alternative approach. The small reservoirs of the Eastern Cape are dominated by the moggel (Labeo umbratus). The principal objectives of this thesis were to gain an understanding of the ecology of small reservoirs and the function of moggel in these systems. This information was used to design a research approach to rapidly develop species-specific models for small reservoirs in southern Africa. The limnology of two small reservoirs was compared. During the study period the reservoirs were turbid and showed a warm, monomictic pattern of thermal stratification. Anthropogenic pressure in the reservoir catchments appeared to be the overriding factor increasing the nutrient input to the reservoirs and consequently, influencing the biomass of algae in the reservoirs. The feeding biology of moggel in Katriver and Laing reservoirs was examined. Moggel are detrivorous and successfully digested diatoms. The slower growth rate of moggel in Katriver reservoir was attributed to the poorer nutritional value of the diet as a consequence of the lower concentration of diatoms in the detrital aggregate. The reproductive characteristics of moggel were examined in four reservoirs. Moggel were able to reproduce successfully in the reservoirs. This could be attributed to their r-selected reproductive strategy, with a high fecundity and an extended spawning season and their ability to spawn in a floodplain environment. Differences in recruitment success between years were found to be a consequence of the timing and duration of seasonal rains. The number of mature females in a population and the availability of suitable spawning habitat influenced recruitment success. The life history of the moggel in five reservoirs was compared. Growth appeared to be related to food availability, while mortality was lower in the populations where food was abundant and there were less predatory species. Size and age at maturity were not affected by environmental factors, but were dependent on growth and mortality. Three contrasting methods were used to estimate moggel gillnet selectivity. The Sechin, direct fyke net method and length-structured model all yielded similar results and correction factors obtained from the selectivity study were applied to the gillnet data to estimate the fish population size and structure in each reservoir. Using information from the life history and selectivity studies, the biomass and production of five moggel populations was estimated and related to abiotic and biotic factors in the reservoirs and their catchments. Moggel biomass and production was dependent on the biomass of algae, which was dependent on morphoedaphic characteristics of the reservoirs. Small, shallow reservoirs with a reasonable amount of human habitation in their catchments would sustain the highest algal biomass and provided they had adequate spawning habitat would also have the highest moggel biomass and production. The future research requirements for small reservoir fisheries are outlined and include a three-year program to develop a species-specific production model for any of the dominant species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
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