Laccase production by selected bacteria species isolated from some aquatic and terrestrial milieu of the Eastern Cape : applications in wastewater treatment
- Authors: Unuofin, John Onolame
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Laccase Sewage -- Purification -- Biological treatment Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9626 , vital:34810
- Description: Aromatic pollutants are a diverse group of chemicals which are continuously produced from industrialization, urbanization and sophistication in technological advancement. Pristine water source polluted by these chemicls makes the water unsafe for human consumption, and as well disrupts the trophic structure of the aquatic milieu. Physico-chemical treatment techniques employed so far have been accompanied by major drawbacks which have overriden the relative successes recorded, hence, greener, simpler and more efficient methods of pollutant transformation is imperative. The prospect of enzymatic treatment of pollutants has gradually been receiving growing attention in contemporary times due to the their environmental friendliness and production economic feasiblity. Laccase, a multicopper oxidase has heightened its appeal towards environmental and biotechnological applications due to its broad substrate specificity and its requirement of atmospheric molecular oxygen as a cosubstrate and the discharge of water as the byproduct. Hence, this present study was designed to evaluate the biotechnological potentials of laccases produced by some bacteria species from some aquatic biomes of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The laccase-producing bacteria were isolated from selected environmental samples by selective enrichment using selective aromatic compounds as sole carbon source and subsequently, laccase-screening phenolic substrates. The laccase-producing bacteria were identified by molecular techniques as proteobacteria belonging to the following genera: Achromobacter, Bordetella, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas. Optimisation of laccase production in a submerged fermentation was by traditional and statistical methods, where four isolates (Hb9c; Achromobacter xylosoxidans HWN16, Hb16c; Bordetella bronchisepta HSO16, Berl11b2; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BIJ16, Ie1c; Citrobacter freundii LLJ16) were evaluated for the fermentative production of laccase from lignocellulosic agroindustrial residues. Predictions from statistical optimisation showed that weakly acidic conditions (pH 5) and low agitation speed (100 rpm) were required for maximum laccase production from mandarin peelings (0.5 g/200 mL) and NaNO3 (0.25 g/200 mL) in Hb9c, maize stover (0.50 g/200 mL) and NaNO3 (0.050 g/200mL) in Berl11b2 while a lower agitation speed (50 rpm) was required for maximum laccase output from 2.0 g/200 mL maize stover and 0.050 g/200 mL KNO3 in Ie1c. However, 2.50 g/200 mL wheat bran, 0.050 g/200 mL yeast extract and 50 rpm agitiation under acidic conditions (pH3) yielded maximum laccase titres in Hb16c. Further characterisation of Hb9c and Ie1c laccase secretions portrayed their polyextremotolerant capacities. They were active at a broad range of tempertaure (0-90 degreesC); with optima at 70°C (Hb9c) and 60°C (Ie1c), pH (3-11); with optima at pH 6 (Ie1c) and pH 8 (Hb9c), respectively, and were equally thermo- and pH-stable. Their activities were either improved or left unabated by high concentrations of cations, detergents, and chloride. In addition, catalytic activities of Hb9c and Ie1c laccase secretions increased when they were preincubated with 2 – 20 percent of fluoride, a potent inhibitor. Consequently, a molecular perspective depicted the isolates to have multiple homologous laccase encoding genes. The enzymes were successfully immobilised on solid supports comprising gelatin and Na-alginate with a recovery of cca. 85 percent residual activity after 8 cycles of oprertional stability experiments. The immobilised laccases were remarkable in the decolourisation of synthetic dyes, albeit, free forms also elicited satisfactory performances. Ultimately, the application of free laccases in denim bleaching, individually or with a blend of a mediator, ABTS, showed that denim colours could be bleached without the need for chemical bleaching agents. The results obtained suggest the bacteria laccases produced from lignocellulosic wastes may serve as potent degraders of phenolic pollutants in water and, may also contribute to the bioeconomy and promote greener techniques for industrial applications.
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Livelihood and unemployment transitions : drivers and effects on welfare in Nigeria
- Authors: Fashogbon, Ayodele Emmanuel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social service -- Nigeria Social problems -- Nigeria Nigeria -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9176 , vital:34302
- Description: Hunger, unemployment and social crisis are increasing in Nigeria. Statistics supports it that most of the able-bodied youth, both male and female, are not in employment, school or training in Nigeria while poverty rate is as high as a decade ago. A number of research efforts have looked at the micro and macroeconomic paths of the problem with less attention on dynamism of unemployment vis-a-vis the labour market transition, hence this study. This study investigates dynamism of labour market by assessing pattern and transition in labour market and out of labour, as well as determining the effect size of households head’s unemployment on household welfare. To achieve this objective, the General Household Survey (GHS) panel data for 2010/211 and 2012/2013 for Nigeria was used coupled with panel regression analyses to identify determinants of transitions from unemployment to productive sectors, and determinants of transition from productive sectors to unemployment, as well as effect of unemployment on household welfare while controlling for potential endogeneity in unemployment. Across the productive sectors and between 2010 and 2013, the descriptive results of transition show that workforce in the services sector (68 percent) are the most persistent, followed by agriculture (59 percent) and least is mining and manufacturing (44 percent). Transition from nonemployment occurred the most to services sector (22 percent), followed by out-of-labour force (18 percent), agriculture (15 percent) and least to mining and manufacturing (5 percent). Further, the results show that there are both locations and gender differences in the extent of transitions in the labour market. The econometric analyses reveal that job search characteristics, age, educational levels, gender, family ties, locations and time significantly determine transition from unemployment to productive sectors (agriculture or non-agriculture). Likewise, job characteristics, demographic variables, social network, location and time significantly determine switch from one productive sector to another or to unemployment. Moreover, it explicitly reveals as well from the analysis that household head month of unemployment reduces household total consumption and food consumption by 6.4 percent with gender and sectorial differences. The study recommends a combined and swift intervention on three sides: one, there is a need to stimulate education either through scholarship, or adult education from both public and private sectors; two, need to create jobs for youth to reduce potential social and economic crisis; and lastly there is a need to provide social support either in terms of public workfare, skills for jobs and unemployment benefits.
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Molecular characterization of streptococcus agalactiae isolated from pregnant women in the Eastern Cape, South Africa and Windhoek, Namibia and antibacterial activities of some medicinal plant extracts on the isolates
- Authors: Mukesi, Munyaradzi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Streptococcus Medicinal plants Pregnant women
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13034 , vital:39437
- Description: Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) also known as group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the leading causes of bacterial morbidity and mortality among neonates worldwide. It is the cause of invasive Early Onset Disease (EOD), which occurs in the first 7 days of life and characterised by sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis and Late Onset Disease (LOD) occurring between 7 and 89 days of life. Late onset disease is characterised by meningitis and long term neurological sequelae such as cerebral palsy, hearing impairment and cognitive challenges. S. agalactiae does not only infect neonates, it also infects the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and pregnant and non-pregnant women, causing invasive disease. In the world, 10-40 percent of healthy women are rectally or vaginally colonised with GBS and they face the risk of passing it to their babies during the process of childbirth. During parturition, a GBS colonized pregnant woman transfers the bacterium to her new-born as the baby passes through the ruptured membrane, thus infecting the child. However, GBS has been reported to be transferred even without rupture of membranes. Once it infects the membranes, it is transferred into the amniotic fluid and subsequently infects the baby. It can be aspirated into the lungs causing pneumonia or it can infect the blood stream and disseminated round the body causing septicaemia, meningitis and other infections. Once in the neonate’s body, the bacteria is able to evade the immune system as the host immune system is not yet fully developed. Bacterial evasion of the immune system is enhanced by its various virulence factors which are deployed to help it escape the immune system. These include the polysaccharide capsule, haemolysin and the release of complement inactivating factors such C5a peptidase. The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2010) recommends universal screening of pregnant women to identify those colonised and who are at risk of passing the bacterium to their babies during birth. WHO also recommends identification of at risk women and providing Intrapartum Antibiotic Prophylaxis (IAP) using penicillin. However, problems arise in penicillin allergic women and while alternatives for IAP include erythromycin and clindamycin, there is increasing resistance to these drugs thereby limiting therapeutic options. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is also not always possible in most resource constrained countries due to poor infrastructure, limited access to health care and the logistical problems in implementing the WHO guidelines. Alternative therapeutic options to GBS infection include developing new and potent antibiotics, development of a vaccine, use of medicinal plants and the use of bacteriophage therapy. While these look like better alternatives there is massive scientific work to be carried out to ensure proper characterisation and efficiency of such alternatives. This process should be followed by in vitro diagnostic testing, experiments with animal models and clinical trials. The problems encountered during vaccine development to curtail GBS infection are compounded by the multiplicity of S. agalactiae capsular types which vary in different geographic locations. Medicinal plants are a cheap and convenient option since they are widely used in communities but the phytochemical components of the plants have to be identified and subjected to in vitro testing to evaluate their therapeutic efficacy as antimicrobial agents. This study therefore sought to isolate GBS from pregnant women between 35 and 37 weeks gestation in Windhoek (Namibia) and the Eastern Cape (South Africa), to determine the prevalence of GBS colonisation in the vagina and rectum of the pregnant women, characterise the isolates by molecular techniques, determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles and genes of the isolates and explore the efficacies of medicinal plant extracts as possible candidates for therapeutic options.
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Molecular studies on cholera and non-cholera causing vibrio pathogens isolated from some water resources and aquatic animals in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Abioye, Oluwatayo Emmanuel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Vibrio cholerae -- Pathogens Vibrio cholerae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9154 , vital:34283
- Description: The global socioeconomic and disease burdens of cholera; a disease caused by Vibrio cholerae have been ongoing since it was first reported in India in 1563. Unfortunately, emerging non-cholera causing Vibrio pathogens have been contributing to the malady of Vibrio genus globally in the recent years. The history of cholera outbreaks in South Africa have been well documented but information regarding other non-cholera Vibrio pathogens, is deficient in the literature. This study evaluated the statuses of aquatic animals including crustaceans, molluscs, and fish as important reservoirs of six key pathogenic Vibrio spp. in some important water resources and fish markets in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, between December 2016 and November 2017. Physiochemical parameters that are vital for water quality assessment were determined for all the water sampling points using standard methods. The parameters include pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, temperature, total dissolved solids, turbidity and biological oxygen demand (BOD5). Vibrio spp. densities in water and aquatic animal samples were determined using membrane filtration and Most Probable NumberPolymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) methods respectively. Presumptive Vibrio spp. were recovered from the samples by direct plating of water samples and aliquots of aquatic animal homogenates on thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) agar. Where necessary, samples were enriched using alkaline peptone water (APW) for optimum isolation of the targeted Vibrio spp. Presumptive isolates were identified and delineated into the six targeted pathogenic Vibrio spp. using PCR method. The antibiogram fingerprint of selected Vibrio spp. against a panel 18 panels of antibacterial agents were also carried out. Multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes (MARPs) per set of isolates from water sampling sites and aquatic animal types were determined. Finally, multiple antibiotic resistance indices (MARI) for isolates recovered from the samples were determined. All experiments were done in replicate and data compared using one-way analysis of variance and one-tail t-test as appropriate. Correlation and regression analysis were also carried out as appropriate. Uncontrolled agricultural, industrial and domestic wastewater influxes, as well as run-off intrusions into the water resources investigated, were observed throughout the sampling season. The physicochemical qualities of the water resources varied with seasons. While pH observed for all the water sampling sites complied with South Africa and international standards, most sampling sites did not comply with set standards for one or more of the remaining physicochemical parameters. The parameters that frequently exhibited significant correlation and regression with Vibrio spp. densities were TDS, TSS, turbidity and temperature. The densities of Vibrio spp. in the samples studied varied with season and the highest density per sample types were observed in the summer. The prevalence of Vibrio spp. in freshwater, brackish water and aquatic animal samples were 79 percent, 78 percent and 86 percent respectively. The respective prevalence of V. cholerae, V. mimicus, V. fluvialis, V.alginolyticus, V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus in freshwater samples (18 percent, 3 percent, ~1 percent, ~1 percent, <1 percent, < percent), brackish water(12 percent, 3 percent, 28 percent,~1 percent, ~1 percent, 9 percent) and aquatic animals (9 percent, 1 percent, 17 percent, 1 percent, 1 percent, 17 percent) were observed. All isolates from all the sample types showed very high antibiotic resistance against ampicillin and polymyxin B. Furthermore, MARPs were observed among isolates from the three sample types. Multiple antibiotic resistance indices (MARI) above 0.2 was observed at one site on Kowie River, three on Kubusi River and one on Buffalo River. The findings of this study suggest that most South Africa water-bodies especially freshwater resources are not well protected. This need to be addressed in a country like South Africa where availability of the freshwater resource for human activities is a critical issue. Base on the prevalence of pathogenic Vibrio spp. especially MARPs and sites that exhibited above 0.2 threshold for MARI, environmental base Vibrio species monitoring programs are recommended.
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Parents' experiences with involvement in the education development of children under six years in the Bubi District of Zimbabwe
- Authors: Mhlanga, Sibonginkosi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Education -- Parent participation -- Zimbabwe Education, Elementary -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9467 , vital:34354
- Description: This study on parental involvement in Early Childhood Development in the Bubi district of Zimbabwe investigates parents’ experiences with involvement in the education development of children under six years. Early Childhood Development in Zimbabwe is a community based programme, hence the interest on parents in their involvement in the education and development. To investigate this phenomenon a thorough background of the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was employed. The theory is based on the principles of interconnectedness within settings and the linkages between settings that affect individual development. The study focused on the immediate, being the microsystems. The interpretive paradigm and the qualitative approach were employed to explore the parents’ experiences with involvement in the education development of children under six years. Purposive sampling was used to select a small sample of two Heads of schools, four Early Childhood Development teachers and sixteen parents; these were from two schools in the Bubi district of Matabeleland, North Province of Zimbabwe. Obtained results reveal that all the stakeholders involved in the study seem to have limited knowledge of parental involvement. It also emerged that the involvement in the district is biased towards the physical needs of the school only. The results also revealed that there are so many factors that contribute to the non-involvement of parents in their children’s education and development such as poverty, lack of knowledge, culture and attitude, just to mention a few. In view of the findings the study recommends that the Government should provide statutory instruments that clearly state the role of the parents, especially because of the fact that, currently, the programme in the country is community based. The colleges should also empower student teachers during their training on parental involvement.
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Perception of climate change impacts, adaptation responses and national response policy outreach by smallholder farmers in Amathole District, South Africa
- Authors: Popoola, Oluwaseun Oluwabunmi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Global environmental change Climate change mitigation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9000 , vital:34181
- Description: The climate is changing, with imminent threats. Projections for increased inconsistencies in climatic elements such as rainfall and temperature have continued to raise concerns particularly amongst farmers. The majority of South African smallholder and resource-poor farmers rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture, making them vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change risks. As sustainability is crucial to the continuous survival of this population, this study assessed the farmers’ perceptions of climate change impacts on agricultural production activities as well as their adaptation responses. The South African national climate change response policy was developed and approved in October 2011 in order to institute a responsive intervention system for the moderation of climate change impacts on South Africa’s citizens. Amongst its priorities is building capacity and resilience in the country’s agricultural sector, with the public agricultural extension system as a principal component for climate change sensitisation, education and capacity-building. With current global climate change conditions, the urgency to provide agricultural knowledge on adaptation has risen. Smallholder farmers, in particular, are challenged in this regard, and face numerous restraining factors. Therefore, this study investigated several key issues related to climate change sensitization activities and response. A multistage sampling procedure was used in the selection of the study sample (n = 301) residing in the rural settlements of Mbahashe Local Municipality, in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A cross-sectional household survey was carried out in eighteen villages surrounding the three major towns in the municipality – Idutywa, Elliotdale and Willowvale. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used for data analysis. Findings revealed a perceived increase in temperature levels and a drastic decline in rainfall; perceived harsh and aggressive climatic conditions, with attendant problems of drought. There is a perceived increased difficulty in production activities as a result of water scarcity. Poor soil conditions, pest infestations and disease infections, poor vegetation and limited grazing, decreased livestock growth rate, reduced livestock weight, milk production and reproduction rates, reduction in quantity of egg production, egg quality and sizes, are amongst many other perceived challenges. There is a growing threat of unsustainable agricultural production, which may in due course increase poverty levels among the smallholder farmers. Adaptation responses were extremely limited. Findings also revealed that there is an extremely low awareness of the national climate change response policy, and a dearth of sensitisation campaigns and capacity-building training of smallholder farmers in the study area. There is also a significant lack of access to agricultural extension services that might disseminate information and build capacity for an appropriate climate change response. Analysis also revealed that public extension services play a minute role in rural farmers’ climate change knowledge; they get their information elsewhere. The most critical constraint to climate change coping and adaptation in the study area was lack of access to agricultural extension services. The study recommends government intervention in the form of appropriate, functional extension services, particularly for carrying out climate change coping and adaptation education and support. It also strongly endorses the tower gardening concept, practised in a number of countries, including parts of South Africa to facilitate an exigent intervention project to curb declining crop production and sustain the livelihoods of farmers, before major intervention schemes are set up by various governing bodies. There is an immense need to buffer the adaptation capacities of livestock smallholder farmers in rural communities through the implementation of adaptation promotional schemes for rural livestock sustainability. Productivity and efficient commercialization of both indigenous and hybrid poultry production should be beefed up by encouraging poultry breeding programs and breed improvement activities, subsidizing commercial feeds to encourage supplementary feeding, provision of better infrastructure for improved housing and the facilitation of health care systems like vaccination programs. This study also recommends that efforts to create awareness, knowledge and skills in relation to climate change be intensified through an enhanced use of all media. In addition, agricultural extension departments functioning at the local level should be financially and technically capacitated to allow for enhanced performance by their field officers.
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Play as an indicator of public opinion in online political commentary : a content analysis of online news forums leading up to the 2014 South African General Elections
- Authors: Moyo, Lungisani
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Online journalism Content analysis (Communication)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10678 , vital:35667
- Description: This study seeks to look at play as an indicator of public opinion in online political commentary of online news forums leading to the 2014 South African general elections. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse viewers’s comments about 2014 South African general elections posted online. The concepts of critical discourse analysis, frame analysis play theory and network analysis were applied to extend and inform the study. A corpus of all commentary appended to 2014 South African general election news reports published online by Media24, Times Media Group, Mail &Guardian, Independent Newspapers, Caxton CTP, and TNA Media were selected. The study employed a purposive sampling technique and 1000 comments were extracted. The sample began four weeks before the election and ended two weeks after the event. NVIVO 11 was utilized to code these readers’ comments into their respective categories. The core findings of this thesis reflect that online readers do not just engage in play but are more interactive and participative on these online public forums and their political discourse echo political affiliations with different political parties, bearing in mind that South Africa has 13 political parties that participated and are represented in parliament. In addition, the findings revealed that, play cannot be parted with and remains inseparable with "what is real"; instead, play renews the real world by giving it sense and meaning. Play does not "re-present" nor falsify certainty but it enunciates certainty. The findings also revealed that most participants identify themselves with the ANC as the ruling party, the DA as the main opposition, the EFF as the most vocal party and then other parties. The findings further revealed that participants have different perspectives on different economic and socio-political matters such as, entertainment, slate politics, and political affiliation, cadre deployment, political bias, economic meltdown, diaspora, and western influence, abuse of power by those in high places, land reform programme, political power struggles, leadership change and corruption.
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Production and molecular characterization of peroxidases from novel ligninolytic proteobacteria and bacillus strains
- Authors: Falade, Ayodeji Osmund
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Peroxidase Catalase
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9702 , vital:34823
- Description: Inadequate quantity is a major impediment to the industrial application of peroxidase and other industrial enzymes. Consequently, efforts are geared towards increasing peroxidase production by searching for new microbes with enhanced production capacity. In this study, three novel ligninolytic bacteria: Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 (KX640917), Ensifer adhaerens NWODO-2 (KX640918) and Bacillus sp. FALADE-1 (KX640922) were optimized for peroxidase production and their peroxidases characterized using molecular and biochemical approaches. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of peroxidase genes in the three bacteria. BLAST result and phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences suggested that Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 peroxidase (RaoPrx) belongs to a DyP-type peroxidase family while peroxidases from Ensifer adhaerens NWODO-2 and Bacillus sp. FALADE-1 are catalase-peroxidases. The peroxidase genes are available in the GenBank with MF370527, MF374336 and MF407314 as respective accession numbers. Upon optimization, Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 exhibited the highest peroxidase production at pH 5, 35 oC and 150 rpm. Biochemical characterization showed that RaoPrx had a wide substrate specificity as it was able to oxidize all the tested substrates in this study (ABTS, veratryl alcohol, guaiacol and pyrogallol), except 2, 6-Dimethoxyphenol. However, highest activity by the enzyme was recorded with pyrogallol as substrate. The enzyme had an optimum activity at pH 6 and 50 oC and was very stable at high temperatures (50 oC – 70 oC). Its pH stability was over a pH range of 5.0 – 7.0. Moreover, RaoPrx activity was significantly enhanced by Ag+, Cu2+, Zn2+and Fe2+ while Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Al3+, Co2+, NaN3 and EDTA inhibited the activity of the enzyme. Nevertheless, RaoPrx exhibited a remarkable dye-decolourizing activity on congo red and melanin, indicating the biotechnological potential of the enzyme in dye decolourization and development of cosmetic agent. Generally, the results from this study suggest that ligninolytic bacteria hold a great potential for enhanced peroxidase production that could meet the increasing industrial demand.
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Promoting healthy and safe school environments : the role of school governance - a study in the East London and Butterworth educational districts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Napier, Astrid
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School children -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape School hygiene -- South Africa Environmental risk assessment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9489 , vital:34356
- Description: This thesis investigated how school governance promoted healthy and safe school environments and focussed on elements that make the school environment unhealthy and unsafe. These elements were spatial density, sanitation, ventilation, visibility, the acoustic element of the school environment, the aesthetic element and the psychosocial school environment. These are very important elements, and the neglect thereof could lead to ill health. The study excluded elements such as violence and substance use, as well as HIV/ AIDS. The research was conducted at six schools in the Butterworth and East London Educational Districts, as well as the district office in each of these two educational districts of the Eastern Cape. The design was a case study, and a qualitative methodology was used. The sample consisted of members from the school governing bodies, that is, the principal, one other member of the school governing body and a member of the school management team, as well as one official from each educational district, totalling twenty participants. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was used. The instrument was semi-structured interviews and document analyses. The researcher also made use of photographic evidence. Findings indicated that although support services were in place, promoting a healthy and safe school environment was a challenge at all of the schools. Various contributing factors such as the lack of support from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for schools and district officials, non – implementation of policies, lack of infrastructure, lack of human and other resources, lack of security personnel and vandalism, prohibited the promotion of healthy and safe school environments. It is recommended that the DBE pays urgent attention to these elements that make the school environment unhealthy and unsafe; that the DBE fills the gap that exists between the national, provincial and district offices that hamper the flow of infrastructure and the supply of human and other resources. There is also a need for workshops on policy writing and implementation thereof. A workshop focussing on these elements that make the school environment unhealthy and unsafe would also be beneficial.
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Provision of psychosocial support to vulnerable learners by peer led groups in secondary schools in Amathole West Education District, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Chinyama, Nyarayi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Psychosocial support -- Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Education, Secondary -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9341 , vital:34333
- Description: This study sought provision of psychosocial support to vulnerable learners by school based peer-led groups in secondary schools. Using the Ecological Systems Theory and the Psychosocial Support Interactive Process Model, the study specifically sought how vulnerable learners were identified, how participants understood vulnerability and psychosocial support, how peer led groups were selected and the strategies used to provide psychosocial support by peer led groups. The study also sought the support and monitoring strategies used by different stakeholders including the department of education inorder to assit the peer led groups in their endevour to provide psychosocial support to vulnerable learners. The study employed qualitative research methods using interviews, focus groups and document analysis. Purposive sampling was used to select a District Education Officer, four principals, four group members and all of whom took part in interviews, then twenty four peer group members who participated in focus group discussions. The study found out that various methods were used to identify vulnerable learners, but these were inadequate due to limited professional support to the peer-led groups. The strategies employed to assist vulnerable learners included the buddy system, scripture unions, boys and girls education movements and home visits. However there were also challenges of shortage of human and material resources such as counselling rooms, transport. Also none cooperation of parents still hampers psychosocial support by peer led groups. Therefore, the study concludes that there are still a lot of vulnerable learners who are not reached by peer-led groups because of the above mentioned challenges. In this light the study proposed a framework for providing psychosocial support. The study therefore, recommends that the psychosocial programme be part of the large school curriculum which has a specific budget to sustain all the identification, support and monitoring needs of the vulnerable learners and to ensure the psychosocial support strategies are successful.
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Re-interpreting the history of 'the rural' visual in the Eastern Cape, 1948-1976
- Authors: Steele, Candice Alexandra
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Medical photography -- South Africa -- Exhibitions Photography in ethnology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11064 , vital:37027
- Description: The thesis engages with the photographic collection of Dr Pauline Ingle, an amateur photographer who lived and worked in the former Transkei as a medical doctor from 1948-1976. As a visual history project situated within critical visual studies, the thesis is concerned to attend to the disciplinary optics that have conditioned seeing and constituted genres; but also the ways in which these genres have constituted subjects and corralled them into positions commensurate with the spatialised demarcations of the rural and the urban, and the attendant associations of tradition and modernity. The thesis begins by exploring the biography of Pauline Ingle and tracks the movement of the photographs from a private collection into the public realm and its constitution as an archive. The thesis then moves into a discussion of the key determinants of the ethnographic genre and its entwinement with the discipline of anthropology, as a foundation against which to investigate the limits of reading her images within this genre and the disruptions that are discernible through an aesthetics of proximity and forms of image-making that do not control the visual field. Through a theorisation that proposes the image as an act, various readings are brought to bear on the images through the lens of the social and political. Mobilising the concepts of social acts and acts of citizenship, allows for a reading that breaks with the disciplinary conditioning that has fixed subject positions into ‘the native subject’ and the ‘liberal subject’ and calls into question the construction of the human. By proposing the subject as migrant, is to signal that the question of the human/subject is more complex and convoluted than previously thought.
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Self-regulation and academic performance in early childhood :an East London study
- Authors: Martin, Glynnis Michelle
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Self-control in children Early childhood education Child rearing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10949 , vital:35969
- Description: Previous research studies have identified various factors as influential in whether one is successful in obtaining the education necessary for effective living within a given society. Early academic performance is consistently linked to later academic performance, which in turn, relates to physical, mental and even financial health outcomes in adulthood. The recognition that competence with the demands of learning and socialization can set up cycles of success or failure, lead to much research interest directed at the key role of self-regulation, as an executive function skill, in early academic performance. Despite this growing body of research, a comprehensive conceptual model for the predictive role and interaction between complex executive functions, socio-emotional competence, learning aptitudes and visuomotor skills, as predictors in early academic success, is still lacking. Knowledge of the integrated functioning of these predictors in the South African context is particularly scarce. This research was designed to address these knowledge gaps through an exploratory descriptive and causal-comparative study. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select a group of 183 Grade 1 learners from a low socio-economic area of East London in South Africa. Ages ranged from 6 to 8 years (M = 6.78, SD = 0.54), whilst 40% were female and 60% were male. Predictors of academic success were measured at the start of the first academic term, and a parent-report measure was used to measure socio-emotional competencies. Second term school report cards were used to measure mid-year academic achievement. Relationships between each predictor and their relationships to academic performance were explored through Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. vii One-way Analysis of Variance with post-hoc Scheffé tests was used to explore differences between groups of Gender, Age, Home Language, Maternal Marital Status, Maternal Age and whether the grade was being Repeated or not. Two priori conceptual models of the relationships between the predictor variables and academic performance were estimated through Structural Equation Modeling. Results indicate various significant relationships between each predictor and specific aspects of academic performance. Visuomotor skills showed the strongest correlation to academic performance, followed by learning abilities and complex executive functions. Social-emotional competence was not practically significantly related to any of the factors and appeared to affect academic performance primarily through a significant relationship to complex executive functions. Interestingly, results indicate subtypes of visuomotor skills that are significantly correlated to the complex executive, as also highly correlated with academic performance. Precision tasks that were not related to complex executive function, was not significantly related to academic performance. Results furthermore identify the significant influence of caregiver factors on visuomotor skills and that of home language on learning abilities. Regression analysis results confirm a significant mediating effect of learning aptitudes in relation to the effects of complex executive function and visuomotor skills on academic performance. Model comparison supported this mediation-model as superior to a no-mediation model in predicting academic success in Grade 1. This study expands on the understanding of the role of the common executive function in relation to factors associated with crystallized intelligence, visuomotor skills and socio-emotional competencies in predicting early academic success. This study presents an innovative integrated mediation model of the relationships between the identified predictors in relation to academic success.
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Spatial and seasonal variations of water quality determinants and pollutants as fitness-for-use and compliance assessments of the Mzimvubu catchment water resources for the proposed Mzimvubu Water Project, South Africa
- Authors: Mutingwende, Nhamo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Water quality -- South Africa Water quality management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9308 , vital:34320
- Description: The Department of Water Affairs as of late reported plans to build two substantial stockpiling dams in the Mzimvubu Catchment. The Mzimvubu stream basin is probably one of most prominent and undeveloped basin in South Africa. This is notwithstanding high yearly rainfall, high ecological status, high tourism potential, and appropriateness for afforestation, dryland/rainfed and water system agribusiness. Hence, the Department of Water Affairs researched the capability of building a multipurpose dam in the Mzimvubu catchment to catalyse financial and social improvement. The proposed dam will be based on the Tsitsa River. Often, scientific studies related to dam construction concentrate more on discovering the most, in fact, accessible place to construct it, than on the long haul socio-natural issues that come in its preparation. The water quality of the Tsitsa River, its tributaries and the underground drinking water sources within the Mzimvubu catchment are most likely to change once the dam wall is completed. Surface water resources are susceptible to chemical, physical, microbiological contamination and the so-called emerging pollutants either, through human or natural activities. A comprehensive baseline study on the water quality of the Mzimvubu water resources regarding traces of emerging pollutants and water quality determinants (physical, chemical and microbial) pre-dam construction is therefore essential. The objective of the water quality section of this study was to perform an in-depth analysis of water quality in the study area to form a baseline for future studies on how the built dam may affect these. The approach was to assess the spatial and seasonal variations of the pollutants (pharmaceuticals and pesticides) and water quality determinants for all water sources most likely to be affected by the development of the dam. The fitness-for-use and compliance assessments were conducted to assess if the current water resources are fit-for-use for various categories of use and if they comply with various water quality standards and guidelines as determined by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is the overseer of South Africa's water assets, and its central goal is to keep up the fitness-for-use of water on a sustained basis. Water samples (500ml) were collected from sixteen (16) sample points, ranging from the proposed mouth of the dam to the N2 bridge point of the Tsitsa River. Points were selected where the Tsitsa River was accessible using the dam project development roads or where tributaries to the Tsitsa River were accessible using dam development roads. Taps/groundwater sources were sampled from the five selected villages. Monthly samples were collected upstream and downstream of the proposed dam wall, from June 2015 to April 2017.Seventeen (17) water quality indices were therefore analysed at sixteen sampling sites, over a two year period. The AB SCIEX TripleTOF™5600 LC/MS/MS was used to screen for pharmaceutical and pesticide pollutants. All the water quality indices were analysed using the AL400 Aqua lytic photometer, and the microbial analysis was done using the Rand Water Method Number 1.2.2.09.1 for enumerating the amount of E. coli and coliforms in the water samples (Rand Water, 2010f). The South African Water Quality Guidelines, Volumes 1 to 7 (DWS, 1996a-g) were used to assess the fitness-for-use of the water sources. To confirm the compliance of the water resources to various standards and guidelines, the water quality data were assessed against international and national guidelines and standards i.e. the WHO guideline, South African water quality guidelines (domestic, irrigation, livestock and watering, aquaculture, and aquatic ecosystems), and the SANS: 241 (2015) standard for drinking water. Non-parametric statistics were utilised to ascertain the changeability, which is a measure of how water quality may vary after some time. With non-parametric insights, the interquartile extent, which lies between the 25th and the 75th percentile, was utilised to depict inconstancy. The median value (50th percentile) was used as an indication of the central tendency or average. The 90th percentile was included as it can be used to assess the frequency of excursions into higher and possibly unacceptable water quality conditions. 3D Sigma plot was used to graphical present the spatial and seasonal variations of water quality indices and emerging pollutants against their concentrations. Fundamental statistical properties and correlations of water quality variables from the Tsitsa River, Tsitsa River tributaries and the drinking water sources were examined using SAS descriptive statistics. The water quality was determined to be of relatively sound quality, based on the comparison with guidelines and standards for the various intended uses, even though some of the water quality determinants were non-compliant and were “unacceptable” regarding fitness for purpose. The water quality of the Ntabalenga dam would most probably be affected by natural influences (for example rainfall, weathering and geological composition) and anthropogenic factors through non-point source pollution from agriculture activities, human settlements (pit latrines and open defecation) as well as industrial activities in the Maclear and Tsolo towns (wastewater treatments plants effluent, hospital effluent). The Tsitsa River had the highest number of non-compliances, especially to the World Health Organisation and Department of Water and Sanitation aquaculture guidelines. Therefore, the Tsitsa River’s water quality would be a significant factor that could compromise the water quality of the water collected in the dam. The human settlement conditions and agricultural inputs seem to be the factors contributing most to contamination of the surface water of the catchment area. The lack of sanitation systems and facilities means that community members have to use the bush and rivers for ablutions, thus contributing to microbial contamination of the environment. The direct application of manure and fertilisers on the fields by farmers further exacerbates microbial contamination and high nutrient inputs into the environment as observed in elevated microbial and phosphate contaminants during the study period. The data obtained from the analysis of pesticides and pharmaceuticals confirmed the contamination of the drinking water sources, the Tsitsa River and its tributaries with pesticides and pharmaceuticals through non-point source pollution. The origins of these pharmaceutical contaminants were identified as the pit latrines, open defecation and wastewater treatment plant effluent, while agricultural application of pesticides was identified as the source of pesticides in surface waters. If not monitored closely, the presence of these emerging pollutants will negatively affect the quality of the dam water both at spatial and temporal scales once the dam wall is completed. Pit latrines and wastewater treatment plants are a significant source of non-point source pollution. The results of this study will add to the ongoing efforts on water quality remediation by recording the spatial and seasonal variations in water quality across various water sources within the study area. The study also provides a baseline for future water quality fitness-for-use and compliance assessments. By these findings and conclusions, it is recommended that a long-term continuous monitoring programme be implemented, especially in areas where increased agricultural activities have been observed. Monitoring should be implemented for the Tsitsa River, its tributaries, and selected drinking water sources which showed the highest number of non-compliances and microbial contamination. All anthropogenic activities in the catchment areas of these sources, both upstream and downstream of the proposed dam wall, must be monitored and strictly managed to prevent and mitigate their possible impacts. Specific emphasis should be placed on agricultural development, which should be controlled to ensure sustainable livestock and cropping practises. Sanitation facilities, systems and community programmes should be put in place to minimise microbial contamination. It would be beneficial for the Department of Water and Sanitation office responsible for the Mzimvubu water resources to establish a central database for all information concerning the water quality of their water resources including the findings in this report. The database must be freely accessible to the residents of the Mzimvubu catchment.
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Strategies used by teachers to promote reading in grade 4 : a case of english first additional language learners
- Authors: Fesi, Liziwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching English language -- Rhetoric Reading -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9264 , vital:34316
- Description: The study examines strategies used by teachers to promote reading: A Case of English First Additional Language Learners. The study was located within the constructivism paradigm of reading and used a qualitative research approach that incorporated a case study research design in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data. The data instruments used were interviews and observations. Data were analyzed using non-statistical procedures. The findings of the study revealed that reading problems are still eminent in Grade Four. It was found that the resources in schools inhibits the progress to promote reading. The educational system is underdeveloped and under resourced with respect to reading materials, and schools are in a bad state due to obsolete facilities. Inadequate infrastructure is also another challenge since most of the participants reported that classes are overcrowded; thus, limiting the space to interact with learners. It was found that primary schools have no libraries; as a result, it was difficult for the teachers to instill the culture of reading. Some participants revealed that technology can be useful to encourage reading, however, their schools have no computer centers and most teachers do not know how to use computers. It emerged from the findings that parents fail to involve themselves in their children’s education. In addition, it was found that poor socio-economic backgrounds affect many homes, and this has a negative impact on schools. Most South African parents are found to be unable to support their children at all. There are also challenges interconnected with the English First Additional Language learners, the eccentricities of the English language, the teacher training and continuing professional development of teachers, as it emerged from the findings of this study that most teachers do not understand the reading strategies, skills of teaching reading and learners lack vocabulary, hence their resistance to reading. A comprehensive model of strategies to improve reading in primary schools was developed by the researcher based on the findings of the study and an extensive literature review.
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The effect of guided enquiry-based learning approach on electrical engineering students' recall ability, conceptual understanding, problem solving skills and critical thinking ability in power electronics course at a selected university in South Africa
- Authors: Kumar, Vinod
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Power electronics Power electronics -- Problems, exercises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8474 , vital:32836
- Description: Power Electronics (PE) forms the major part of the syllabus for the Industrial Electronics (INDE) course of the National Diploma (ND) programme in Electrical Engineering. This study investigated the effect of Guided Enquiry-Based Learning (GEBL), an Active Learning (AL) approach on Electrical Engineering students’ recall ability, conceptual understanding of PE, problem solving skills and critical thinking ability. The study was carried out at one of the campuses of a selected university in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province in an attempt to check if GEBL would improve student performances in the above focused areas. The expected population for this research in 2017 was 21, similar to the numbers enrolled in 2016. However, in 2017 the enrollment dropped to 14 and this posed a limitation. Since cancelling the study due to the drop in enrollment would have caused the loss of a research report on PE students, it was decided to continue with it. This was especially so, since no other report on PE within South Africa could be located. The instruments were developed using inputs from subject experts to ensure content validity. Cronbach’s Alpha was used to test the reliability of the instrument. A pilot study was conducted during the previous year with the 2016 PE students and deficiencies in the instruments were rectified. Out of the 14 students in 2017, seven volunteered to be taught using the GEBL approach. All ethical considerations applicable to the study were adhered to. All students from the GEBL group signed the informed consent forms prior to the study. The study adopted a pragmatist paradigm and a mixed method approach. A quasi experimental non-equivalent group post-test only research design was used where both the experimental group and the control group were selected (without random assignment). The post-test only design was selected because of the time constraints with the semester courses. A student-centred GEBL approach was used as an intervention for the experimental group and a teacher-centred traditional approach was used for the control group. Students from both the GEBL and Traditionally Taught Groups (TTGs) were subjected to the same assessments. Quantitative data were collected from two formative assessments and one summative assessment and the qualitative data were collected by interviewing all students from the GEBL group. The collected data were statistically and thematically analysed to determine the extent to which the intervention affected the students’ recall ability, conceptual understanding of PE, problem solving skills and their critical thinking ability. The main conclusions were that when compared to the traditional approach, GEBL was significantly more effective in enhancing recall as well as understanding of PE concepts. However, significant differences were not evident in problem solving and critical thinking. The recommendations are that: students must be encouraged to be more active in the learning process; the shift of strategy from traditional to AL methods such as GEBL must be introduced gradually; and the benefits of GEBL and exposure to it must be popularised in order to develop positive attitudes to GEBL not only among students, but also teaching staff.
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The moderating role of occupational self-efficacy and organisational justice in the relationship between perceived job insecurity and counterproductive work behaviour among bank employees in Nigeria
- Authors: Oluwole, Olugbenga Joseph
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Job security Self-efficacy Bank employees
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12665 , vital:39297
- Description: The unstable global economy and the drive by every organisation to remain in business and be competitive has led to many organisational downsizing, which in turn poses concerns towards identifying behaviours of the survivors’. These behaviours constitute the components of employees’ job performance which include task performance, organisational citizenship behaviour and counterproductive work behaviour (CWB). One of the major behavioural concerns facing organisations globally, in particular in Nigeria, is CWB, which previous studies identified as an attitudinal reaction of perceived job insecurity. Very few empirical studies in Nigeria have attempted to examine the relationship as well as the variables that can moderate the negative effect of job insecurity-CWB. This study, therefore, explores the moderating effects of occupational self-efficacy (OSE) and organisational justice on the job insecurity–CWB relationship among bank employees in Nigeria. Four theories provided the framework for the study, while a descriptive research design which utilized a cross-sectional survey was used. The multi-stage sampling procedure and purposive technique were employed to select the two participating banking organisations from the 22 licensed commercial banks in Nigeria. Using the convenience sampling technique, a total of 380 Nigerian bank employees who gave their personal consent participated through a structured questionnaire. The reliability coefficient of all the instruments are as follows: counterproductive work behaviour (α = .92), perceived job insecurity (α = .65), occupational self-efficacy (α = .82), organisational justice (α = .93) were used for data collection. The sample was taken from branches of the two selected banking organisations that cut across Lagos State, Nigeria, a cosmopolitan and Nigeria business hub. Six hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics, zero-order correlation and hierarchical multiple regression at 0.05 level of significance. A significant positive relationship existed between: job insecurity and CWB (r = .14); job insecurity and sabotage (r = .23), job insecurity and withdrawal (r = .14) and job insecurity and abuse (r = .20) of sub-dimensions of CWB. Also, a significant relationship existed between OSE and CWB (r = .12); OSE and withdrawal (r = .27) and OSE and abuse (r = .12) of the sub-dimensions of CWB. And lastly, a significant positive relationship existed between organisational justice and CWB (r = .11); distributive justice and CWB (r = .13), procedural justice and CWB (r = .17); organisational justice and withdrawal (r = .35), and a negative relationship between organisational justice and production deviance (r = -.12) of the sub-dimensions of CWB. Also, a significant positive relationship existed on distributive justice and withdrawal behaviour (r = .22) and distributive justice and abuse (r = .12); procedural justice and sabotage (r = .17); procedural justice and withdrawal (r = .44); Interactional justice and withdrawal (r = .29) and a significant negative relationship existed on interactional justice and sabotage. Furthermore, there were significant moderator effects of OSE on job insecurity- CWB relationship (β = .11, p<.05); significant moderator effects of OSE on job insecurity-abuse behaviour (β = .13, p<.05) of sub-dimension of CWB. Also, there was significant moderator effects of organisational justice in job insecurity-CWB relationship (β = -.10, p<.05), interaction effect of procedural justice in job insecurity-withdrawal behaviour relationship (β = .24, p<.01) and interaction effect of interactional justice in job insecurity-abuse behaviour relationship (β = -.39, p<.001). And lastly, there was no significant joint moderator effects of OSE and organisational justice in job insecurity and CWB relationship (β = .00, ns), while there was significant moderator effect of joint OSE and organisational justice on job insecurity – sabotage relationshi0p (β = .17, p<.01) and job insecurity – withdrawal behaviour (β = .14, p<.01) The findings of this study pointed to the significance of employees’ cognitive sense as important and stable resources which organisational practitioners need to take into consideration during organisational change approach. Also, the banking organisation must clearly state the procedure and implementations of downsizing policies.
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The role of assisted reproduction technologies in improving cattle production under communal and emerging farming systems in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Authors: Mugwabana, Thinawanga Joseph
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Beef cattle -- Breeding -- South Africa Beef cattle breeds -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9100 , vital:34262
- Description: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in improving cattle production with the purpose of providing policy directives for the successful implementation of the ART project among communal and emerging livestock systems. The study was conducted under communal and emerging cattle farming systems in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The selected districts in Limpopo were Vhembe, Capricorn, Mopani and Waterberg, in Mpumalanga were Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni while in KwaZulu-Natal the selected districts were Zululand and Harry Gwala. A total of 282 cows were selected for the study, 38 percent in Limpopo, 32 percent in Mpumalanga and 30 percent in KwaZuluNatal. The cow parameters evaluated were breed type, parity, age, body condition score, frame size and lactation status. An ovsynch protocol which allows for fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) was used during the oestrous synchronisation process. A heat mount detector (Karma®) was used to detect oestrous synchronisation response. The dominant cattle breed types were the Bonsmara, Brahman and Nguni. All experimental cows that responded positively to oestrous synchronisation protocol and were inseminated with semen from a Nguni bull. Chi-Square Test of Independence were computed to determine the association among factors. Data was further modelled using the logistic regression model of SAS, establishing the probability of success. Districts, breed type, parity, age, and lactation status did not significantly influence (P > 0.05) conception rate following oestrous synchronisation and timed artificial insemination. However, conception rate was not independent (P < 0.05) of provinces, body condition score and body frame size. Cows in KwaZulu-Natal (66 percent) had significantly higher (P < 0.05) conception rates than those in Limpopo (44 percent) and Mpumalanga (60 percent). Cows of body condition score of ≥ 3.5 (72 percent) had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) conception rate than those of body condition score of ≤ 2.5 (66 percent) and 3 (48 percent). Large (82 percent) framed cows had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) conception rate than small (49 percent) and medium (55 percent) framed cows. Cows in Mpumalanga had more chances to conceive than those of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal with odds ratio of 0.605 and 0.863, respectively. Cows in KwaZulu-Natal were in much better body conditions than those from the other two provinces. Cows of body condition score of ≥ 3.5 had more chances to conceive than those of body condition score of ≤ 2.5 and 3 with odds ratio of 0.592 and 0.388, respectively, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The study recorded a 100 percent calf survival rate following synchronisation and timed artificial insemination. The breed type, parity, age frame size and lactation status did not significantly influence calving response following oestrous synchronisation and timed artificial insemination (P > 0.05). However, calving rate was not independent of provinces, districts and body condition score (P < 0.05). Calving rate in Mpumalanga (58 percent) and KwaZulu-Natal (54 percent) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that recorded in Limpopo Province (36 percent). Calving rate of Gert Sibande (61 percent) and Ehlanzeni (50 percent) districts in Mpumalanga and Zululand (50 percent) and Harry Gwala (61 percent) in KwaZulu-Natal was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the Capricorn (32 percent), Mopani (23 percent and Waterberg (30 percent) in Limpopo Province with the exception of Vhembe (44 percent). Cows with body condition score of ≤ 2.5 (60 percent) had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) calving rate than those with a body condition score of 3 (43 percent). Cows in Mpumalanga had more chances to calve than those in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal with odds ratio of 0.076 and 0.537, respectively. Additionally, quantitative data was collected through in-depth interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data collected was managed and coded into themes using the Nvivo Version 11 software programme. Themes and issues that emerged were analysed and interpreted using critical social thinking and systems thinking. The results of the study revealed many factors that could compromise the implementation and adoption of ARTs in the study areas. The general feeling amongst cattle farmers interviewed was that government should address these challenges. A shortage of bulls was the main cause of the low cattle reproduction rate. The Nguni breed type cattle was perceived as the ideal cattle breed for rural areas by respondents. Oestrous synchronisation and artificial insemination can be applied under communal and emerging farming systems with success. From the study results, breeding with small framed animals such as the Nguni type breed under communal and emerging farming systems makes a lot of sense because the breed is known for its low feed maintenance requirement. Furthermore, cattle stakeholders should co-operate and work together to address many of the constraints facing cattle productivity and the implementation and adoption of ARTs in rural areas.
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The role of the church in social development : the case of selected churches in Nairobi, Kenya
- Authors: Mutunga, Daniel Kioko
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Perception Social action Community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12599 , vital:39291
- Description: The church as a unique society was founded by Jesus Christ who also set a pattern for its operations. Primary to the core responsibilities of the church, according to Scripture, is to reconcile creation to the Creator by transforming society to regain its lost nature. The Christian Church in Kenya was established by missionaries from different parts of the world about three centuries ago. It has since grown and spread to almost all the parts of the country, but all the major denominations have vibrant congregations in Nairobi. A quick categorisation of the church in Kenya would be into the Mainline and the Pentecostal churches. This study set out to investigate the perception the church in Nairobi holds on in its involvement in social action, whether the church thinks social action is part of its ministry, and what kind of engagements in social action the church in Nairobi is currently having. The study employed a qualitative approach and an exploratory design. Using the questionnaire and interview methods, data was collected from thirty two (32) church leaders (including pastors) sampled to be representative of the Mainline and the Pentecostal groups of churches. The data was transcribed, coded, categorised and interpreted following the themes which emerged in relation to the study objectives and the nature of the responses. The results of the study show that the church holds different perceptions on its responsibility and involvement with regard to social action. The findings show two extremes: those who see social action as core to the mission of the church and those who think social action is the responsibility of the government or of non-governmental agencies. Generally most churches do not plan or budget for social actions. The few that are engaged in in it the budgets are far too low compared to the other church activities and the plans are unstructured and sporadic Active engagement in social action by the church in Nairobi is therefore, by and large, unplanned and episodic. However, the few who are already engaged in social action have witnessed great success in community transformation. The study concludes that the church has not fully understood its ministry and this could be the reason why social action is not part of its agenda. This further explains the sporadic and truncated nature of social action in the church in Nairobi. The study recommends a review of the curriculum in seminaries and the retraining of practising pastors to embrace holistic ministry. This will address the current misconceptions, address the current dichotomy of sacred-secular in church ministry, and hence increase organised participation of the church in social action.
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Towards a framework to enhance entry-level national diploma students' learning of computer programming - effects of guided inquiry learning
- Authors: Lukose, Jose
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Computer programming -- Study and teaching Computer science -- Study and teaching (Higher)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9522 , vital:34362
- Description: Research reports using global data show that the failure rates in introductory programming courses average about 32 percent. This study assessed the effect of elements of Guided Inquiry Learning (GIL) on enhancing academic performance of first year students in Introduction to Computer Programming course. As learners from schools join the university and enrol for different courses, they find the sudden transformation quite challenging. This makes it more challenging for first year university students, especially in difficult courses such as Introduction to Programming. As times change with advances in technology, the traditional ways of presenting information during teaching–learning interface may not address students’ needs. Lecturers and university stakeholders make efforts to address these challenges by proposing innovative teaching ways. One of the common approaches that have been used profitably in other science and engineering programmes is GIL. It is a form of inductive collaborative learning approach where students are presented with a challenge which challenges them to accomplish the desired learning outcomes in the process of responding to the posed challenge. The strategies in GIL include, among others, learning teams who participate in intra- and inter-learner interactions besides lecturer-learner interactions, linking theory and practical information cementing skills and problem solving strategies, scaffolding information, blended learning by integrating both traditional and technology-assisted learning, inquiry activities such as initiating investigations, gathering data, and critiquing evidence to come up with evidence-based solutions. The objective was to apply GIL to this module and observe if there were gains in students’ academic performance. This study was located in the pragmatic paradigm using action research design and a mixed method approach. The sample consisted offirst year students enrolled for Introduction to programming which was a year-long course (two semesters) at a South African university. The population consisted of the only 49 students who were registered for the module under focus. A group of 20 students were considered for the whole year in the GIL experiment. Although it would students were considered for the whole year in the GIL experiment. Although it would students were considered for the whole year in the GIL experiment. Although it would have been ideal to have experimental and control groups with same number of students, that was not possible in this study, because only 20 out of the 49 who were willing to be included in the experimental group. The present researcher employed willing to be included in the experimental group. The present researcher employed three of these GIL strategies in teaching the module Introduction to Programming to the experimental group while another colleague continued with traditional teaching in the control group. Care was taken to limit the insider outsider conflict. Both groups were assessed by the same assessment tools at the same times. Results from these assessments together with focus group interviews provided the core data for this study. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out on the data, statistical analysis (mainly, chi-Square and t-test) for the former and thematic analysis for the latter. Results indicated gains in the experimental group such as enhanced motivation, interaction, intra-group social cohesion, creativity and provided students the confidence to share knowledge and skills with their peers and keep everyone focused on the course contents. These gains are reflected in higher year marks and pass rates than those in the control group as the analysed data indicate. A study that will pilot the GIL framework in several universities with different teaching modes and large classes are recommended.
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Water resources management and its impact on small scale farming :the case of Lesotho
- Authors: Malinga, Wayne
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Water resources development -- Lesotho Water-supply -- Lesotho Farms, Small -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9089 , vital:34256
- Description: This study is premised on the assumption that empowering the small-scale farmers in securing property rights and enforcement of these rights are the prime movers of agricultural development. Logically, it follows that by empowering small-scale farmers and giving them access to resources such as credits, subsidies and extension services the state can play a mediating role in transforming the agricultural land scape in Lesotho. Unless farmers are empowered the water resources in Lesotho will continue to serve the interest of the rent-seeking elite. Given the nature of the issues under investigation, the mixed research methodology (the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods) was used as a method of inquiry in order to get a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of water resources management and its subsequent impact on small scale farming in the rural areas of Lesotho. Both methods played a complimentary role by capitalising on both their strengths and weaknesses so as to provide various dynamics and linkages between the two variables of water resources management and small scale farming. The material condition of small scale farmers is intrinsically associated with the active state mediation in agriculture. Yet, the adopted Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach is still to materialise. This thesis, thus, argues that there is a need for a more holistic integrated water resources management framework that is livelihoods based and re-emphasises the need for conserving the ecosystem. Therefore, implementing a more holistic integrated water resources management approach is critical and vital in improving agricultural production and subsequently the livelihoods of small scale farmers and households. Although this thesis used Lesotho as the case study, it is hoped that the findings may provide tentative answers for other Sub-Saharan countries on how to properly and efficiently manage water resources so as to boost agricultural production amongst small scale farmers in order to improve human conditions and promote sustainable development in the rural areas.
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